4 ms·

Here is an official Florida government source on the humane methods for killing a python. https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/python/humane-killing-me

by rietta 2y ago

Here is an official Florida government source on the humane methods for killing a python. https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/python/humane-killing-methods/ https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/python/humane-... - Your method should result in the animal losing consciousness immediately. - You should then destroy the animal's brain by “pithing” which prevents the animal from regaining consciousness. Looking at the diagram, the head is very small in comparison to the entire body. Perhaps that is why shooting is discouraged. I cannot find a source that states that shooting is illegal. There are limitations on where pythons can be hunted, which is on private land with permission or some public lands. That is mostly going to be a safety and private property protection purposes. The website states "Members of the public may not transport pythons alive and must humanely kill pythons at the capture location. However, python skins or meat may be kept and/or sold."

nanolith 2y ago
Shooting invasive species is definitely legal in Florida assuming that you have permission of the land owner or are otherwise in a location where shooting is allowed (i.e. not in a municipality that bans the gunfire). It has to be done humanely: if you hit the invasive animal, you are responsible for dispatching it as quickly as possible. If you don't dispatch the animal, you can easily run foul of animal cruelty laws here. I have been hoping for a health improvement so I can go on a guided python hunt. I have read up on it quite a bit. Not only can I get python leather to make a nice wallet, belt, and a pair of boots, but I can do so while doing a small part to curb an invasive species that is wrecking havoc on the ecosystem in South Florida.
- rietta 2y ago
  I hope your health does improve and you get to go on your hunt! Sounds like a good thing to plan for. Leathermaking is a good use too considering the unsafe mercury levels found in the Python meat.
- TechDebtDevin 2y ago
  I say we just give Florida back to Spain and call it a day.
  - nojvek 2y ago
    I don’t think Spain can handle Florida anymore.
    - TechDebtDevin 2y ago
      whispers *no-one can*
    - baud147258 2y ago
      >I don’t think Spain can handle Florida anymore. I don't think Spain ever could handle Florida
  - eth0up 2y ago
    What a ridiculous proposal. Give it back to the Timucans, and if you can't find any, which you won't, consider the Seminoles. Billy Bowlegs for governor - I know he wouldn't turn the State Parks into golf courses!
  - anthk 2y ago
    No refunds.
hansvm 2y ago
A large body doesn't really matter, but the small head does. It's about half the size (linear measurements) of a deer head for reference, which is a pretty easy shot for almost anyone at 50 yards and not bad with a twidge of focused training at 250 yards. However, for whatever reason, snakes don't seem to die very quickly when you shoot them in the head a few times (enough news stories if you're interested). I'd imagine that's at least part of where the recommendation comes from. Plus, they die incredibly slowly (if ever) if you go for a body shot. It'd probably suffer less if you drowned it (an ordeal that itself also takes hours), and none of those methods are even slightly humane.
- dreamcompiler 2y ago
  They can live for several minutes or even tens of minutes after decapitation. As in the head stays alive and remains capable of biting you. Every now and then a person who cuts the head off a rattlesnake gets bitten by the head and has to go to the hospital. The most humane way to kill a snake is to quickly destroy the brain by crushing the head or pithing as the article points out.

by rietta 2y ago

nanolith 2y ago

Shooting invasive species is definitely legal in Florida assuming that you have permission of the land owner or are otherwise in a location where shooting is allowed (i.e. not in a municipality that bans the gunfire). It has to be done humanely: if you hit the invasive animal, you are responsible for dispatching it as quickly as possible. If you don't dispatch the animal, you can easily run foul of animal cruelty laws here. I have been hoping for a health improvement so I can go on a guided python hunt. I have read up on it quite a bit. Not only can I get python leather to make a nice wallet, belt, and a pair of boots, but I can do so while doing a small part to curb an invasive species that is wrecking havoc on the ecosystem in South Florida.

rietta 2y ago
I hope your health does improve and you get to go on your hunt! Sounds like a good thing to plan for. Leathermaking is a good use too considering the unsafe mercury levels found in the Python meat.
TechDebtDevin 2y ago
I say we just give Florida back to Spain and call it a day.
- nojvek 2y ago
  I don’t think Spain can handle Florida anymore.
  - TechDebtDevin 2y ago
    whispers *no-one can*
  - baud147258 2y ago
    >I don’t think Spain can handle Florida anymore. I don't think Spain ever could handle Florida
- eth0up 2y ago
  What a ridiculous proposal. Give it back to the Timucans, and if you can't find any, which you won't, consider the Seminoles. Billy Bowlegs for governor - I know he wouldn't turn the State Parks into golf courses!
- anthk 2y ago
  No refunds.

hansvm 2y ago

A large body doesn't really matter, but the small head does. It's about half the size (linear measurements) of a deer head for reference, which is a pretty easy shot for almost anyone at 50 yards and not bad with a twidge of focused training at 250 yards. However, for whatever reason, snakes don't seem to die very quickly when you shoot them in the head a few times (enough news stories if you're interested). I'd imagine that's at least part of where the recommendation comes from. Plus, they die incredibly slowly (if ever) if you go for a body shot. It'd probably suffer less if you drowned it (an ordeal that itself also takes hours), and none of those methods are even slightly humane.

dreamcompiler 2y ago
They can live for several minutes or even tens of minutes after decapitation. As in the head stays alive and remains capable of biting you. Every now and then a person who cuts the head off a rattlesnake gets bitten by the head and has to go to the hospital. The most humane way to kill a snake is to quickly destroy the brain by crushing the head or pithing as the article points out.