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RESTON, Va. - U.S. Geological Survey scientists say five
giant non-native snake species would pose high ecosystem
risks if they become established in the United States. The
USGS report is based on the biology and known natural hist-
ory of non-native boa, anaconda and python species that are
invasive or potentially invasive in the United States. Two
of the species are documented as reproducing in the wild in
(South Florida), with population estimates for Burmese pythons
in the tens of thousands. The five most potentially danger-
ous species were identified by the USGS as Burmese pythons,
both northern and southern African pythons, boa constrictors
and yellow anacondas. "This report clearly reveals that
these giant snakes threaten to destabilize some of our most
precious ecosystems and parks, primarily through predation
on vulnerable native species," said herpetologist Robert
Reed, a coauthor of the report. The report notes there are
no control tools yet that seem adequate for eradicating an
established population of giant snakes once they have spread
over a large area. "We have a cautionary tale with the
American island of Guam and the brown tree snake," said
Reed. "Within 40 years of its arrival, this invasive snake
has decimated the island's native wildlife -- 10 of Guam's
12 native forest birds, one of its two bat species and about
half of its native lizards are gone." The 300-page USGS re-
port is available at:
giant non-native snake species would pose high ecosystem
risks if they become established in the United States. The
USGS report is based on the biology and known natural hist-
ory of non-native boa, anaconda and python species that are
invasive or potentially invasive in the United States. Two
of the species are documented as reproducing in the wild in
(South Florida), with population estimates for Burmese pythons
in the tens of thousands. The five most potentially danger-
ous species were identified by the USGS as Burmese pythons,
both northern and southern African pythons, boa constrictors
and yellow anacondas. "This report clearly reveals that
these giant snakes threaten to destabilize some of our most
precious ecosystems and parks, primarily through predation
on vulnerable native species," said herpetologist Robert
Reed, a coauthor of the report. The report notes there are
no control tools yet that seem adequate for eradicating an
established population of giant snakes once they have spread
over a large area. "We have a cautionary tale with the
American island of Guam and the brown tree snake," said
Reed. "Within 40 years of its arrival, this invasive snake
has decimated the island's native wildlife -- 10 of Guam's
12 native forest birds, one of its two bat species and about
half of its native lizards are gone." The 300-page USGS re-
port is available at:
