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00:00:08,442 --> 00:00:11,010
FLORIDA --
A HOTSPOT FOR TOURISTS...
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00:00:11,078 --> 00:00:13,412
AND EXOTIC PETS.
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00:00:15,182 --> 00:00:18,517
A BURMESE PYTHON.
4
00:00:18,586 --> 00:00:20,619
THESE FOREIGN SNAKES ARE NOW
LIVING WILD HERE.
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00:00:22,857 --> 00:00:25,791
THE MASSIVE SERPENTS ARE
INVADING SOUTHERN FLORIDA.
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00:00:25,860 --> 00:00:28,260
THEY CAN GROW 26 FEET LONG
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00:00:28,329 --> 00:00:33,432
AND BE AS THICK AS
A TELEPHONE POLE.
8
00:00:33,501 --> 00:00:37,336
THESE PREDATORS ARE POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO KILL PEOPLE.
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00:00:37,405 --> 00:00:40,873
WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW HUNTERS AS
THEY TRACK THEM DOWN.
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00:00:43,310 --> 00:00:46,211
FIND OUT WHAT THEY EAT.
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00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:52,751
MEET SCIENTISTS INVESTIGATING
THE SNAKES INSIDE AND OUT.
12
00:00:52,820 --> 00:00:56,755
CATCH GIANTS DEEP IN
THE WILDERNESS.
13
00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:01,760
DISCOVER OTHER EXOTIC INVADERS..
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00:01:03,431 --> 00:01:09,068
AND ANALYZE A STRIKE.
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00:01:47,875 --> 00:01:50,175
AS RECENTLY AS THE 1990s,
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00:01:50,244 --> 00:01:53,879
THERE WERE HARDLY ANY WILD
PYTHONS IN FLORIDA.
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00:01:53,948 --> 00:01:59,618
NOW THERE ARE THOUSANDS,
PERHAPS TENS OF THOUSANDS.
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00:01:59,687 --> 00:02:03,422
SO HOW DID THIS INVASION START?
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00:02:03,491 --> 00:02:07,559
IT REALLY IS A CASE OF
SNAKES ON A PLANE.
20
00:02:07,628 --> 00:02:09,528
12,000 SHIPMENTS
OF WILDLIFE
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00:02:09,597 --> 00:02:14,433
ARRIVE EVERY YEAR
THROUGH MIAMI.
22
00:02:14,502 --> 00:02:16,702
INCLUDING, IN THE LAST FOUR
YEARS ALONE,
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00:02:16,770 --> 00:02:20,305
OVER A 140,000
WILD-CAUGHT PYTHONS.
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00:02:20,374 --> 00:02:24,176
THERE ARE OTHER
EXOTIC ANIMALS, TOO --
25
00:02:24,245 --> 00:02:27,579
THESE ARE GREEN IGUANAS.
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00:02:29,550 --> 00:02:33,152
BABY BURMESE ARE JUST
20 INCHES LONG,
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00:02:33,220 --> 00:02:38,590
BUT KEPT WARM AND WELL-FED,
THEY GROW AND GROW.
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00:02:42,563 --> 00:02:44,029
IN JUST A YEAR,
29
00:02:44,098 --> 00:02:48,934
A PYTHON CAN DOUBLE IN SIZE
AND SWALLOW FROZEN RATS WHOLE.
30
00:02:52,706 --> 00:02:55,807
SOON, LARGE RABBITS
ARE ON THE MENU.
31
00:03:02,316 --> 00:03:05,117
THE LARGEST CAPTIVE PYTHONS --
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00:03:05,186 --> 00:03:06,952
THIS IS A RETICULATED PYTHON --
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REALLY GO WHOLE HOG.
34
00:03:09,323 --> 00:03:13,792
THEY CAN GOBBLE UP
A PIG WITH EASE.
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00:03:13,861 --> 00:03:18,664
MANY OWNERS ARE ASTOUNDED TO
FIND THAT AT JUST 2 YEARS OLD,
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00:03:18,732 --> 00:03:22,534
THEIR PET PYTHON MAY BE
11 TO 12 FEET LONG
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00:03:22,603 --> 00:03:25,971
AND WEIGH ALMOST 200 POUNDS.
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00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,775
SUDDENLY, THEY HAVE TOO MUCH
SNAKE ON THEIR HANDS.
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00:03:33,180 --> 00:03:35,614
THE RESULT IS THAT
MANY UNWANTED PETS
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HAVE BEEN IRRESPONSIBLY RELEASED
INTO THE WILD.
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00:03:40,721 --> 00:03:47,793
BUT THE MAIN PYTHON INVASION
FORCE WAS UNLEASHED BY STORMS.
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00:03:47,861 --> 00:03:50,495
OVER THE YEARS, SOME OF
FLORIDA'S ANIMAL WAREHOUSES
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00:03:50,564 --> 00:03:52,998
HAVE BEEN HIT BY HURRICANES.
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00:03:53,067 --> 00:03:57,703
SNAKES ESCAPED
AND SLITHERED FREE.
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00:04:06,614 --> 00:04:11,149
THE INVADERS OCCUPIED
GROUND NEAR MIAMI.
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00:04:11,218 --> 00:04:13,652
WITH PLENTY OF FOOD
AND HIDING PLACES,
47
00:04:13,721 --> 00:04:17,623
THE HABITAT IS SIMILAR TO THEIR
ORIGINAL ASIAN HOME.
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00:04:20,995 --> 00:04:24,162
IT WASN'T LONG
BEFORE THE SNAKES PUSHED DEEPER
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00:04:24,231 --> 00:04:25,897
INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE STATE.
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00:04:29,470 --> 00:04:31,937
SOUTHERN FLORIDA'S THOUSANDS
OF MILES OF WATERWAYS
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00:04:32,006 --> 00:04:35,641
PROVIDE A FREEWAY
FOR PYTHONS TO TRAVEL.
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00:04:42,116 --> 00:04:44,583
SNAKES SWIM GRACEFULLY
IN ELEGANT CURVES,
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00:04:44,652 --> 00:04:48,020
PUSHING AGAINST THE RESISTANCE
OF THE WATER TO MOVE FORWARD.
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00:04:52,459 --> 00:04:55,327
THE PYTHONS
HAVE ENDURANCE, TOO --
55
00:04:55,396 --> 00:04:58,930
THEY CAN SWIM AT LEAST SIX MILES
WITHOUT STOPPING.
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00:05:05,439 --> 00:05:07,673
PYTHONS USUALLY SWIM AT
THE SURFACE,
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00:05:07,741 --> 00:05:09,308
BUT IF THEY SENSE DANGER,
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00:05:09,376 --> 00:05:11,810
THEY CAN HOLD THEIR BREATH FOR
UP TO HALF AN HOUR.
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00:05:16,283 --> 00:05:19,351
OCCASIONALLY,
THEY AMBUSH PREY FROM THE WATER,
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00:05:19,420 --> 00:05:24,556
BUT DRIER AREAS
ARE GOOD HUNTING GROUNDS, TOO.
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00:05:28,195 --> 00:05:31,396
THIS IS A NOW-DEFUNCT
ROCKET TESTING SITE
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00:05:31,465 --> 00:05:33,865
JUST 20 MILES FROM MIAMI.
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00:05:33,934 --> 00:05:37,369
IT'S PRIME PYTHON HABITAT.
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00:05:37,438 --> 00:05:39,471
HERPETOLOGIST SHAWN HEFLICK
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00:05:39,540 --> 00:05:43,542
HAS A PERMIT
TO HUNT DOWN PYTHONS.
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00:05:43,610 --> 00:05:45,344
HE'S HOLDING THE RED BALLOONS
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00:05:45,412 --> 00:05:48,513
BECAUSE THEY MAKE PERFECT
TARGETS FOR A STRIKING SNAKE.
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00:05:53,854 --> 00:05:56,621
Heflick: BURMESE PYTHONS --
DOCILE IN CAPTIVITY
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00:05:56,690 --> 00:06:00,125
BUT A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALLGAME
IN THE WILD.
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00:06:02,463 --> 00:06:04,363
HO HO!
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00:06:04,431 --> 00:06:07,766
Abraham:
NOW, THE ACTION IS SLOWED DOWN
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00:06:07,835 --> 00:06:09,368
OVER 200 TIMES.
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00:06:09,436 --> 00:06:14,306
AT THIS SPEED, A STRIKE
IS AWE-INSPIRING.
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00:06:24,184 --> 00:06:27,486
PYTHONS HAVE HEAT-SENSING PITS
ON THEIR FACES...
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SO THEY EASILY LOCK
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00:06:31,759 --> 00:06:34,760
ONTO A BALLOON FILLED
WITH WARM WATER.
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00:06:52,479 --> 00:06:53,712
Heflick: GOT TO
PICK UP MY TRASH,
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00:06:53,781 --> 00:06:58,517
OH! THEN,
I'VE GOT TO GET THIS GUY.
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00:06:58,585 --> 00:07:01,386
THIS IS A LITTLE MALE.
MALES HAVE LARGER SPURS,
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00:07:01,455 --> 00:07:06,792
AND THEY UTILIZE THESE TO TICKLE
THE FEMALE DURING BREEDING.
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00:07:06,860 --> 00:07:09,528
WHAT I'VE GOT TO DO IS GET THIS
GUY BAGGED,
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00:07:09,596 --> 00:07:11,163
HE DOESN'T BELONG HERE.
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00:07:14,301 --> 00:07:16,601
LET'S GO SEE IF WE CAN
FIND SOME MORE.
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00:07:18,472 --> 00:07:20,772
Abraham:
SHAWN'S CHANCES ARE GOOD.
85
00:07:20,841 --> 00:07:24,109
PYTHONS CAN BE THICK ON
THE GROUND HERE.
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00:07:33,654 --> 00:07:37,088
Heflick: WONDERFUL ANIMAL.
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00:07:37,157 --> 00:07:39,157
LOOKS LIKE A MALE.
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00:07:39,226 --> 00:07:44,463
WHOA! THAT'S WHAT THEY DO, THEY
ARE A FAST-STRIKING PREDATOR.
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00:07:44,531 --> 00:07:48,800
GOT TO GET HIM
RIGHT BEHIND THE HEAD.
90
00:07:48,869 --> 00:07:53,939
OH! LOOK AT THAT MOUTH, FULL OF
TEETH, BUT YOU CAN'T SEE 'EM
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00:07:54,007 --> 00:07:55,340
BECAUSE THEY'RE COVERED
BY GUMS --
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00:07:55,409 --> 00:07:56,708
NOT LIKE A VENOMOUS SNAKE.
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00:07:56,777 --> 00:08:00,912
BUT I'VE GOT A SKULL IN MY
POCKET OF A BURMESE PYTHON.
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00:08:00,981 --> 00:08:04,349
AND YOU CAN SEE
FOUR ROWS ON THE TOP.
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00:08:04,418 --> 00:08:06,852
THEN THERE ARE ANOTHER
TWO ROWS ON THE BOTTOM,
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00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:10,822
THE RECURVED TEETH,
ABOUT A HUNDRED OR SO.
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00:08:10,891 --> 00:08:14,125
THEY USE IT
TO SECURE THEIR PREY, LATCH ON,
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00:08:14,194 --> 00:08:18,663
THEY THROW A COIL AROUND IT,
AND THEN THEY SUFFOCATE IT.
99
00:08:18,732 --> 00:08:22,434
AND ALSO, IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY,
100
00:08:22,503 --> 00:08:27,405
YOU CAN SEE TWO PITS THAT ARE
HEAT-SENSING,
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00:08:27,474 --> 00:08:30,308
AND THAT'S HOW THEY FIND THEIR
WARM-BLOODED PREY
102
00:08:30,377 --> 00:08:32,644
AND THAT'S HOW THE OTHER ONE
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00:08:32,713 --> 00:08:36,147
DETECTED THE WARMTH OF
THE WATER IN THAT BALLOON.
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00:08:36,216 --> 00:08:41,253
THIS GUY IS TRULY
A MAGNIFICENT ANIMAL.
105
00:08:43,590 --> 00:08:47,592
ALL RIGHT, IN YOU GO,
INTO A NEW HOME.
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00:08:50,797 --> 00:08:52,597
GREAT ANIMAL.
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00:08:52,666 --> 00:08:54,799
Abraham:
SHAWN'S PAIR OF SNAKES
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00:08:54,868 --> 00:08:57,168
WILL HARDLY DENT
THE PYTHON ARMY.
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00:08:57,237 --> 00:09:02,507
NEARBY, IN THE SHALLOW WATERS OF
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK,
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00:09:02,576 --> 00:09:06,077
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
BURMESE PYTHONS THRIVE.
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00:09:09,850 --> 00:09:15,020
THE WATER SLIDES SLOWLY THROUGH
GREAT SWATHS OF SAW GRASS.
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00:09:19,026 --> 00:09:22,160
WHERE THERE'S HIGHER GROUND,
FORESTS OF SLASH PINES
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00:09:22,229 --> 00:09:24,062
AND OTHER TREES GROW.
114
00:09:27,301 --> 00:09:32,704
WATER FLOWS TOWARD THE SEA
AT A QUARTER OF A MILE A DAY.
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00:09:32,773 --> 00:09:35,240
CYPRESS TREES THRIVE
IN THE SHALLOWS
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00:09:35,309 --> 00:09:40,278
AND CAN TOWER 120 FEET
INTO THE SKY.
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00:09:40,347 --> 00:09:43,748
AT FLORIDA BAY,
118
00:09:43,817 --> 00:09:45,951
THE RIVER SPILLS
INTO THE OCEAN
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00:09:46,019 --> 00:09:47,852
AND MANGROVES FLOURISH.
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00:09:49,356 --> 00:09:55,060
THIS WILDERNESS IS FAMOUS
WORLD-WIDE FOR ITS WATERBIRDS...
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00:09:55,128 --> 00:09:57,829
AND OTHER FABULOUS WILDLIFE.
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IN THEIR ASIAN HOMELAND,
PYTHONS EAT WATERBIRDS.
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00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:09,774
COULD THIS CORMORANT IN
THE EVERGLADES
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00:10:09,843 --> 00:10:11,810
BECOME PREY TO A PYTHON?
125
00:10:17,050 --> 00:10:20,819
PERHAPS ANHINGAS
ARE ON THE MENU TOO.
126
00:10:20,887 --> 00:10:23,355
THEY'RE A COMMON SIGHT HERE.
127
00:10:23,423 --> 00:10:27,158
UNLIKE DUCKS, THEY DON'T HAVE
WATERPROOF FEATHERS.
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00:10:27,227 --> 00:10:32,731
WET PLUMAGE MAKES IT EASIER FOR
THEM TO GET UNDERWATER FAST.
129
00:10:32,799 --> 00:10:34,899
THEY'RE ALSO CALLED SNAKE BIRDS,
130
00:10:34,968 --> 00:10:38,570
AND YOU CAN SEE WHY
WHEN THEY SURFACE.
131
00:10:45,045 --> 00:10:46,878
THEY DON'T SEIZE THEIR PREY
WITH THEIR BEAKS,
132
00:10:46,947 --> 00:10:50,582
THESE BIRDS ARE SPEAR FISHERS.
133
00:10:52,219 --> 00:10:56,121
THE UNFORTUNATE FISH HAS BEEN
IMPALED ON A RAZOR-SHARP BILL.
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00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:04,162
IT TAKES A BIT OF FANCY
BEAK-WORK TO FREE THE FISH.
135
00:11:11,471 --> 00:11:15,173
THERE ARE RESIDENT REPTILES
HERE, TOO.
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00:11:15,242 --> 00:11:19,277
COULD PYTHONS HAVE
AN IMPACT ON THEM?
137
00:11:19,346 --> 00:11:22,947
THE LARGEST NATIVE SNAKE IN
THE U.S. IS THIS ONE.
138
00:11:23,016 --> 00:11:25,917
THE EASTERN INDIGO SNAKE.
139
00:11:25,986 --> 00:11:29,621
THEY'RE AN ENDANGERED SPECIES.
140
00:11:29,690 --> 00:11:32,157
THEIR FAVORITE HABITAT IS
LONG LEAF PINE.
141
00:11:32,225 --> 00:11:37,629
95% OF THAT HAS BEEN CLEARED
BY PEOPLE.
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00:11:37,698 --> 00:11:41,266
AT FIRST GLANCE,
THEY LOOK JET-BLACK,
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00:11:41,334 --> 00:11:45,837
BUT IN THE SUN THEY
SPARKLE LIKE JEWELS.
144
00:11:45,906 --> 00:11:48,073
MICROSCOPIC RIDGES ON
THE SNAKE'S SKIN
145
00:11:48,141 --> 00:11:51,710
REFLECT AND SPLIT LIGHT
INTO DIFFERENT WAVELENGTHS.
146
00:11:55,449 --> 00:11:57,749
IT'S A NON-VENOMOUS SPECIES.
147
00:11:57,818 --> 00:12:03,688
THE BIGGEST ONE EVER CAUGHT WAS
8 1/2 FEET.
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00:12:03,757 --> 00:12:08,693
THE INDIGO MAY HAVE ONCE BEEN
THE BIGGEST SNAKE IN AMERICA,
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00:12:08,762 --> 00:12:11,663
BUT IT'S DWARFED
BY THE BURMESE PYTHON.
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00:12:16,036 --> 00:12:18,603
A LARGE INDIGO SNAKE MIGHT
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00:12:18,672 --> 00:12:21,740
TIP THE SCALES AT 13 POUNDS.
152
00:12:21,808 --> 00:12:26,377
AN ADULT BURMESE CAN BE
15 TIMES HEAVIER.
153
00:12:26,446 --> 00:12:30,048
THE INVADER CERTAINLY PUTS
THE INDIGO IN THE SHADE.
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00:12:32,052 --> 00:12:35,286
PYTHONS COULD POSE A THREAT
TO NATIVE SNAKES
155
00:12:35,355 --> 00:12:37,956
BY COMPETING FOR FOOD
AND OCCUPYING
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00:12:38,024 --> 00:12:39,491
THE BEST LAIRS.
157
00:12:42,729 --> 00:12:43,995
THE EVERGLADES ARE FAMOUS
158
00:12:44,064 --> 00:12:47,665
FOR REPTILIAN PREDATORS
OF THEIR OWN...
159
00:12:49,503 --> 00:12:51,836
ALLIGATORS.
160
00:12:51,905 --> 00:12:57,709
CAN THE PYTHON MUSCLE IN
ON EVEN THESE GIANTS?
161
00:13:01,481 --> 00:13:04,382
TO ATTRACT MATES
AND DETER RIVALS,
162
00:13:04,451 --> 00:13:07,786
MALES GENERATE SUCH
LOW, LOUD ROARS,
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00:13:07,854 --> 00:13:11,156
THE WATER AROUND THEM DANCES.
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00:13:16,062 --> 00:13:18,163
ALLIGATORS WERE ONCE
THE UNDISPUTED
165
00:13:18,231 --> 00:13:21,533
REPTILE KINGS
OF THE EVERGLADES.
166
00:13:21,601 --> 00:13:25,203
BUT WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE,
WHO WOULD WIN A BATTLE NOW?
167
00:13:25,272 --> 00:13:26,871
ALLIGATOR...
168
00:13:26,940 --> 00:13:29,541
OR PYTHON?
169
00:13:29,609 --> 00:13:33,711
IT ALL DEPENDS
ON WHICH ONE IS BIGGER.
170
00:13:48,361 --> 00:13:50,562
A LARGE GATOR
CAN BITE DOWN
171
00:13:50,630 --> 00:13:53,565
WITH OVER
2,000 POUNDS OF FORCE.
172
00:13:56,937 --> 00:14:00,205
A WELL-AIMED BITE
ON A PYTHON'S HEAD KILLS IT
173
00:14:00,273 --> 00:14:01,906
ALMOST INSTANTLY.
174
00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:11,349
BUT THE ALLIGATOR HAS BITTEN OFF
MORE THAN IT CAN CHEW.
175
00:14:11,418 --> 00:14:17,622
THE SNAKE IS TOO LARGE TO
SWALLOW.
176
00:14:17,691 --> 00:14:19,490
STASHING THE SERPENT UNDERWATER
177
00:14:19,559 --> 00:14:21,793
WILL ALLOW THE GATOR TO RETURN
TO BITE OFF CHUNKS,
178
00:14:21,862 --> 00:14:24,162
ONCE THE FLESH HAS ROTTED.
179
00:14:27,500 --> 00:14:29,767
BIG GATORS CERTAINLY
KILL PYTHONS
180
00:14:29,836 --> 00:14:32,971
BUT THE TABLES CAN BE TURNED.
181
00:14:36,109 --> 00:14:39,844
PYTHONS BEGIN WITH
A LIGHTNING-FAST STRIKE.
182
00:14:39,913 --> 00:14:44,816
THIS ONE GRABBED A GATOR WITH
ITS RAZOR-SHARP TEETH.
183
00:14:51,391 --> 00:14:55,827
LACKING VENOM, IT HAD TO USE
MUSCLE-POWER TO KILL ITS VICTIM.
184
00:15:01,735 --> 00:15:05,370
NEW RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT AS
A SNAKE'S COILS TIGHTEN,
185
00:15:05,438 --> 00:15:08,606
THEY CAUSE A SHARP RISE IN
THE PREY'S BLOOD PRESSURE.
186
00:15:11,511 --> 00:15:13,912
SO, THE ALLIGATOR IS AS LIKELY
TO HAVE DIED
187
00:15:13,980 --> 00:15:18,182
FROM BURST BLOOD VESSELS
AS FROM SUFFOCATION.
188
00:15:21,721 --> 00:15:25,556
SNAKE SKIN IS SO FLEXIBLE,
IT CAN BE STRETCHED AROUND
189
00:15:25,625 --> 00:15:27,425
THE LARGEST OF MEALS
WITHOUT TEARING,
190
00:15:27,494 --> 00:15:30,194
EVEN A TOUGH,
ARMORED ALLIGATOR.
191
00:15:34,234 --> 00:15:37,568
IN A MATTER OF DAYS,
POWERFUL STOMACH ACID
192
00:15:37,637 --> 00:15:41,072
WILL COMPLETELY DISSOLVE
THE MEAL.
193
00:15:43,476 --> 00:15:46,911
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE FEAT --
THE PYTHON HAS
194
00:15:46,980 --> 00:15:51,382
SWALLOWED AN ALLIGATOR
HALF AS LARGE AS ITSELF.
195
00:15:53,653 --> 00:15:55,753
BUT SOMETHING JUST AS REMARKABLE
196
00:15:55,822 --> 00:15:57,588
IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN
INSIDE THE SNAKE.
197
00:15:57,657 --> 00:16:02,193
HOW DOES IT COPE WITH THIS
MASSIVE MEAL?
198
00:16:03,997 --> 00:16:08,299
TO LEARN HOW THAT HAPPENS
AND MORE ABOUT SNAKE PHYSIOLOGY,
199
00:16:08,368 --> 00:16:11,769
SCIENTISTS EMPLOY SOME
HIGH-TECH PROCEDURES.
200
00:16:17,711 --> 00:16:21,646
IN CAPTIVITY, RATS,
NOT ALLIGATORS, ARE ON THE MENU.
201
00:16:23,883 --> 00:16:26,451
Man: ALL RIGHT,
HE'S GOT IT NOW.
202
00:16:31,057 --> 00:16:32,957
Abraham: STEPHEN SECOR
IS A PROFESSOR
203
00:16:33,026 --> 00:16:36,961
AND TEAM LEADER AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.
204
00:16:37,030 --> 00:16:42,266
HE WANTS TO UNDERSTAND HOW
SNAKES CAN STOMACH THEIR PREY.
205
00:16:42,335 --> 00:16:45,036
Secor: WHAT AN AMAZING ANIMAL
THE PYTHON IS.
206
00:16:45,105 --> 00:16:47,839
CONSIDER -- HERE'S AN ANIMAL
THAT CAN GO A MONTH,
207
00:16:47,907 --> 00:16:50,108
EVEN A YEAR WITHOUT EATING,
AND THEN ABLE
208
00:16:50,176 --> 00:16:53,077
TO CAPTURE,
INGEST AND DIGEST A MEAL
209
00:16:53,146 --> 00:16:55,813
THAT'S EQUAL TO HALF
ITS OWN BODY SIZE.
210
00:17:01,454 --> 00:17:05,790
Abraham: AN X-RAY WILL PROBE
THE SNAKE'S SECRETS.
211
00:17:05,859 --> 00:17:08,893
Secor: ALL RIGHT,
LET'S GET HIM STRETCHED OUT.
212
00:17:08,962 --> 00:17:11,396
OKAY, GET HIM IN THE CENTER.
213
00:17:16,536 --> 00:17:17,969
RELAXED.
214
00:17:18,038 --> 00:17:19,037
OKAY, YOU READY?
215
00:17:19,105 --> 00:17:20,671
Secor: GOOD, YEP.
216
00:17:20,740 --> 00:17:22,974
YESTERDAY, THIS SNAKE ATE
A MASSIVE MEAL.
217
00:17:23,043 --> 00:17:24,375
THE RAT IT CONSUMED
218
00:17:24,444 --> 00:17:27,445
WEIGHED MORE THAN A THIRD OF
THE SNAKE'S OWN BODY MASS.
219
00:17:27,514 --> 00:17:29,447
WE'RE NOW X-RAYING THE SNAKE
SO THAT
220
00:17:29,516 --> 00:17:32,150
WE CAN TRACK THE BREAKDOWN OF
THE PREY, THE RAT,
221
00:17:32,218 --> 00:17:33,384
WITHIN THE SNAKE'S STOMACH.
222
00:17:33,453 --> 00:17:34,719
Man: RELAX A LITTLE BIT.
223
00:17:34,788 --> 00:17:36,220
Secor: ARE YOU READY?
224
00:17:36,289 --> 00:17:38,589
Man: ALL RIGHT, OOPS WAIT --
OKAY, GO...
225
00:17:38,658 --> 00:17:40,158
Secor: OKAY?
Man: YEP -- GOT IT.
226
00:17:40,226 --> 00:17:42,293
Secor: GREAT.
227
00:17:43,730 --> 00:17:46,631
WHAT WE SEE HERE IS THE RAT
INSIDE THE PYTHON'S STOMACH
228
00:17:46,699 --> 00:17:47,965
THAT WE JUST X-RAYED.
229
00:17:48,034 --> 00:17:51,669
WE HAVE THE FULL RAT SKULL --
THE UPPER JAW, LOWER JAW,
230
00:17:51,738 --> 00:17:54,472
AND ALL THE BONES ARE STILL
INTACT.
231
00:17:54,541 --> 00:17:56,207
SO THIS IS THE SNAKE'S STOMACH,
232
00:17:56,276 --> 00:17:58,843
IT ONLY ENCOMPASSES
THIS PART OF THE RAT.
233
00:17:58,912 --> 00:18:01,946
SO THIS PART GETS BROKEN DOWN
FIRST, AND THE REST OF THE RAT,
234
00:18:02,015 --> 00:18:04,482
WHICH RIGHT NOW IS IN
THE ESOPHAGUS,
235
00:18:04,551 --> 00:18:06,717
WILL THEN MOVE FORWARD
AND MOVE INTO THE STOMACH
236
00:18:06,786 --> 00:18:09,921
AND THEN BE BROKEN DOWN BY
THE HYDROCHLORIC ACID
237
00:18:09,989 --> 00:18:11,355
AND THE ENZYME PEPSIN.
238
00:18:11,424 --> 00:18:13,624
WITHIN SIX DAYS, WHAT'S GOING TO
BE AMAZING
239
00:18:13,693 --> 00:18:17,261
IS THIS RAT
WILL BE COMPLETELY GONE.
240
00:18:17,330 --> 00:18:21,199
THIS IS AN X-RAY OF AN ALLIGATOR
CONSUMED BY A PYTHON.
241
00:18:21,267 --> 00:18:22,533
NOW WE KNOW IN THE EVERGLADES
242
00:18:22,602 --> 00:18:24,802
THAT PYTHONS ARE EATING
ALLIGATORS
243
00:18:24,871 --> 00:18:26,671
AND THEY CAN DO SO QUITE
EFFICIENTLY.
244
00:18:26,739 --> 00:18:30,074
WITHIN ONE DAY, WE START SEEING
A LITTLE BIT OF BREAKDOWN
245
00:18:30,143 --> 00:18:32,076
OCCURRING IN
THE SNOUT OF THE ALLIGATOR.
246
00:18:32,145 --> 00:18:33,111
BY TWO DAYS,
247
00:18:33,179 --> 00:18:34,812
HALF THE SKULL IS MISSING,
248
00:18:34,881 --> 00:18:38,182
PARTS OF THE FORELIMB HAVE
ALREADY BEEN BROKEN DOWN.
249
00:18:38,251 --> 00:18:42,587
AT THREE DAYS, ONLY A SMALL PART
OF THE SKULL IS REMAINING.
250
00:18:42,655 --> 00:18:45,490
AT FOUR DAYS AFTER FEEDING,
251
00:18:45,558 --> 00:18:47,859
PRETTY MUCH ALL WE HAVE
IS PARTS OF THE HIND-LIMBS
252
00:18:47,927 --> 00:18:50,795
AND A LITTLE BIT OF
THE ALLIGATOR'S TAIL.
253
00:18:50,864 --> 00:18:54,599
BY FIVE DAYS JUST
A SCATTERING OF SMALL BONES.
254
00:18:54,667 --> 00:18:55,933
AND AT SIX DAYS
255
00:18:56,002 --> 00:18:57,668
IT'S ALL GONE,
256
00:18:57,737 --> 00:18:59,770
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN BROKEN DOWN
257
00:18:59,839 --> 00:19:02,306
AND PASSED INTO
THE SMALL INTESTINE.
258
00:19:02,375 --> 00:19:04,375
THESE SNAKES HAVE
A TREMENDOUS CAPACITY
259
00:19:04,444 --> 00:19:06,344
TO BREAK DOWN ANY PREY ITEM
WITHIN THEIR STOMACH.
260
00:19:06,412 --> 00:19:11,949
THEY ARE EXTREMELY EFFICIENT
HUNTERS AND DIGESTERS.
261
00:19:12,018 --> 00:19:14,552
IN OUR STUDIES ON THE DIGESTIVE
EFFICIENCY OF PYTHONS,
262
00:19:14,621 --> 00:19:18,322
WE'VE ESTIMATED THAT
AN ADULT PYTHON,
263
00:19:18,391 --> 00:19:21,025
ABOUT 12 FEET LONG IN
THE EVERGLADES, WOULD HAVE
264
00:19:21,094 --> 00:19:24,762
CONSUMED 70 DEER MICE,
30 COTTON RATS, 15 SQUIRRELS,
265
00:19:24,831 --> 00:19:27,598
A DOZEN RABBITS
AND SEVERAL RACCOONS.
266
00:19:27,667 --> 00:19:32,637
Abraham: IT TAKES A LOT OF FOOD
TO GROW A 12-FOOT PYTHON.
267
00:19:32,705 --> 00:19:35,039
NATIVE ANIMALS
COULD BE UNDER THREAT,
268
00:19:35,108 --> 00:19:37,208
INCLUDING THE 36 SPECIES
269
00:19:37,277 --> 00:19:41,012
THAT ARE FEDERALLY PROTECTED
IN THE NATIONAL PARK.
270
00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:44,582
WOOD STORKS ARE ONE OF THEM.
271
00:19:44,651 --> 00:19:47,552
THEY HAVE A WINGSPAN OF
UP TO 6 FEET,
272
00:19:47,620 --> 00:19:49,921
MORE THAN THE HEIGHT OF
AN AVERAGE MAN.
273
00:19:52,792 --> 00:19:55,493
FEWER THAN
10,000 PAIRS REMAIN.
274
00:19:59,799 --> 00:20:02,600
THE STORKS HAVE BEEN MAKING
A COMEBACK LATELY,
275
00:20:02,669 --> 00:20:05,770
BUT WITH BURMESE PYTHONS
IN THEIR BACKYARD,
276
00:20:05,838 --> 00:20:08,039
THE RECOVERY COULD STALL.
277
00:20:11,311 --> 00:20:15,213
YOUNGER, LIGHTWEIGHT PYTHONS ARE
EXPERT CLIMBERS.
278
00:20:15,281 --> 00:20:18,282
CHICKS COULD BE SEIZED
AND SWALLOWED BY THEM.
279
00:20:21,354 --> 00:20:24,689
A SINGLE SNAKE COULDN'T
DEVASTATE A WHOLE COLONY
280
00:20:24,757 --> 00:20:26,591
BUT ITS PRESENCE IS WORRISOME.
281
00:20:30,496 --> 00:20:32,997
TO DISCOVER WHETHER PYTHONS POSE
A REAL THREAT,
282
00:20:33,066 --> 00:20:38,169
SCIENTISTS NEED INGENIOUS
SURVEILLANCE TECHNIQUES.
283
00:20:38,238 --> 00:20:40,338
OKAY, YOU WANT TO GO
RIGHT OVER IT?
284
00:20:40,406 --> 00:20:43,541
Abraham: THE PYTHON SCIENCE
SUPPORT TEAM IS TRACKING
285
00:20:43,610 --> 00:20:46,077
WILD SNAKES
IN THE NATIONAL PARK.
286
00:20:46,145 --> 00:20:50,314
SOMEWHERE BELOW, THERE'S A SNAKE
CARRYING A LOCATOR DEVICE.
287
00:20:53,019 --> 00:20:55,653
MIKE ROCHFORD IS
A PYTHON RESEARCHER.
288
00:20:55,722 --> 00:20:58,489
I'VE GOT THE GPS POINT HERE
OF THE LAST TIME
289
00:20:58,558 --> 00:21:01,092
WE SAW THE SNAKE,
AND WE'RE CIRCLING AROUND
290
00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:02,927
AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY
AND LISTEN FOR THE SIGNAL.
291
00:21:02,996 --> 00:21:05,196
AND ONCE WE START
TO HEAR A SIGNAL,
292
00:21:05,265 --> 00:21:09,066
WE'RE GOING TO DROP DOWN AND TRY
AND PINPOINT THE LOCATION.
293
00:21:11,671 --> 00:21:13,471
Abraham:
IT'S A MONUMENTAL TASK.
294
00:21:13,539 --> 00:21:15,573
THE NATIONAL PARK COVERS
295
00:21:15,642 --> 00:21:19,510
A VAST 2,500 SQUARE MILES.
296
00:21:19,579 --> 00:21:24,181
Rochford: OKAY, I HEARD THAT
SNAKE PRETTY LOUD RIGHT THERE,
297
00:21:24,250 --> 00:21:26,050
SO WHAT I DID IS I WENT AHEAD
AND TOOK A WAY-POINT,
298
00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:28,452
AND THAT WAY WE'VE GOT
THE EXACT COORDINATES.
299
00:21:31,791 --> 00:21:35,092
Abraham: THEY'VE ACQUIRED
THEIR TARGET.
300
00:21:35,161 --> 00:21:37,128
NOW IT'S TIME TO DROP IN
ON THE PYTHON.
301
00:21:41,601 --> 00:21:45,403
IF THEY'RE LUCKY,
THEY'LL FIND MORE THAN ONE.
302
00:21:45,471 --> 00:21:47,872
REMARKABLY,
THE RESEARCHERS HAVE DISCOVERED
303
00:21:47,940 --> 00:21:52,410
THAT TAGGED FEMALE SNAKES CAN
LEAD THEM TO OTHER PYTHONS.
304
00:21:54,647 --> 00:21:57,148
THEY'RE HOPING THE ONE
THEY'RE TRAILING TODAY
305
00:21:57,216 --> 00:21:58,382
WILL BECOME AN INFORMER
306
00:21:58,451 --> 00:22:01,152
AND DELIVER OTHER SNAKES
INTO THEIR HANDS.
307
00:22:05,458 --> 00:22:07,158
THEY'RE CLOSING IN,
308
00:22:07,226 --> 00:22:10,328
BUT WILL THEIR TAGGED PYTHON
HAVE OTHERS FOLLOWING HER?
309
00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:16,967
Man: SO MIKE, THIS IS WHERE
WE FOUND HER ORIGINALLY,
310
00:22:17,036 --> 00:22:18,636
SHE'D MATTED DOWN
ALL THIS AREA
311
00:22:18,705 --> 00:22:21,205
SO THAT SHE COULD GET UP OUT OF
THE WATER AND BASK BETTER.
312
00:22:21,274 --> 00:22:23,541
Abraham:
TO LEVEL AN AREA THAT SIZE,
313
00:22:23,609 --> 00:22:26,911
THE PYTHON THEY'RE AFTER
MUST BE HUGE.
314
00:22:28,748 --> 00:22:29,847
Woman:
THAT'D BE THE HOLE!
315
00:22:29,916 --> 00:22:31,082
Rochford: ALL RIGHT.
316
00:22:36,322 --> 00:22:38,556
[ RADIO STATIC, BEEP ]
317
00:22:38,624 --> 00:22:40,558
THAT'S WHAT WE LIKE
TO HEAR.
318
00:22:40,626 --> 00:22:43,027
YEAH, WE'RE GETTING
A GOOD SIGNAL NOW.
319
00:22:44,664 --> 00:22:47,631
Abraham: PYTHONS CAN JUST MELT
AWAY INTO THE SURROUNDINGS.
320
00:22:47,700 --> 00:22:51,635
THE TEAM IS JUST YARDS AWAY FROM
AN ENORMOUS SNAKE,
321
00:22:51,704 --> 00:22:56,140
BUT WITHOUT RADIO-TRACKING,
THEY'D NEVER FIND HER.
322
00:22:56,209 --> 00:22:58,042
[ MONITOR BEEPING ]
323
00:22:58,111 --> 00:23:01,278
Man: I THINK SHE MAY BE
IN THIS MOUND, ACTUALLY.
324
00:23:01,347 --> 00:23:03,147
Rochford:
YEP, I SEE HER RIGHT BACK HERE.
325
00:23:03,216 --> 00:23:05,850
Woman: YEP, ALL COILED UP.
326
00:23:05,918 --> 00:23:07,718
Woman: WATCH OUT.
327
00:23:10,957 --> 00:23:12,790
Man:
WHOA, WATCH YOUR FEET.
328
00:23:12,859 --> 00:23:13,891
Woman: THERE SHE IS!
329
00:23:19,665 --> 00:23:22,066
Rochford:
SHE'S BEHAVING AT THE MOMENT.
330
00:23:22,135 --> 00:23:24,802
SO WE WANT TO GO AHEAD
AND LOOK FOR THE SUTURES
331
00:23:24,871 --> 00:23:28,172
WHERE WE IMPLANTED
THE RADIO TRANSMITTERS.
332
00:23:28,241 --> 00:23:30,207
LOOKS LIKE
IT'S HOLDING UP WELL --
333
00:23:30,276 --> 00:23:33,144
WE DON'T HAVE A GAPING WOUND
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
334
00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,181
OKAY, HERE'S
THE SECOND SUTURE RIGHT HERE,
335
00:23:37,250 --> 00:23:40,084
AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S HEALING
UP PRETTY WELL.
336
00:23:40,153 --> 00:23:43,654
SO, LOOKS LIKE
SHE'S A HEALTHY SNAKE
337
00:23:43,723 --> 00:23:46,991
AND I THINK WE CAN GO AHEAD
AND RELEASE HER AGAIN.
338
00:23:49,595 --> 00:23:51,228
Abraham:
AT AROUND 15 FEET,
339
00:23:51,297 --> 00:23:56,000
THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST WILD
SNAKES EVER FOUND IN FLORIDA.
340
00:23:56,068 --> 00:23:58,636
Man: ALL RIGHT, READY?
341
00:24:04,877 --> 00:24:07,344
Abraham: THE TEAM HAS A VERY
GOOD REASON FOR LETTING HER GO.
342
00:24:08,981 --> 00:24:11,816
IT'S JUNE, THE BREEDING SEASON.
343
00:24:11,884 --> 00:24:13,083
AT THIS TIME,
344
00:24:13,152 --> 00:24:16,120
LARGE FEMALES
WILL OFTEN HAVE AN ENTOURAGE.
345
00:24:19,859 --> 00:24:22,827
THE TEAM SOON SPIES
A SECOND, SMALLER SNAKE.
346
00:24:22,895 --> 00:24:23,994
Woman: PYTHON!
347
00:24:27,900 --> 00:24:29,800
Man: THERE'S ONE.
348
00:24:32,405 --> 00:24:33,938
Abraham:
TWO MALES HAVE BEEN FOUND,
349
00:24:34,006 --> 00:24:37,641
NOT FAR FROM THE LARGE FEMALE.
350
00:24:37,710 --> 00:24:39,677
Man: YEAH, THE FEMALE,
SHE MUST BE BREEDING
351
00:24:39,745 --> 00:24:42,012
IF THERE'S MALES LIKE
THIS AROUND.
352
00:24:42,081 --> 00:24:44,915
YOU GOT THAT ONE UNDER CONTROL,
THERESA?
353
00:24:44,984 --> 00:24:46,851
Theresa: YEAH.
354
00:24:46,919 --> 00:24:49,053
Rochford: WE GOT ANOTHER ONE
OVER HERE.
355
00:24:50,890 --> 00:24:53,591
Abraham: MIKE'S MALE BRINGS
THE TOTAL TO THREE,
356
00:24:53,659 --> 00:24:56,660
ALL ATTRACTED BY
THE PRESENCE OF THE FEMALE.
357
00:24:56,729 --> 00:24:58,863
ALL SET.
358
00:24:58,931 --> 00:25:01,765
Abraham: SHE'S EXPOSED
THE SUITORS
359
00:25:01,834 --> 00:25:04,001
THAT HAVE COME TO COURT HER.
360
00:25:09,909 --> 00:25:12,443
THE CAPTURED MALES
WILL HELP CONFIRM
361
00:25:12,512 --> 00:25:17,348
WHAT'S ON THE MENU
FOR THESE SNAKES IN FLORIDA.
362
00:25:19,852 --> 00:25:23,954
SKIP SNOW HEADS THE EVERGLADES
PYTHON SCIENCE SUPPORT TEAM.
363
00:25:26,192 --> 00:25:28,292
Snow: OKAY, IT'S TIME TO TAKE
A LOOK IN THE STOMACH
364
00:25:28,361 --> 00:25:29,994
AND THROUGH THE REST OF
THE INTESTINES
365
00:25:30,062 --> 00:25:31,395
TO SEE WHAT SHE'S BEEN
EATING.
366
00:25:31,464 --> 00:25:33,664
Abraham:
A PYTHON'S DIGESTIVE TRACT
367
00:25:33,733 --> 00:25:36,033
IS NOT COILED LIKE A HUMAN'S --
368
00:25:36,102 --> 00:25:39,770
IT'S EFFECTIVELY THE SAME LENGTH
AS THE SNAKE ITSELF.
369
00:25:39,839 --> 00:25:42,373
BY DISSECTING PYTHONS
CAUGHT IN THE WILD,
370
00:25:42,441 --> 00:25:45,242
SKIP'S MADE MANY
FASCINATING DISCOVERIES.
371
00:25:45,311 --> 00:25:49,146
Snow: LOOKS LIKE
WE'VE FOUND THE REMAINS
372
00:25:49,215 --> 00:25:50,581
OF AN OLD MEAL.
373
00:25:52,518 --> 00:25:54,985
WE HAVE THE REMAINS OF
AN ALLIGATOR IN HERE.
374
00:25:57,924 --> 00:26:01,859
CLAWS, OR BONES.
375
00:26:01,928 --> 00:26:06,063
SO, THIS IS THE EIGHTH PYTHON
THAT WE HAVE FOUND
376
00:26:06,132 --> 00:26:08,799
THAT HAS EATEN AN ALLIGATOR.
377
00:26:08,868 --> 00:26:12,336
THEY ALSO WILL EAT A WIDE
VARIETY OF MAMMALS AND BIRDS.
378
00:26:12,405 --> 00:26:13,437
HERE'S THE BILL
379
00:26:13,506 --> 00:26:15,873
OF A GREAT BLUE HERON.
380
00:26:18,477 --> 00:26:20,544
THIS IS THE SMALL BILL TIP
OF A RAIL.
381
00:26:23,983 --> 00:26:25,649
IN THE MAMMAL CATEGORY,
382
00:26:25,718 --> 00:26:29,954
EVERYTHING FROM SMALL MICE
AND RODENTS TO BOBCATS.
383
00:26:30,022 --> 00:26:32,089
HERE'S A HALF OF A HOOF
384
00:26:32,158 --> 00:26:34,158
FROM ADULT DEER.
385
00:26:36,862 --> 00:26:39,997
SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY EAT
A WIDE RANGE OF PREY --
386
00:26:40,066 --> 00:26:42,032
BIRDS, MAMMALS, REPTILES.
387
00:26:42,101 --> 00:26:45,369
Abraham: SO, PYTHONS
MUSTN'T REACH AREAS
388
00:26:45,438 --> 00:26:46,870
WITH ENDANGERED SPECIES.
389
00:26:48,841 --> 00:26:50,808
THE FLORIDA KEYS.
390
00:26:50,876 --> 00:26:55,012
SO FAR, ONLY A FEW PYTHONS HAVE
BEEN FOUND HERE,
391
00:26:55,081 --> 00:26:56,981
PROBABLY RELEASED PETS.
392
00:26:57,049 --> 00:26:59,617
A FULL-SCALE INVASION
MUST BE AVERTED
393
00:26:59,685 --> 00:27:02,353
BECAUSE THIS 100-MILE-LONG
ISLAND CHAIN
394
00:27:02,421 --> 00:27:07,558
IS THE ONLY HOME ON EARTH FOR
THE KEY LARGO WOOD RAT.
395
00:27:09,161 --> 00:27:13,130
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BIOLOGIST
RON ROZAR
396
00:27:13,199 --> 00:27:16,467
HAS A NETWORK OF TRAPS
ACROSS KEY LARGO
397
00:27:16,535 --> 00:27:19,336
TO INTERCEPT SNAKES ARRIVING
FROM THE MAINLAND.
398
00:27:19,405 --> 00:27:22,740
THERE ARE OVER 60
TO BE MONITORED, AND EACH
399
00:27:22,808 --> 00:27:24,074
HAS A TEMPTING LURE.
400
00:27:24,143 --> 00:27:27,111
Rozar: SO EACH DAY, WE COME
AND WE CHECK THE TRAPS.
401
00:27:27,179 --> 00:27:29,113
CHECK ON, ONE,
402
00:27:29,181 --> 00:27:31,482
TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY
SNAKES INSIDE,
403
00:27:31,550 --> 00:27:33,951
AND, TWO, TO SEE HOW
404
00:27:34,020 --> 00:27:37,021
OUR BAIT RAT IS DOING.
405
00:27:37,089 --> 00:27:41,325
NOW WE CHECK ON THIS GUY
EVERY DAY,
406
00:27:41,394 --> 00:27:44,561
MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ENOUGH
FOOD AND MOISTURE.
407
00:27:44,630 --> 00:27:46,230
THIS GUY LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.
408
00:27:46,298 --> 00:27:47,931
NOW THE WAY THIS TRAP OPERATES,
409
00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:54,204
SNAKE APPROACHES, SMELLS
THE RAT, COMES INTO THE CAGE.
410
00:27:54,273 --> 00:27:57,107
ONCE HE ENTERS THE CAGE,
THE FLAPS CLOSE BEHIND HIM
411
00:27:57,176 --> 00:27:59,043
SO HE CAN'T GET BACK OUT.
412
00:27:59,111 --> 00:28:01,745
TRIES TO GET TO THE RAT,
BUT THE RAT'S IN ITS OWN
413
00:28:01,814 --> 00:28:04,748
SEPARATE ENCLOSURE SO THE RAT
CAN'T BE GOTTEN TO.
414
00:28:04,817 --> 00:28:06,350
WE THEN EXTRACT
THE SNAKE FROM THE TRAP.
415
00:28:06,419 --> 00:28:10,387
SOMETIMES, WE CAN GET ANIMALS IN
HERE THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR,
416
00:28:10,456 --> 00:28:12,756
THINGS THAT AREN'T BIG PYTHONS.
417
00:28:12,825 --> 00:28:15,359
SOME OF THE NATIVE ANIMALS THAT
MIGHT GO IN HERE INCLUDE
418
00:28:15,428 --> 00:28:17,795
WOOD RATS AND COTTON MICE
419
00:28:17,863 --> 00:28:19,763
AS WELL AS SOME OF
THE NATIVE SNAKES.
420
00:28:19,832 --> 00:28:23,267
FOR THAT, WE'VE PUT IN SOME
ESCAPE HATCHES.
421
00:28:23,335 --> 00:28:24,568
SO, IF A NATIVE SNAKE --
422
00:28:24,637 --> 00:28:26,537
FOR INSTANCE
A YELLOW RAT SNAKE --
423
00:28:26,605 --> 00:28:32,810
COMES IN HERE, ALL HE DOES, GOES
TO THE ESCAPE HATCH, CRAWLS OUT,
424
00:28:32,878 --> 00:28:34,178
HE'S SAFE.
425
00:28:34,246 --> 00:28:37,614
Abraham: SO FAR, NO PYTHON HAS
MADE IT TO THE TRAP LINE.
426
00:28:37,683 --> 00:28:40,517
BUT WHEN THE INVASION STARTS,
427
00:28:40,586 --> 00:28:44,455
THIS WILL BE THE KEYS'
FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE.
428
00:28:44,523 --> 00:28:48,292
ALL THIS WORK COULD HELP
PROTECT THE ENDANGERED WOOD RAT.
429
00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:51,729
DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM
AND TAMPA'S LOWRY PARK ZOO
430
00:28:51,797 --> 00:28:55,466
HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS ON
A BREEDING PROGRAM.
431
00:28:55,534 --> 00:28:58,635
GUYS! HELLO, HELLO.
432
00:29:01,307 --> 00:29:04,708
Abraham: THESE CUTE MAMMALS LIVE
NOWHERE ELSE.
433
00:29:04,777 --> 00:29:08,278
FEWER THAN 200
OF THEM REMAIN IN THE WILD.
434
00:29:11,217 --> 00:29:13,383
GOOD GIRL.
435
00:29:13,452 --> 00:29:17,121
THE WOOD RAT WAS FIRST LISTED
AS THREATENED IN 1969.
436
00:29:17,189 --> 00:29:19,823
SINCE THEN, THEIR POPULATION
437
00:29:19,892 --> 00:29:21,792
HAS CONTINUED TO DECLINE.
438
00:29:24,663 --> 00:29:26,630
GOOD GIRL.
439
00:29:26,699 --> 00:29:30,000
Abraham: HUMAN DEVELOPMENTS HAVE
SERIOUSLY DEPLETED
440
00:29:30,069 --> 00:29:33,303
THE WOODED AREAS THESE RODENTS
NEED TO SURVIVE,
441
00:29:33,372 --> 00:29:37,241
AND ATTACKS BY FERAL CATS ARE
A SERIOUS THREAT.
442
00:29:42,314 --> 00:29:45,182
THE ARRIVAL OF A PYTHON ARMY
443
00:29:45,251 --> 00:29:49,319
COULD BE THE FINAL NAIL IN
THE WOOD RAT'S COFFIN.
444
00:29:54,426 --> 00:29:58,328
IN CONTRAST, PYTHON POPULATIONS
ARE BOOMING.
445
00:30:02,701 --> 00:30:06,637
THE SNAKES ARE INVADING
AGRICULTURAL LAND.
446
00:30:06,705 --> 00:30:09,373
WITH ALMOST THREE MILLION ACRES
OF IT IN FLORIDA,
447
00:30:09,441 --> 00:30:12,276
THERE'S A LOT OF HABITAT FOR
THE BURMESE TO COLONIZE.
448
00:30:15,581 --> 00:30:17,948
BUT THESE SEEMINGLY
PEACEFUL FIELDS
449
00:30:18,017 --> 00:30:21,251
CAN BE DANGEROUS TERRITORY
FOR SKULKING SNAKES.
450
00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:25,255
AT PLOWING TIME, THEY RISK BEING
DICED BETWEEN SLICING BLADES.
451
00:30:31,497 --> 00:30:35,799
FEW FARMERS ARE SURPRISED
TO FIND PYTHONS ON THEIR LAND.
452
00:30:41,407 --> 00:30:44,041
AS THEIR RANGE EXPANDS INTO
THE SUBURBS,
453
00:30:44,109 --> 00:30:48,145
PYTHONS ARE INCREASINGLY
CROSSING PATHS WITH PEOPLE.
454
00:30:55,020 --> 00:30:57,621
AND THEY CAN BECOME
A TRAFFIC HAZARD.
455
00:31:18,644 --> 00:31:20,444
DRIVERS NEED TO HAVE
THEIR WITS ABOUT THEM.
456
00:31:20,512 --> 00:31:24,448
YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT
A SPEED BUMP TO SLITHER.
457
00:31:24,516 --> 00:31:27,084
BUT FLORIDIANS ARE BECOMING
ACCUSTOMED
458
00:31:27,152 --> 00:31:30,454
TO WEAVING AROUND CREATURES
FROM FOREIGN LANDS.
459
00:31:33,826 --> 00:31:37,628
BURMESE PYTHONS ARE JUST ONE OF
OVER 400 KINDS
460
00:31:37,696 --> 00:31:40,297
OF EXOTIC ANIMALS THAT
LIVE WILD IN FLORIDA.
461
00:31:43,535 --> 00:31:47,137
PARROT BIOLOGIST PAUL REILLO
LOOKS FOR ONE OF HIS SUBJECTS
462
00:31:47,206 --> 00:31:49,673
AROUND THE LUXURY HOTELS OF
WEST PALM BEACH.
463
00:31:54,013 --> 00:31:59,049
TO FIND THEM, HE USES TINY
REMOTE CAMERAS.
464
00:31:59,118 --> 00:32:01,685
Reillo: OKAY, IN SHE GOES.
465
00:32:01,754 --> 00:32:04,121
THERE WE GO.
466
00:32:04,189 --> 00:32:06,623
YOU KNOW THE GREAT FUN ABOUT
THESE NATURAL HOLLOWS IS THAT
467
00:32:06,692 --> 00:32:08,325
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE GOING TO FIND.
468
00:32:08,394 --> 00:32:09,493
OH, THERE WE GO.
469
00:32:09,561 --> 00:32:11,795
WE'VE GOT A DUCK.
470
00:32:11,864 --> 00:32:13,764
HEY, DON'T PECK THE CAMERA!
471
00:32:13,832 --> 00:32:15,399
THAT'S NOT WHAT
WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
472
00:32:19,805 --> 00:32:23,674
LET'S SEE WHAT
WE'VE GOT IN THIS ONE.
473
00:32:23,742 --> 00:32:25,943
OH, THAT'S NO GOOD,
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT.
474
00:32:26,011 --> 00:32:27,110
WE'VE GOT A RACCOON
475
00:32:27,179 --> 00:32:32,349
AND THESE GUYS ARE MAJOR
PREDATORS OF THE PARROTS.
476
00:32:32,418 --> 00:32:35,886
Abraham: PERHAPS IT'LL BE
"THIRD TIME LUCKY."
477
00:32:35,955 --> 00:32:39,890
Reillo: OKAY,
LET'S SEE WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
478
00:32:39,959 --> 00:32:43,860
WELL THAT'S MUCH BETTER, THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR,
479
00:32:43,929 --> 00:32:47,664
GREEN-CHEEKED AMAZON. THERE ARE
THREE BABIES IN THIS NEST
480
00:32:47,733 --> 00:32:50,567
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY'RE
SITTING ATOP A MOUND
481
00:32:50,636 --> 00:32:52,069
OF WRITHING INSECT LARVAE
482
00:32:52,137 --> 00:32:55,138
BECAUSE ALL OF THE FOOD GOES
IN TO THE NEST CAVITY
483
00:32:55,207 --> 00:32:57,240
AND GETS ACCUMULATED AS WASTE.
484
00:32:57,309 --> 00:32:59,876
AND IT BECOMES A BREEDING GROUND
FOR INSECTS.
485
00:32:59,945 --> 00:33:04,047
THIS IS AN EXOTIC SPECIES
NESTING IN AN EXOTIC TREE
486
00:33:04,116 --> 00:33:05,949
HERE IN FLORIDA,
487
00:33:06,018 --> 00:33:08,552
BUT THIS FOOTAGE IS VERY USEFUL
BECAUSE THIS TECHNOLOGY
488
00:33:08,620 --> 00:33:09,786
AND THIS WHOLE RIG
489
00:33:09,855 --> 00:33:11,521
IS EXACTLY WHAT WE USE FOR
ENDANGERED SPECIES
490
00:33:11,590 --> 00:33:13,357
ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN,
AND THESE TECHNIQUES
491
00:33:13,425 --> 00:33:15,759
THAT WE'RE USING
ON THIS SPECIES HERE
492
00:33:15,828 --> 00:33:19,363
ARE HELPING US SAVE SIMILAR
SPECIES IN THE WILD.
493
00:33:19,431 --> 00:33:21,631
Abraham: IN THEIR
MEXICAN HOMELAND,
494
00:33:21,700 --> 00:33:23,467
THESE
BIRDS ARE THREATENED.
495
00:33:23,535 --> 00:33:26,303
AS FEW AS 3,000 REMAIN.
496
00:33:26,372 --> 00:33:28,638
FLORIDA IS
A SAFE HAVEN FOR THEM.
497
00:33:31,076 --> 00:33:33,677
OTHER INVADERS ARE MORE
THREATENING THAN THREATENED.
498
00:33:42,154 --> 00:33:45,155
A CARNIVOROUS NILE MONITOR
FROM AFRICA.
499
00:33:50,329 --> 00:33:53,697
LIKE THE PYTHONS,
THESE GO-ANYWHERE LIZARDS
500
00:33:53,766 --> 00:33:58,068
ARE ESCAPEES FROM THE PET TRADE.
501
00:33:58,137 --> 00:34:01,004
THIS ONE'S PICKED UP
THE SCENT OF FOOD.
502
00:34:01,073 --> 00:34:02,205
IT'S ON A RAID.
503
00:34:07,780 --> 00:34:10,580
A POND WON'T SLOW IT DOWN.
504
00:34:10,649 --> 00:34:12,182
STRONG SWIMMERS,
505
00:34:12,251 --> 00:34:17,554
NILE MONITORS HAVE BEEN FOUND
ON ISLANDS TWO MILES OFFSHORE.
506
00:34:17,623 --> 00:34:20,590
THE PREY'S SCENT
IS GETTING STRONGER.
507
00:34:26,465 --> 00:34:29,166
SOMEONE'S VALUABLE KOI CARP.
508
00:34:42,247 --> 00:34:46,083
THESE HUNTERS CAN ALSO BE
A THREAT TO NATIVE WILDLIFE.
509
00:34:46,151 --> 00:34:49,920
THEY COULD SPELL DISASTER
FOR A RARE REPTILE.
510
00:34:49,988 --> 00:34:54,157
NOT AN ALLIGATOR,
BUT THE AMERICAN CROCODILE.
511
00:34:54,226 --> 00:34:56,593
IT BREEDS IN SMALL NUMBERS
512
00:34:56,662 --> 00:35:00,764
CLOSE TO THE NILE MONITOR'S
STRONGHOLD.
513
00:35:00,833 --> 00:35:04,167
FEMALES LAY AROUND 40 EGGS
IN LATE SPRING,
514
00:35:04,236 --> 00:35:08,004
AND STAY NEAR THE NEST UNTIL
THEY HATCH 90 DAYS LATER.
515
00:35:11,777 --> 00:35:14,811
UNLIKE ALLIGATORS,
AMERICAN CROCODILES RARELY
516
00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:17,013
CHARGE AT INTRUDERS.
517
00:35:17,082 --> 00:35:21,485
THIS ALLOWS MONITOR LIZARDS TO
PLUNDER THE NEST WITH IMPUNITY.
518
00:35:26,425 --> 00:35:29,459
THESE ARE
INVETERATE EGG THIEVES.
519
00:35:29,528 --> 00:35:30,760
IN THEIR NATIVE AFRICA,
520
00:35:30,829 --> 00:35:34,397
THEY ARE MAJOR PREDATORS OF
NILE CROCODILE NESTS.
521
00:35:37,402 --> 00:35:40,036
SOME WORRY THAT
THEY COULD DIG UP THE EGGS
522
00:35:40,105 --> 00:35:42,873
OF FLORIDA'S ENDANGERED
MARINE TURTLES.
523
00:35:45,811 --> 00:35:48,678
BUT THERE'S HOPE YET.
524
00:35:48,747 --> 00:35:50,680
A TRAPPING PROGRAM AIMS TO
REDUCE THEIR NUMBERS
525
00:35:50,749 --> 00:35:54,751
AND PREVENT NATIVE REPTILES FROM
HAVING THEIR EGGS SNATCHED.
526
00:35:56,922 --> 00:36:00,390
NOT ALL REPTILE IMMIGRANTS
ARE HARMFUL.
527
00:36:02,961 --> 00:36:06,229
A CHARMING LIZARD FROM
MADAGASCAR LIVES AND BREEDS
528
00:36:06,298 --> 00:36:10,233
IN THE GARDEN OF A POPULAR BAR
IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.
529
00:36:17,709 --> 00:36:20,310
THESE LITTLE STUNNERS WERE
RELEASED DELIBERATELY
530
00:36:20,379 --> 00:36:24,447
BY REPTILE DEALERS WHO COME BACK
TO COLLECT ANY SURPLUS LIZARDS
531
00:36:24,516 --> 00:36:26,850
TO SELL AS PETS.
532
00:36:29,955 --> 00:36:33,089
FEMALES CAN LAY 12 EGGS
EVERY BREEDING SEASON
533
00:36:33,158 --> 00:36:35,692
AND THE COLONY HERE IS THRIVING.
534
00:36:39,431 --> 00:36:43,800
SOME OF THE GECKOS ARE EVEN
BECOMING LOUNGE LIZARDS.
535
00:36:44,770 --> 00:36:48,772
THEY FACE UNCERTAINTY IN THEIR
HOMELAND FROM HABITAT LOSS,
536
00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:52,275
BUT PERHAPS
THEY'LL MAKE IT IN THE U.S.
537
00:36:56,281 --> 00:37:00,283
ANOTHER LIZARD HAS TAKEN
THE STATES BY STORM.
538
00:37:00,352 --> 00:37:02,285
THE GREEN IGUANA.
539
00:37:02,354 --> 00:37:05,388
THESE IGUANAS COME FROM
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.
540
00:37:05,457 --> 00:37:09,392
BIG MALES CAN GROW
OVER 6 FEET LONG.
541
00:37:12,631 --> 00:37:15,432
THEY SOMETIMES FIGHT
IN THE BREEDING SEASON.
542
00:37:15,500 --> 00:37:17,767
BUT A BOB OF THE HEAD
AND A FLASH OF THE DEWLAP
543
00:37:17,836 --> 00:37:21,238
UNDER THE THROAT BY THE LARGEST
LIZARD IS USUALLY ENOUGH
544
00:37:21,306 --> 00:37:23,440
TO PREVENT COMBAT.
545
00:37:30,716 --> 00:37:34,417
THEY CAN MUNCH THROUGH A BED OF
PRIZED BLOOMS IN MINUTES.
546
00:37:34,486 --> 00:37:39,956
THEY ALSO DISLODGE ROOF TILES
AND POOP PRODIGIOUSLY.
547
00:37:42,427 --> 00:37:46,463
DESPITE THIS, MOST FLORIDIANS
ARE QUITE FOND OF THEM.
548
00:37:46,531 --> 00:37:50,200
THERE ARE OVER 100,000
GREEN IGUANAS HERE.
549
00:37:52,237 --> 00:37:57,073
THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS LIVE
ALONG CITY CANALS.
550
00:37:57,142 --> 00:37:58,608
AND THIS IS WHY --
551
00:37:58,677 --> 00:38:02,012
WATER PROVIDES AN ESCAPE ROUTE.
552
00:38:19,031 --> 00:38:22,065
IN AN EFFORT TO STEM THE TIDE
OF EXOTIC ANIMALS
553
00:38:22,134 --> 00:38:25,168
GONE WILD IN FLORIDA,
MIAMI METRO ZOO
554
00:38:25,237 --> 00:38:28,071
HOSTS A PET AMNESTY DAY.
555
00:38:32,344 --> 00:38:35,145
SOME PETS WILL OUTGROW
THEIR OWNERS,
556
00:38:35,213 --> 00:38:36,346
AND THE DAY OFFERS A CHANCE
557
00:38:36,415 --> 00:38:40,650
FOR PEOPLE TO TURN THEIR
CRITTERS IN.
558
00:38:40,719 --> 00:38:42,852
FISH AND WILDLIFE
CONSERVATION OFFICER
559
00:38:42,921 --> 00:38:45,822
PATRICK REYNOLDS EXPLAINS.
560
00:38:45,891 --> 00:38:48,258
BASICALLY, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY
561
00:38:48,327 --> 00:38:51,594
FOR PEOPLE TO BRING IN
UNWANTED PETS, EXOTIC PETS,
562
00:38:51,663 --> 00:38:54,631
PETS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD GET
RELEASED INTO THE WILD,
563
00:38:54,700 --> 00:38:58,568
LIKE BURMESE PYTHONS,
IGUANAS,
564
00:38:58,637 --> 00:39:00,603
TORTOISES, UH...
565
00:39:00,672 --> 00:39:03,573
EVERYTHING TO A HOWLER MONKEY
WAS TURNED IN TODAY.
566
00:39:03,642 --> 00:39:05,308
Man: DO YOU KNOW ABOUT
HOW OLD IT IS?
567
00:39:05,377 --> 00:39:06,443
Woman: PROBABLY ABOUT 6.
568
00:39:06,511 --> 00:39:07,677
Man: OKAY.
569
00:39:07,746 --> 00:39:09,713
Woman: SHE LOVES TO BE PETTED.
570
00:39:09,781 --> 00:39:14,184
Abraham: SOME OWNERS HAVE
GRADUALLY FALLEN OUT OF LOVE
571
00:39:14,252 --> 00:39:15,452
WITH THEIR ANIMALS.
572
00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:16,653
FOR OTHERS,
573
00:39:16,722 --> 00:39:19,622
THE DECISION TO GO PET-FREE
IS MORE SUDDEN.
574
00:39:19,691 --> 00:39:22,325
Man:
I'VE HAD HER FOR 10 YEARS,
575
00:39:22,394 --> 00:39:25,562
AND SHE RIPPED MY WIFE'S FINGER
OFF THE OTHER DAY.
576
00:39:25,630 --> 00:39:27,764
AND THAT WAS THE END OF THAT!
577
00:39:29,201 --> 00:39:31,568
Abraham: EVENTS SUCH AS THIS
COULD HAVE HELPED REDUCE
578
00:39:31,636 --> 00:39:34,371
THE SPREAD OF THE BURMESE PYTHON
IN RECENT YEARS.
579
00:39:34,439 --> 00:39:37,040
Man: THIS HERE
IS A BABY.
580
00:39:37,109 --> 00:39:39,809
BEING AS BEAUTIFUL AS HE IS,
581
00:39:39,878 --> 00:39:42,479
THERE WILL BE FIRST PICKS
ON HIM, I'M SURE.
582
00:39:42,547 --> 00:39:45,081
Abraham: ALL ANIMALS
ARE EXAMINED
583
00:39:45,150 --> 00:39:48,985
BY A VET BEFORE BEING TURNED
OVER TO NEW OWNERS.
584
00:39:49,054 --> 00:39:51,321
Woman: THESE GUYS NEED
A LITTLE HELP.
585
00:39:51,390 --> 00:39:54,824
THIS ISN'T MINOR, SOMEBODY NEEDS
TO DEAL WITH THESE GUYS.
586
00:39:54,893 --> 00:39:56,860
Abraham: EVERY ADOPTER HAS
TO GO THROUGH
587
00:39:56,928 --> 00:39:58,128
AN APPLICATION PROCEDURE.
588
00:39:58,196 --> 00:40:00,029
SOME ARE EVEN INTERVIEWED,
589
00:40:00,098 --> 00:40:03,233
TO ENSURE THAT THE AMNESTY
ANIMALS GET GOOD,
590
00:40:03,301 --> 00:40:04,734
ESCAPE-PROOF HOMES.
591
00:40:04,803 --> 00:40:07,504
SHE'S GOT A RED WOUND INSIDE
HER LEFT FRONT FOOT,
592
00:40:07,572 --> 00:40:08,872
BUT IT'S VERY SUPERFICIAL.
593
00:40:08,940 --> 00:40:11,241
THE SHELL'S IN
PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.
594
00:40:11,309 --> 00:40:15,345
Abraham: IT'S AN EVENT THAT GETS
THE WORD OUT AND GETS RESULTS.
595
00:40:21,453 --> 00:40:24,788
SCOTT HARDIN IS
FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE
596
00:40:24,856 --> 00:40:27,924
CONSERVATION COMMISSION'S
EXOTIC SPECIES SECTION LEADER.
597
00:40:27,993 --> 00:40:30,326
Hardin: WE CAN EASILY GET
15 OR 20 BURMESE PYTHONS,
598
00:40:30,395 --> 00:40:33,062
THREE OR FOUR
RETICULATED PYTHONS.
599
00:40:33,131 --> 00:40:35,398
SOME OF THE OTHER SNAKES THAT
REQUIRE PERMITS
600
00:40:35,467 --> 00:40:38,334
WE HAVEN'T SEEN YET BECAUSE THEY
ARE MORE UNUSUAL IN TRADE,
601
00:40:38,403 --> 00:40:39,702
MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE.
602
00:40:39,771 --> 00:40:42,238
BUT BURMESE ARE THE ONLY ONES
OUT IN THE EVERGLADES
603
00:40:42,307 --> 00:40:43,740
TO OUR KNOWLEDGE,
604
00:40:43,809 --> 00:40:46,009
AND THAT'S THE MOST COMMON
LARGE CONSTRICTOR.
605
00:40:46,077 --> 00:40:49,712
Abraham: SOME OWNERS DISCOVER
THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO FEED
606
00:40:49,781 --> 00:40:53,316
AND HOUSE THEIR
GIANT SNAKES PROPERLY.
607
00:40:53,385 --> 00:40:55,351
IT'S FAR BETTER THAT THEY
HAND THEM IN HERE
608
00:40:55,420 --> 00:40:57,554
THAN RELEASE THEM INTO THE WILD.
609
00:41:02,360 --> 00:41:04,227
THE AMNESTIES WILL HELP PREVENT
610
00:41:04,296 --> 00:41:09,766
NEW EXOTIC SPECIES FROM
COLONIZING FLORIDA.
611
00:41:09,835 --> 00:41:14,037
THEY'LL ALSO HELP STOP
FRESH RECRUITS FROM REACHING
612
00:41:14,105 --> 00:41:17,106
THE INVADERS THAT
ARE ALREADY LIVING WILD HERE,
613
00:41:17,175 --> 00:41:19,742
LIKE THE PYTHON.
614
00:41:19,811 --> 00:41:22,745
BUT THE BURMESE INVASION IS
WELL-ADVANCED.
615
00:41:30,222 --> 00:41:32,789
BY CATCHING WILD PYTHONS,
616
00:41:32,858 --> 00:41:35,158
RESEARCHERS ARE MAKING
GOOD PROGRESS IN LEARNING
617
00:41:35,227 --> 00:41:37,760
HOW THESE SNAKES LIVE HERE
IN FLORIDA.
618
00:41:39,431 --> 00:41:42,065
AND WE KNOW THEY'RE MATING
IN THE WILD.
619
00:41:42,133 --> 00:41:45,768
FEMALES HAVE BEEN FOUND WITH
SEVERAL MALES.
620
00:41:45,837 --> 00:41:50,073
BUT UNTIL RECENTLY A PYTHON NEST
HAD NEVER BEEN FOUND.
621
00:41:56,114 --> 00:41:59,115
VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING WE KNOW
ABOUT THE BREEDING HABITS
622
00:41:59,184 --> 00:42:02,552
OF BURMESE PYTHONS HAS BEEN
LEARNED FROM CAPTIVE SNAKES.
623
00:42:02,621 --> 00:42:04,153
THERE ARE PLENTY OF THOSE
624
00:42:04,222 --> 00:42:05,722
IN THIS HUGE FACILITY.
625
00:42:10,996 --> 00:42:14,564
CAREFUL BREEDING CREATES
EYE-POPPING PYTHONS.
626
00:42:14,633 --> 00:42:16,799
SOME OF THE MOST FLAMBOYANT
627
00:42:16,868 --> 00:42:19,836
CAN BE WORTH TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS EACH.
628
00:42:26,311 --> 00:42:28,111
EVERY SPRING,
629
00:42:28,179 --> 00:42:31,014
A BURMESE CAN LAY A CLUTCH
OF UP TO 100 EGGS.
630
00:42:37,556 --> 00:42:40,456
COILS THAT BROUGHT DEATH
TO PREY NOW WRAP PROTECTIVELY
631
00:42:40,525 --> 00:42:43,226
AROUND THE EGGS
TO KEEP THEM ALIVE.
632
00:42:48,833 --> 00:42:50,567
SHIVERING GENERATES HEAT.
633
00:42:54,272 --> 00:42:57,373
WARMTH FROM TWITCHING MUSCLES
CAN RAISE THE EGGS' TEMPERATURE
634
00:42:57,442 --> 00:43:00,610
BY AS MUCH AS
11 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
635
00:43:06,184 --> 00:43:08,718
SNAKE BREEDERS REMOVE THE EGGS
636
00:43:08,787 --> 00:43:12,822
FOR SAFE-KEEPING TO
AN INCUBATOR.
637
00:43:12,891 --> 00:43:14,390
IT TAKES TWO MONTHS
638
00:43:14,459 --> 00:43:17,694
AT 90 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT
TO HATCH THE EGGS.
639
00:43:19,230 --> 00:43:21,731
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE WILD?
640
00:43:26,137 --> 00:43:29,839
UNTIL RECENTLY,
NOTHING WAS KNOWN ABOUT HOW
641
00:43:29,908 --> 00:43:32,976
OR WHERE BURMESE PYTHONS
NESTED IN FLORIDA.
642
00:43:33,044 --> 00:43:34,243
SKIP SNOW'S TEAM
643
00:43:34,312 --> 00:43:37,914
CHANGED ALL THAT
WITH A STUNNING DISCOVERY.
644
00:43:37,983 --> 00:43:42,185
NEXT TO A BUSY ROAD LESS THAN
17 MILES FROM MIAMI,
645
00:43:42,253 --> 00:43:44,654
THEY FOUND A PYTHON NEST.
646
00:43:46,424 --> 00:43:51,361
OKAY, WE'RE HERE AT THE SITE OF
A BURMESE PYTHON NEST
647
00:43:51,429 --> 00:43:53,930
THAT WE FOUND BACK IN 2008.
648
00:43:53,999 --> 00:43:56,199
THIS IS A SPECIAL CAMERA
649
00:43:56,267 --> 00:43:59,702
USED FOR LOOKING IN DENS
AND CAVITIES,
650
00:43:59,771 --> 00:44:02,372
DEVELOPED TO LOOK IN THE DARK.
651
00:44:11,549 --> 00:44:13,750
WHEN WE DID THIS BACK IN
JULY 2008,
652
00:44:13,818 --> 00:44:16,085
WE FOUND A FEMALE
653
00:44:16,154 --> 00:44:19,489
BROODING ON HER 27 EGGS,
654
00:44:19,557 --> 00:44:20,957
WHICH WE'D FIND OUT LATER
655
00:44:21,026 --> 00:44:22,659
WHEN WE DUG HER OUT.
656
00:44:25,397 --> 00:44:27,063
IT'S PROBABLY,
DON'T KNOW FOR SURE,
657
00:44:27,132 --> 00:44:29,999
BUT PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME THAT
IT'S BEEN OBSERVED
658
00:44:30,068 --> 00:44:31,668
AND FILMED IN THE WILD,
659
00:44:31,736 --> 00:44:34,904
AT LEAST CERTAINLY
IN THE UNITED STATES.
660
00:44:38,543 --> 00:44:40,109
SO THIS IS PROOF POSITIVE
661
00:44:40,178 --> 00:44:43,946
THAT BURMESE PYTHONS ARE
BREEDING IN THE EVERGLADES.
662
00:44:47,919 --> 00:44:50,353
Abraham: WHEN PYTHON BABIES
LEAVE THE NEST,
663
00:44:50,422 --> 00:44:52,755
THEY FACE MANY DANGERS HERE
IN FLORIDA.
664
00:44:54,592 --> 00:44:57,894
AT JUST 19 INCHES LONG,
THEY'RE VULNERABLE TO ATTACK
665
00:44:57,962 --> 00:45:00,329
FROM NATIVE PREDATORS.
666
00:45:03,535 --> 00:45:05,668
A KING SNAKE.
667
00:45:05,737 --> 00:45:08,571
IT SPECIALIZES
IN EATING OTHER SNAKES.
668
00:45:17,515 --> 00:45:21,517
THE KING SNAKE IS A CONSTRICTOR,
JUST LIKE THE PYTHON.
669
00:45:21,586 --> 00:45:24,721
IT USES MUSCULAR COILS
TO SUBDUE ITS PREY.
670
00:45:30,562 --> 00:45:33,863
SURELY THE BABY PYTHON HAS
NO CHANCE NOW.
671
00:45:41,673 --> 00:45:48,411
BUT THEN, INEXPLICABLY, THE KING
SNAKE ABORTS THE ATTACK.
672
00:45:50,448 --> 00:45:55,952
THIS NEW RECRUIT HAS PASSED
ITS FIRST TEST.
673
00:45:57,989 --> 00:46:01,591
A RACCOON --
ANOTHER SNAKE HUNTER.
674
00:46:09,300 --> 00:46:12,969
THE RACCOON'S SHARP TEETH CAN
EASILY PIERCE
675
00:46:13,037 --> 00:46:14,437
THE HATCHLING'S SKULL.
676
00:46:22,113 --> 00:46:25,047
BUT THE PYTHON HAS
A STRIKE UP ITS SLEEVE.
677
00:46:26,584 --> 00:46:28,317
[ SNAKE HISSES ]
678
00:46:28,386 --> 00:46:30,586
[ RACCOON CHITTERS ]
679
00:46:34,893 --> 00:46:38,427
SOME RECRUITS TO THE PYTHON ARMY
MAY SUFFER FATAL INJURIES,
680
00:46:38,496 --> 00:46:42,865
BUT THOSE WHO SURVIVE
THEIR FIRST TOUR OF DUTY
681
00:46:42,934 --> 00:46:47,303
STAND A MUCH BETTER CHANCE
OF DEFENDING THEMSELVES.
682
00:46:47,372 --> 00:46:50,406
A SIX-MONTH-OLD PYTHON IS LARGE
ENOUGH TO FIGHT OFF ANY RACCOON.
683
00:46:50,475 --> 00:46:53,943
AND AT ONE YEAR OLD,
THE RACCOON
684
00:46:54,012 --> 00:46:56,112
COULD BE ON THE PYTHON'S MENU.
685
00:47:00,084 --> 00:47:01,918
LARGE PYTHONS
ARE INVULNERABLE
686
00:47:01,986 --> 00:47:04,086
TO ALL BUT
THE BIGGEST ALLIGATORS...
687
00:47:04,155 --> 00:47:07,089
AND ONE OTHER HUNTER...
688
00:47:07,158 --> 00:47:08,624
US.
689
00:47:10,195 --> 00:47:13,329
THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER
MANAGEMENT DISTRICT EMPLOYS
690
00:47:13,398 --> 00:47:16,766
BOB HILL TO WAGE WAR AGAINST
INVADERS ON THEIR LAND.
691
00:47:16,835 --> 00:47:18,668
Hill: I'VE PROBABLY FOUND
692
00:47:18,736 --> 00:47:20,469
CLOSE TO 75
693
00:47:20,538 --> 00:47:23,172
OR 80 PYTHONS
694
00:47:23,241 --> 00:47:25,107
ALONG THIS RIGHT-OF-WAY.
695
00:47:27,412 --> 00:47:30,713
Abraham:
BOB KILLS ANY SNAKES HE FINDS.
696
00:47:30,782 --> 00:47:34,617
THEIR BODIES ARE USED TO HELP
PYTHON SCIENTISTS ADD
697
00:47:34,686 --> 00:47:37,119
TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE
OF THESE GIANT SNAKES.
698
00:47:37,188 --> 00:47:39,422
Hill: THIS PYTHON'S ABOUT 9 1/2,
10 FEET LONG.
699
00:47:39,490 --> 00:47:41,924
I'VE CAUGHT PROBABLY 100,
200 SNAKES
700
00:47:41,993 --> 00:47:43,993
IN THE AREA
WHERE THIS ONE WAS PICKED UP,
701
00:47:44,062 --> 00:47:45,828
THE LARGEST ONE BEING ABOUT
16 FEET.
702
00:47:45,897 --> 00:47:49,265
Abraham:
SOME AREAS TEEM WITH PYTHONS.
703
00:47:49,334 --> 00:47:51,234
Woman: IN ABOUT A WEEK,
704
00:47:51,302 --> 00:47:54,070
WE RECOVERED 54 PYTHONS
THAT HAD BEEN KILLED
705
00:47:54,138 --> 00:47:56,539
IN ONE SMALL AGRICULTURAL FIELD.
706
00:47:56,608 --> 00:47:58,641
Abraham: SNAKES ARE SPILLING OUT
707
00:47:58,710 --> 00:48:00,843
OF THE NATIONAL PARK.
708
00:48:00,912 --> 00:48:04,947
THE ARMY OF SNAKES
IS GAINING TERRITORY.
709
00:48:07,018 --> 00:48:10,853
JUST HOW BIG IS
THE INVASION FORCE?
710
00:48:10,922 --> 00:48:13,723
WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE,
WE MAY NOT KNOW FOR MANY YEARS,
711
00:48:13,791 --> 00:48:16,525
BUT WE DO BELIEVE THAT
IT'S ON THE ORDER OF THOUSANDS
712
00:48:16,594 --> 00:48:18,027
IF NOT TENS OF THOUSANDS,
713
00:48:18,096 --> 00:48:21,063
IT'S NO LONGER JUST HUNDREDS
OR A DOZEN.
714
00:48:21,132 --> 00:48:25,401
Abraham: THE ARMY IS GAINING
IN SIZE AND STRENGTH.
715
00:48:25,470 --> 00:48:26,602
MORE AND MORE INVADERS
716
00:48:26,671 --> 00:48:29,805
ARE BEING SEEN,
AND NOT JUST BY SCIENTISTS.
717
00:48:29,874 --> 00:48:33,042
Man: LOOK AT THIS!
LOOK AT THAT SNAKE.
718
00:48:33,111 --> 00:48:34,510
Girl: OH, MY GOD!
719
00:48:34,579 --> 00:48:36,879
LOOK AT THAT SNAKE!
LET ME GET A PICTURE.
720
00:48:36,948 --> 00:48:39,749
Abraham: IN THE EVERGLADES,
721
00:48:39,817 --> 00:48:42,118
BURMESE PYTHONS COULD CAUSE
722
00:48:42,186 --> 00:48:45,154
ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS.
723
00:48:45,223 --> 00:48:48,291
ONE OF THOSE IS COMPETITION WITH
OUR NATIVE ANIMALS FOR FOOD.
724
00:48:50,228 --> 00:48:52,762
Abraham: GATORS AND PYTHONS HAVE
SIMILAR DIETS.
725
00:48:55,400 --> 00:48:59,035
AS DO ENDANGERED INDIGO SNAKES.
726
00:48:59,103 --> 00:49:01,504
THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH
TO GO AROUND.
727
00:49:04,108 --> 00:49:05,808
THEY WILL EAT ALMOST
ANY ANIMAL OUT THERE,
728
00:49:05,877 --> 00:49:09,278
NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL,
FROM RODENTS TO ADULT DEER,
729
00:49:09,347 --> 00:49:11,747
BOBCATS, BIRDS.
730
00:49:11,816 --> 00:49:14,684
Snow: WE HAVE A NUMBER
OF THREATENED
731
00:49:14,752 --> 00:49:16,786
AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
IN SOUTH FLORIDA
732
00:49:16,854 --> 00:49:19,989
THAT ARE POTENTIAL PREY FOR
BURMESE PYTHONS.
733
00:49:20,058 --> 00:49:22,124
Abraham: IT COULD MAKE
THE DIFFERENCE
734
00:49:22,193 --> 00:49:25,161
BETWEEN SURVIVAL AND EXTINCTION.
735
00:49:29,901 --> 00:49:32,234
ANOTHER ONE MAY BE COMPETITION
FOR SPACE.
736
00:49:34,105 --> 00:49:35,705
Abraham: PYTHONS TAKE OVER
WATERHOLES
737
00:49:35,773 --> 00:49:40,042
AND BURROWS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE
BE INHABITED BY NATIVE ANIMALS.
738
00:49:40,111 --> 00:49:42,678
ANOTHER ONE CLEARLY THAT WE KNOW
VERY LITTLE ABOUT IS DISEASE.
739
00:49:42,747 --> 00:49:44,647
Abraham: PYTHONS MAY HAVE
740
00:49:44,716 --> 00:49:47,583
BROUGHT FOREIGN PARASITES
WITH THEM,
741
00:49:47,652 --> 00:49:50,786
OR AT LEAST ACT AS RESERVOIRS
FOR PESTS
742
00:49:50,855 --> 00:49:54,423
THAT TRANSFER TO FLORIDIAN
REPTILES.
743
00:49:54,492 --> 00:49:56,425
AND LASTLY IS,
OBVIOUSLY, SAFETY.
744
00:49:56,494 --> 00:49:59,628
Donlan: THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE
THEY MAY LEAVE THE EVERGLADES
745
00:49:59,697 --> 00:50:02,832
AND THEY COULD GO ONTO HIGHWAYS
AND CAUSE HAZARDS TO TRAFFIC
746
00:50:02,900 --> 00:50:04,333
AND HUMANS IN THAT WAY.
747
00:50:08,639 --> 00:50:10,773
Abraham: IN ADDITION
TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS,
748
00:50:10,842 --> 00:50:16,645
THERE IS THAT CHANCE THAT
A PYTHON COULD ATTACK A HUMAN.
749
00:50:16,714 --> 00:50:18,748
BURMESE PYTHONS AREN'T KNOWN
TO HUNT PEOPLE,
750
00:50:18,816 --> 00:50:22,752
BUT THEY DO HAVE THE TOOLS
BY WHICH TO KILL PEOPLE,
751
00:50:22,820 --> 00:50:26,722
SO WE DO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT
THEY ARE POTENTIALLY A HAZARD.
752
00:50:26,791 --> 00:50:30,860
Abraham: SO, ARE PYTHONS HERE
TO STAY IN THE EVERGLADES?
753
00:50:30,928 --> 00:50:32,194
AND IF THEY ARE,
754
00:50:32,263 --> 00:50:35,231
WILL WE BE SEEING EVEN MORE
OF THEM IN THE FUTURE?
755
00:50:38,970 --> 00:50:40,970
Reynolds: WE'RE NEVER GOING
TO ERADICATE THEM.
756
00:50:41,039 --> 00:50:45,374
WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY,
THE MANPOWER TO EXTERMINATE
757
00:50:45,443 --> 00:50:48,210
BURMESE PYTHONS.
758
00:50:48,279 --> 00:50:50,246
WE HAVE TO LEARN
TO LIVE WITH THEM --
759
00:50:50,314 --> 00:50:51,881
THEY'RE WITH US.
760
00:50:51,949 --> 00:50:55,084
WE HAVE A TEAM IN
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK TRYING
761
00:50:55,153 --> 00:50:58,421
TO ERADICATE THEM
FROM THE PARK,
762
00:50:58,489 --> 00:51:00,689
BUT OUTSIDE OF THE PARK, IN
THE CITY, THEY'RE STILL THERE
763
00:51:00,758 --> 00:51:02,925
AND THEY'RE PROBABLY ALWAYS
GOING TO BE THERE.
764
00:51:02,994 --> 00:51:04,960
THERE'S TOO MANY PLACES
FOR THEM TO HIDE.
765
00:51:05,029 --> 00:51:07,463
THE GOAL IS CLEARLY TO
CONTAIN
766
00:51:07,532 --> 00:51:10,166
THE POPULATION AS WE HAVE IT NOW
AND TRY AND KEEP IT
767
00:51:10,234 --> 00:51:12,435
FROM SPREADING TO AREAS
WHERE IT'S NOT.
768
00:51:12,503 --> 00:51:14,804
HOPEFULLY, AT THE VERY LEAST,
WE CAN CONTAIN IT,
769
00:51:14,872 --> 00:51:17,573
AND WE CAN SUPPRESS THE IMPACTS
THAT THEY MAY HAVE,
770
00:51:17,642 --> 00:51:19,542
WHILE WE WAIT
FOR A GOOD TECHNIQUE
771
00:51:19,610 --> 00:51:21,077
BY WHICH TO ERADICATE THEM.
772
00:51:23,314 --> 00:51:26,949
Abraham: GETTING RID OF PYTHONS
IS A FORMIDABLE TASK.
773
00:51:29,720 --> 00:51:32,655
UNTIL THAT HAPPENS,
BURMESE PYTHONS
774
00:51:32,723 --> 00:51:35,024
COULD BECOME TOURIST
ATTRACTIONS.
775
00:51:48,039 --> 00:51:50,239
THESE PREDATORS ARE
SO ADAPTABLE,
776
00:51:50,308 --> 00:51:51,574
PYTHONS COULD BECOME
777
00:51:51,642 --> 00:51:53,976
AS MUCH
A PART OF THE EVERGLADES
778
00:51:54,045 --> 00:51:59,281
AS ALLIGATORS, MANATEES,
BLACK BEARS AND PUMAS.
779
00:51:59,350 --> 00:52:02,284
ONLY TIME WILL TELL.
780
00:52:43,094 --> 00:52:45,194
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE SEEN
781
00:52:45,263 --> 00:52:46,629
ON THIS "NATURE" PROGRAM,
782
00:52:46,697 --> 00:52:46,629
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