DAVIE, FL – JANUARY 12: A Burmese python is seen on display at the registration event and press conference for the start of the 2013 Python Challenge on January 12, 2013 in Davie, Florida.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its partners launched the month long 2013 Python Challenge to harvest Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades, a species that is not native to Florida.The contest features prizes of $1,000 for catching the longest snake and $1,500 for catching the most. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
"A 10-Foot Python Was Captured Behind A Florida Resort." My life would flash before my eyes if I seen something like this. The Python was captured inside the lakoya community of the Lely Resort. The Lely resort is located in Naples which is about two hours from where I live in St. Petersburg.
10-Foot Burmese Python Captured
The python was actually captured Wednesday afternoon in a homeowners backyard. Jane Spencer who is the homeowner is the one that contacted wildlife trappers. She tells NBC2 news, “Man, what a show they put on. I haven’t even seen bears yet… otters, nothing frightening. We don’t go out at night. I don’t let my cat out. I know they were there.”
The python was found in a retention pond which was just about 20 ft away from the Spenser's backyard. Seth Brattain who owns Sleth Reptiles which is an animal trapping and removal service tells us " I call it freestyling. As we got close to it, it started to make a nosedive into the water, and at that point, we just went for it. Jesse Richards who works for Sleth Reptiles goes on to say, "Couldn’t get the noose around his head, he was doing this number… and then all of a sudden he shot out into the lake. So we ditched the sticks, we jumped in and we’re both struggling trying to fight it. We pull it out. As soon as he was free, he turned around and went right at me. At the same time, I slipped and lost my grip. He’s right at my feet! I jump back up here, grab my tongs, came back around grabbed him by the head and that was the end of it. ”
Burmese pythons feed on nearly all living things. If you see one of these it is important that you contact animal control or your local police department and they will point you in the right direction.
The 5 Most Dangerous Animals In Florida
There are a lot of dangerous animals in Florida. But if you ever wondered what the most dangerous are? This list was put together by A-Z Animals. Between 1999 and 2019 only 247 people in Florida died as a result of an animal attack. Florida ranks as the third deadliest state in the United States for animal attacks. Texas is number one with 520 and California is number two with 299. Those findings come from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
So, what is the first animal that you think of when you think dangerous in Florida? You probably think of the Alligator, but that isn’t the number one overall dangerous animal in Florida. The Great White Shark is the most dangerous animal in Florida. While not on the land in Florida Great White Sharks swim the waters around the state of Florida. Back in 2020 Florida had 16 shark bites on record. Second was Hawaii with only five.
The Most Dangerous Animals Not In The Top 5
The dangerous animals in Florida that didn’t make the top five are some that you may have thought could’ve been higher. Firstly, number six on the list is the Black Widow Spider followed by the Florida Panther. The Florida Panther is the state animal. It was chosen in 1982 by a vote of students throughout the state. Following the Florida Panther on the list is the Wild Boar. You can find the Wild Boar in all 67 counties of Florida. Their estimated population is over half a million.
Next is the Timber Rattlesnake. It is also known as the canebreak rattlesnake and it is a species of pit viper. The Timber Rattlesnake has a Chevron pattern and a stripe running down its body. Finally, coming in number 10 on the list is the American Crocodile. They are found along the coast of Florida as north as the Hillsborough/Pasco County border on the west side of Florida.
Below, you can find the top five most dangerous animals in Florida.
Great White Shark
Yes, Great White Sharks are found in the waters around Florida. A almost 1,200 pound shark that was almost 13 feet in length was tracked back in March of this year.
Bull Shark
#1 and #2 on the list are sharks. They are in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. They grow to about 11 feet and can live about 24 years.
Alligator
Alligators live in all 67 counties in Florida. You can find alligators in any body of water including lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, swamps and man-made canals. We've seen multiple reports this year of gator attacks, even some fatal ones.
Eastern Dimondback Rattlesnake
They are found in pine flatwoods, longleaf pine and turkey oak hammocks, sand pine scrub areas, and coastal barrier islands. Yes it is venomous.
Cottonmouth Snake
It is venomous and can be found throughout Florida. It is called a cottonmouth because of the white color of the inside of its mouth.
