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iStockphoto \/ dndavis<\/p>\n
A Florida man dressed in a Santa Claus hat captured a 153-pound invasive Burmese python on Christmas Eve. He shared a photo of the snake slung over his shoulder like a knight carrying a dragon back from battle and it truly puts into perspective the size of these invasive pythons here in Florida.<\/p>\n
Using \u2018male scout snakes\u2019 to locate the breeding female, Conservancy of Southwest Florida wildlife biologist Ian Easterling was able to capture and remove one of the largest invasive pythons caught this year.<\/p>\n
Florida Man Dressed As Santa Captures 153-Pound Invasive Burmese Python<\/p>\n
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida<\/a> is located in Naples, FL which sits just on the outskirts of unbridled wilderness in the form of the Everglades National Park. This part of Florida is ground zero in the battle against invasive Burmese pythons<\/a> which are proliferating throughout SW Florida virtually unchecked because they are perfectly camouflaged for the region.<\/p>\n Field biologist Ian Easterling at the Conservancy is no stranger to capturing huge pythons in this area. In February of last year, he caught a 16-foot, 120-pound<\/a> female Burmese python while guiding some Conservancy members on a \u2018python experience.\u2019<\/p>\n And when a 19-foot snake was captured two years ago, Easterling said at the time<\/a> \u201cwe had a feeling that these snakes get this big and now we have clear evidence. Her genetic material may prove valuable for an eventual understanding of the founding population of South Florida. We will be collecting measurements and samples that will be distributed to our research collaborators.\u201d<\/p>\n Large Breeding Female Captured Using Male \u2018Scout\u2019 Snakes<\/p>\n Knowing that it is breeding season, the field biologists have employed male \u2018scout\u2019 snakes with trackers which lead them to the large females. This enables them to remove the massive female snakes and prevent hundreds of eggs from being laid in the Everglades.<\/p>\n Ian Easterling posted this photo on Christmas Eve wearing his Santa Claus hat with the snake slung over his shoulder. Look closely at just how wide this snake is!<\/p>\n For context, this invasive Burmese python weights 153-pounds. The average adult male in Pakistan weighs 145.5 pounds. In Belarus, the average adult male weighs 152.1 pounds<\/a>. In Russia, the average adult male weighs 155.6 pounds. So this snake weighs just slightly less than the average adult male in Russia. Let that sink in for a moment, that these snakes are slithering around the Everglades.<\/p>\n