Florida's "Python Cowboy" Traps Massive 16ft Snake With 60+ Eggs Inside
Malorie Thompson
The Florida Everglades just git a bit safer for native species thanks to state contracted animal trapper Mike Kimmel.
Kimmel specializes in "large/dangerous nuisance animal removal" and is known as the "Python Cowboy" for his ability to trap pythons!
Photo: Recently, Kimmel worked with his dog Otto to catch a massive 16ft python, and she was filled with 60+ eggs!
He shared about the catch on Facebook, saying, "Here’s one of the larger gravid pythons that Otto located for me this nesting season. She was nearly 16 feet long and contained over 60 eggs that were just days from being laid into our Everglades."
https://www.facebook.com/trappermikekimmel/posts/pfbid02T6qQrPexzXzEfCAEtSZ8UsqkZwrACmBk5at1ZkLDoZUdx9pJ8BTLpCkx2M2qwU6Bl
He went on to explain how important it is to remove pythons like the one caught. He said, "A removal like this is absolutely crucial for our native wildlife in that ecosystem and WILL make a difference. A python this size can eat anything in the Everglades, as I’ve proven with the multiple adult alligators I’ve rescued from being eaten by pythons (3 separate times). These invasive snakes are now the top of the food chain… until man & dog intervene."
According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Burmese pythons in Florida pose a threat to native wildlife. As such, they're working to manage the species in a variety of ways.
Photo: One way that the FWC manages the invasive pythons is through trapping and killing them. Members of the public and professional trappers alike can find and kill Burmese pythons in Florida, and that's what Kimmel has become known for.
It just goes to show that helping the environment and local ecosystems can look different for different people. Some people work to reduce plastic use and limit driving cars, while others eat local and still others trap pythons!
