I had a question that I've been scratching my head about. Ever since last Monday Temps down here in Miami have been from lows 30's and Highs at 60-65 degrees. For 6 days the weather here has been Horrible. No offense to the others that deal with these temps everyday:rolleyes:

Today its been raining all days and highs were at 42-45. Tonight it should get to 35 degrees giving us some chances of sleet.

How much can a cold blooded python thats used to high humid temperatures in the jungles of the Burma take?
Will this start killing them off? If it will only kill pythons, then what about the other Florida native reptiles? Is it because pythons thrive off of the high humidity and native reptiles can deal with low humid numbers?

Im guessing the pythons can live but slowly develop IR because of the lack of humidity and heat thats been lacking here for 6 days.

Let me know what you think.
Also this should be brought to the attention to those that believe in this python Ban and believe pythons can roam any state north of Florida.

I've had stuff get sick when the temps dipped into the low 60's during a power outage a few years back, they were healthy until that point...depends on the animal I suppose but my guess is some of the native stuff will be affected because it doesn't happen that often down there....and just so you know I would love to see a high in the 30's right now...:lmao:

I've seen a lot of people posting about how all the burmese are going to die because of the cold and everything and I support the effort to keep the ban away but I honestly don't think it will affect as much as people think. Animals know what is going on with the weather more than we do and I think a lot of the animals that would be vulnerable to the cold would and can find a sufficient place to hide and stay warm enough to survive the week or so of cold. Granted I'm sure it will kill off some of the animals that are suddenly subjected to the cold but I am willing to bet it will be less than most are thinking. If it helps keep the ban away I'm all for it and will support it but in my mind I truly don't believe it will affect as much as most think because of the cold.

I've seen a lot of people posting about how all the burmese are going to die because of the cold and everything and I support the effort to keep the ban away but I honestly don't think it will affect as much as people think. Animals know what is going on with the weather more than we do and I think a lot of the animals that would be vulnerable to the cold would and can find a sufficient place to hide and stay warm enough to survive the week or so of cold. Granted I'm sure it will kill off some of the animals that are suddenly subjected to the cold but I am willing to bet it will be less than most are thinking. If it helps keep the ban away I'm all for it and will support it but in my mind I truly don't believe it will affect as much as most think because of the cold.

I think differently. theres a reason these animals are in certain areas of the world. 32 and under is freezing, a snake doesnt have much insulation as far as i know(i could be wrong) but the point is, they're kind of just like a human. there bodys require heat to function/survive just like a humans does. a human cant even make it through nights like that without heavy blankets or something. a reptiles body would begin to shut down just like a humans. imo, thats like sending a californian to alaska in mid winter in nothing but a pair of shorts and t-shirt lol. it's not going ot make it.

Luke, I agree that animals know what's goin' on with the weather better than we do but these are tropical animals and if the cold snap lasts long enough it WILL take a toll. Iguanas are fallin' outa trees, after all :D. I don't believe it will kill all of them, not by a long shot, but it will certainly affect the population.

If gators can survive I think Burms will too.

If gators can survive I think Burms will too.

Gators live in/around water...which doesn't change as quickly as air temp, plus being native they have to survive those temps every few years I'm sure, but I agree it's not going to take out all of the non native reptiles.

Gators range into North Carolina. I suspect they can take the cold rather better than pythons. (except maybe Boelen's . . . )

~Bruce

If gators can survive I think Burms will too.

I was out hunting yesterday and found multiple dead FL native reptiles. Mostly turtles, one ring neck 2 ribbons and a garter just laying out dead. I didnt see any gators but further north like Gainsville I bet this cold could kill a few gators.

Gators live in/around water...which doesn't change as quickly as air temp, plus being native they have to survive those temps every few years I'm sure, but I agree it's not going to take out all of the non native reptiles.

Bryce, you're right about water temp. I hadn't thought of that. The burms could use that to their advantage. They aren't aquatic, but they DO like water.

Gators live in/around water...which doesn't change as quickly as air temp, plus being native they have to survive those temps every few years I'm sure, but I agree it's not going to take out all of the non native reptiles.

So true about the water. Over here the water is just steaming with fog, showing the temps in the waters are different from the air temps.

I think some Burms will get through this, and some wont. The most important and helpful thing about this cold snap is that their not being cared for by the tropical temps theyre used too. During these 7 days it will be harder for them to digest big meals, and with the humidity gone, it will make it harder for them to stand the abnormal air temps. Lets just see if this cold snap adds a little salt to our defense up in washington against the Ban.

here try this.http://www.vpi.com/sites/vpi.com/files/comeoutofcold_bchs.pdf

I agree...I didn't say nothing would be affected by the cold...but I think it will affect most of the wildlife equally whether its non-indigenous or native. Anytime a sudden change in the weather happens like this it will affect the wildlife but what I was talking about was most people saying that it will kill most burms and suddenly make everything peachy and wonderful out in florida that the cold is going to kill everything non-indigenous and sparing the native wildlife.

but what I was talking about was most people saying that it will kill most burms and suddenly make everything peachy and wonderful out in florida that the cold is going to kill everything non-indigenous and sparing the native wildlife.

It's a nice thought for those nieve(sp) enough to believe it, but I think WE all know Floridas native wildlife will also be affected by this in a negative way.

Not real sure where a pythons would go to stay warm. One night in a hole yeah it will be OK 3 days plus dead unless It under someones house with a leaking heating duct.
Cold weather should of killed at least 2 million of the wild pythons.LOL

This could actually be very helpful to the reptile community or blow up really bad for us if they do find pythons, healthier than ever.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/weather/01/10/us.cold.weather/index.html

Theirs was just a Freeze warning. Throughout south florida, theirs a wind chill advisory for about 25 degrees and lower for tonight:eek:

I'm just outside Tampa. We had a low of 21 degrees last night.

I'm sure they'd report it but I gotta ask................ has there been any bodies found yet?

I think it's gonna be pretty tough on the burms. The everglades sit over a massive limestone slab and you can't go down very far before hitting it so they can't really burrow underground to get away from the cold like they would in their native habitat.

I'm sure they'd report it but I gotta ask................ has there been any bodies found yet?

I dont think any researchers have given it a try to look for any bodies. I think Wednesday it should start warming up again and thats when things will get back to normal. So im guessing thats when they'll look for the burms that have the tracking devices to see whether or not the cold frigid weather really affected them.
This could possibly be really bad for us, or a really good.
I doubt the discovery of dead burms will make any headlines though. Everyone wants to hear evil Giant snake survives winter like temps and could possibly move North into your town.:mad:


Right now people are just seeing all types of Non Native lizards laying all over their yards. Some are dead, and some still alive.

I found these Cuban Knight anoles this morning. The two small ones are dead. The larger one in the middle is still alive but Paralyzed and stunned from the cold. All you can see is its eyes moving.
Phone pics
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/crisstyle21/IMG00027-20100111-1240.jpg
This Morning on the hood of my car. It was 31 at the time. I live at the bottom of Florida, right in the heart of the glades.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/crisstyle21/19733_1224128161441_1176116302_3057.jpg

What happens is, breathing is affected and they suffocate. Once a large python loses its body heat, it would have to be exposed to strong direct sunlight to gain it back quickly. If the animal is hiding and chilled, the chances of that occurring sound problematic given the animal would be unable to thermoregulate by behaviour, ie haul itself out from a cold hide place. That leaves heat from composting vegetation in a hidespot, and ground heat as possible survival tools. I think the ground would possibly be warm enough in south Florida given the average annual ground temp is over 70 degrees f, assuming a python made it into an underground burrow that is..

I dont think any researchers have given it a try to look for any bodies. I think Wednesday it should start warming up again and thats when things will get back to normal. So im guessing thats when they'll look for the burms that have the tracking devices to see whether or not the cold frigid weather really affected them.
This could possibly be really bad for us, or a really good.
I doubt the discovery of dead burms will make any headlines though. Everyone wants to hear evil Giant snake survives winter like temps and could possibly move North into your town.:mad:

They may survive the cold, but this is breeding season. I'll bet that even if they survive the cold there won't be many hatchlings this year.

Good point. That WOULD slow down the population explosion a bit wouldn't it?

This is a pic I took with my blackberry.

Found this green iguana "dead". Not paralyzed, but dead. The cold didnt let this guy come back.
Its warmed up for a couple of days, and tonight its going to get around 52.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b103/crisstyle21/IMG00031-20100119-1429.jpg

This guy didn't fair to well, frozen like a rock!

http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/frozensnake.jpg

This guy didn't fair to well, frozen like a rock!

http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/frozensnake.jpg

You see, now why doesnt that make the news.:mad::mad:
Seems like giant super mutant snakes that will eat humans, make the news headlines sound better. I truly wish their was a voice out there that will defend us.

You see, now why doesnt that make the news.:mad::mad:
Seems like giant super mutant snakes that will eat humans, make the news headlines sound better. I truly wish their was a voice out there that will defend us.

Chris, we are the voice! Do what you can, and try to be heard! Letters, calls, even just little bits like that into your local paper, it all helps. People don't want to listen, doesn't mean that you can't be that voice in defense!:cheers:

Well theres still a few Burms left in Everglades National. Found this guy on my Bday on January 16th. But my friend with the National Park Service told me they found 6 or 7 dead burms after the freeze. This guy had a URI for sure. You could feel him crackling in the bag.

http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr201/WinstonHS/Camping1-15-1-18-2010056email.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr201/WinstonHS/Camping1-15-1-18-2010049email.jpg

Cool find - thanks for posting the shot. What did you do with that one?

BTW, happy belated birthday!

Cool find - thanks for posting the shot. What did you do with that one?

BTW, happy belated birthday!

Euthanized.

Tom Crutchfeild weighs in.
http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1781711,1781711