Tuesday, July 3, 2012 - Oxbow's July 7 Lecture Ponders Pythons In Florida

In the past decade, South Florida has become a veritable hotspot for media attention and their focus has been on the hostile take-over by the monstrously large, deadly and most unwelcome python. Although not the only or even the biggest species of invasive of giant snake in the Everglades, the Burmese Python which can reach lengths of 20 feet has begun decimate many of the animals that call this vulnerable ecosystem home. Join the Oxbow Eco-Center on Saturday, July 7 at noon as Capt. Jeffrey Fobb discusses the biology, behaviors, impacts and the removal efforts of pythons from Florida.

Biologists believe that the pet trade is to blame for the python introductions into the Everglades. The thought is that the first pythons were released into the wild by pet owners who did not know how to properly care for or how take responsibility for these large snakes. Since the 1980s pythons had been found sporadically but now they are reproducing in the wild at an alarming rate. Learn what you can do to help stop this invasion.

Capt. Fobb from the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Venom Response Unit has worked for many years in association with the Nature Conservancy’s “Python Patrol” and the State Parks helping to take care of the python issue. He will also be discussing what the future holds for the pythons in Florida. Python Patrol is an organization that removes invasive snakes and lizards, train individuals to assist in the removal and provides educational programming for the general public.

Bring your lunch and a friend to this free lecture. The Oxbow Eco-Center is a St. Lucie County Environmental Learning Center located at 5400 NE St. James Drive, Port St. Lucie, Fla. 34983. For more information, contact the Oxbow at 772-785-5833, send an email to oxbow@stlucieco.org, or visit www.oxboweco.com.