Source: clickorlando.com
A two-year old tot living in Sumter County was strangled by a pet python Wednesday morning, sheriff’s officials say.
The incident occurred around 10:00 am today, and it is not known whether the pet snake was on the loose before killing the girl.
Southern Florida has been facing an invasion of snakes for several years now and scientists have speculated that Burmese pythons, natives of Asia, were turned loose into the wild following Hurricane Andrew destruction of many pet shop terraiums.
Furthermore, scientists now fear this invasive species is silently moving northward.
According to researcher Frank Mazzotti, “There’s no part of this state that you can point at and say that pythons couldn’t live here. They’re capable of incredible movement — and in a relatively short period.”
Mazzotti said that most of the pythons were brought over as pets and then turned loose in the wild.
Persons who come across pythons are urged to call wildlife officials at 888-404-FWCC.
Python Strangles 2-Year-Old Girl
[…] daughter, Shaianna Hare, two-years-old, was killed on July 1st when an 8th foot unlicensed python kept at the family home escaped, got into the tot’s crib […]