A family in South Florida had to call in the animal control experts after discovering a 13-foot Burmese python in their backyard pool. After some false starts, the slithery creature was eventually captured without injury to snake or humans. (Dec. 27)
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Venom Unit was called in to capture a 13-foot non-venomous Burmese Python that was found in the family’s backyard pool at Southwest 97th Avenue and 183rd Street on Sunday, Christmas Day.
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A Burmese Python in the neighborhood.
The Burmese python is a large, non-venomous constrictor native to Southeast Asia, which is considered an invasive species as it has been sighted and captured with increasing frequency in the Everglades of Florida.
The severely cold winter of 2010 is believed to have killed many of the snakes, but the surviving snakes may genetically propagate a more cold-resistant population of Burmese Pythons.
The invasion of Pythons is blamed on owners who abandon snakes when they get too large manage.
The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) Venom Response Program is comprised of a highly specialized team of firefighter/paramedics trained in response, management, and treatment of envenomations that was initiated on June 9, 1998. Miami-Dade County is home to numerous venomous and poisonous animals, and is also the point of entry for a wide variety of venomous animals imported into the United States. According to the Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue Department website, The Venom Response Team is committed to delivering the highest possible standard of medical intervention with respect to injuries due to venomous fauna.
As of 2011, the antivenom species covered are for pit vipers (such as rattlesnakes), Copperhead, coral snakes, Black Widow spiders, scorpions, South American Wandering Spiders, Fer-de-lance, Bushmaster, Boomslang, Puff Adder, Cobras, Mambas, other vipers, Stonefish, Sea snake, Tiger snake, Brown Snake, Banded Krait, Australian Box Jellyfish, Sydney Funnel Web Spider, Australian Redback Spider, Australian Black Snake
In May 2000 the unit responded to an envenomation by a Fer-de-Lance — one of the most poisonous snakes in the world. The Fer-de-lance is also known as a ‘one-stepper’ because a victim almost can get a few as one step after being bitten by the snake before falling from a leg bite or even dying.
The unit has also responded to over twelve incidents of non-venomous Burmese Python bites since it’s inception, and manages python removal cases every week.
See the unit’s website at www.venomone.com
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