Watch Three People Wrestle a 17-Foot Python in the Water

This is an epic battle between three humans and one snake. However, this is no average snake! In the fascinating clip, we see three snake hunters wrestling a 17-foot Burmese python in the Florida Everglades. The clip was captured and posted on an Instagram account called the Snakeaholic by a wildlife enthusiast who describes himself as a professional python hunter. Even so, it is clear that the three were taking a considerable risk hunting a snake of this size who was not willing to give up without a fight. Eventually, the humans were victorious and managed to drag the huge snake out of the water.

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Where Do Burmese Pythons Normally Live?

Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) are a large native snake species of the jungles and grassy marshes of Southeast Asia. They are commonly found in Eastern India and their range spreads through Vietnam and southern China. However, they are not a native species of North America. These snakes are top apex predators and are usually at the top of the food chain in their ecosystems. This explains why they are causing such a problem in the Florida Everglades!

Why Are There Burmese Pythons in the Everglades?

Prior to the mid-1990s, no Burmese pythons were found in the Florida Everglades. However, people started to import them as exotic pets. Some escaped, but others were released on purpose by irresponsible pet owners who decided they did not want them anymore! In particular, it is thought that several escaped from loosely secured cages during hurricanes and stormy weather. By 2000, a breeding population was confirmed in the Everglades and this has grown rapidly ever since.

What Do Burmese Pythons Normally Eat?

Burmese pythons are carnivorous snakes that eat small mammals and birds. In their native environments, they eat the local mice, birds, frogs, and lizards. If they are living near agricultural areas, they will help themselves to domestic fowls and even pigs!

What Are the Pythons in the Everglades Eating?

The problem is that the habitat provided by the Florida Everglades suited the pythons very well. There was a huge supply of suitable prey but these animals were not used to dealing with large carnivorous snakes and had no instinctive defenses. This has resulted in their populations being decimated. It is estimated that invasive Burmese pythons have caused a 98.9 decline in the opossum population and have totally wiped out the fox population!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © dwi putra stock/Shutterstock.com