Read "Python Invasion" and answer the questions on the right. Python Invasion!

By Leigh Driver

For years, the number-one, most feared animal in Florida has been the alligator. But recently the Burmese python has been challenging the alligators’ long-held position. Burmese pythons are native to Asia, but they have found a new home in Florida. Their numbers are increasing dramatically. Today they can be found in the wild and in suburbs across the state. Burmese pythons have lightly-colored skin with brown patches, and they are admired for their skin patterns and size. But they are also massive hunters--among the largest top six snakes in the world--and they pose a danger to people, other animals, and the environment.

How Did They Get There?

The Burmese python has become more and more popular as a house pet. This caused a surge of imports of the snake to Florida. This is not the first time Florida has become home to a species of reptile intended to be kept as a pet. The state is the adopted home of several types of reptiles. The green iguana and the speckled caiman, a type of alligator, were brought to Florida as family pets. Now, many of theses creatures live in the wild. These animals may seem like exotic and fascinating alternatives to the family cat, but they are very difficult to maintain. People often found them hard to keep at home, so they released them to the wild.

The same thing is happening with the Burmese python, an animal that begins at a manageable three feet long on average but can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh up to 250 pounds. There have been several reports of deaths in homes where pythons are kept. When a python is fully grown, many owners find they can no longer handle their exotic reptile, and they simply release it outdoors.

Another factor has been the destructive hurricanes that Florida has suffered over the years. Sometimes storms damage pet stores and animal shelters, and the reptiles get loose. When people bring their other pets to shelters, it is sometimes easier to free the snakes because of overcrowding.

Environmental Impact

A python can survive very well in the Florida climate. In fact, the Florida Everglades are the perfect home for these snakes. Some experts estimate that there are up to 100,000 Burmese pythons living in the Everglades alone. But this surge of wild pythons is not without problems.

Releasing animals into an environment where they do not belong affects that environment and the species within it. Such animal populations are referred to as a non-native species. While few creatures prey on it, the python competes with other animals in the territory. For example, alligators compete for prey with pythons. As these snakes breed and thrive, they threaten the survival of the alligators. Other animal populations may also be harmed by the presence of pythons, and Floridians who are concerned about conservation have publicized the dangers of this situation.

Danger to People

Another growing concern is that the Burmese python can seriously harm people. A python can eat an animal as large as a full-grown deer, and it is extremely difficult to control the powerful creature. Some Floridians believe that keeping these snakes as pets is simply not safe.

What Can Be Done?

Scientists and citizens have become more and more worried about the “invasion” of the Burmese python into the Florida wild. There have been proposals to ban the importation of snakes or to make it illegal to keep these animals as pets, but so far no laws have been passed. Some have even proposed destroying the pythons living in the Everglades to get rid of the problem.

Questions:
1.Which of the following statements best restates a central idea that should be included in a summary of the section, “Environmental Impact?”

A. Exotic creatures such as the Burmese python or the speckled caiman are becoming very popular as house pets in Florida.

B. With few natural enemies in the wild, the Burmese python has become a threat to the survival of native animal species in Florida.

C. When homes or stores are damaged during a hurricane, Burmese pythons and other exotic pets may escape into the Florida wilderness.

D. With hard work, Florida conservationists hope they can succeed in changing the law to make it illegal to keep Burmese pythons as pets.