Snake In The Grass: An Everglades Invasion

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A plague is spreading throughout the Florida Everglades. The nonnative Burmese python―one of the largest snakes on the planet―is now known to be reproducing freely in the shallow waters of the famed River of Grass. Over the past decade, thousands of pythons have made themselves at home across the landscape. And though scientists work feverishly to learn as much as possible about this unprecedented invader, methods of control remain elusive. Many questions remain in the wake of this troubling discovery. How far north might Burmese pythons venture from the Everglades wilderness? What might their presence mean for the countless birds and mammals―some of them endangered―with which south Florida has become synonymous? And does history seem poised to repeat itself as new, large reptiles are discovered to be thriving in the area’s favorable climate? An Everglades naturalist describes how the story unfolding in the Florida Everglades provides new opportunities to revisit our understanding of wilderness and man’s place within it.

Paperback: 219 pages

Publisher: Pineapple Press; First Edition edition (March 1, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1561645133

ISBN-13: 978-1561645138

Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.6 x 9 inches

Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #771,777 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #96 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Lakes & Ponds #209 in Books > Science & Math > Biological Sciences > Animals > Reptiles & Amphibians #2072 in Books > Science & Math > Environment > Environmentalism

I've been hearing about pythons taking over the Florida Everglades long enough to immediately want a copy of this book by Larry Perez. Who is Perez? He's a Miami naturalist who has worked as a ranger for Biscayne and Everglades National Parks. This isn't his first book-and it shows. He's a darn fine writer. I wouldn't expect anything less from a Pineapple Press author.Despite Perez's obvious affinity for reptiles, a book so heavily laden with snake lore is inherently possessed of a certain "creep" factor. Most of us just find snakes a bit creepy. But Perez gives them a fair shake.Can you really plow your way through an entire book about pythons? I didn't have a bit of trouble. Perez keeps it moving and covers a lot of ground.It took the powers-that-be a long time to recognize that Florida actually has a python problem. The first pythons, found in the 1970's, were viewed as random occurrences. It wasn't until 1995 that they started showing up in increasing numbers each year and somebody finally put two and two together.How did they get here? Who was to blame? Hurricane Andrew? Irresponsible snake owners/importers? Perez explores every possible scenario and the ramifications of each. He chronicles the expansion of constrictors into the more populated areas of Florida at the edges of the glades (Naples and Marco Island, for example) and looks at the predictions of where they'll go next.Particularly unnerving is his chapter on the many human deaths attributed to captive or escaped constrictors. It was way more than I was prepared for. If you live in central or south Florida, it is a must-read.How do you track down and capture a python in the River of Grass? Really, you don't. And that's a problem Perez explores extensively.

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