Antidote
Episode 5
Florida Infested with Invasive Reptile Species
Snakes, iguanas, and a host of invasive species have overrun Florida-decimating many local indigenous species of animals. How Burmese Pythons, Iguanas, and large lizards became popular pets, before falling out of favor and being abandoned in Florida is explored with Captain Jeffrey Fobb of the Florida Venom Response Unit. We discuss the legal and environmental playing field that has become a slithering mess in the South Eastern United States, on the Antidote with Michael Parker.
Episode Breakdown
00:00 Welcome Captain Jeffrey Fobb to Antidote.
00:34 Fobb’s work on invasive species featured in Time Magazine.
01:30 What does Fobb’s job generally entail?
02:35 The fluctuating population of invasive burmese pythons in Florida.
05:33 How often does Fobb encounter other invasive pythons that are not burmese pythons?
06:50 How did these non-native reptiles come to roam wild in Florida?
08:01 These pythons don’t have natural predators in Florida.
09:55 The reproduction cycle of a python.
11:15 What is the largest python Fobb has ever caught?
13:35 The python’s effect on other animals populations.
14:45 Pythons can swim.
16:10 Why haven’t pythons spread to other places with similar climates as Florida?
17:40 How often does Fobb have to retrieve burmese pythons and other animals?
18:30 Is it still legal to own a python as a personal pet?
21:15 The Python Challenge in 2013. What are Fobb’s thoughts on this?
24:02 The Python Patrol taught civil servants how to respond and remove pythons in Florida.
26:20 People are getting snakes as pets without knowing to take care of them.
29:15 The abandonment of large lizards in Florida.
31:00 Lizards can thrive in city settings.
32:45 Florida has a the most invasive species of animals in the world.
33:30 Are these invasive species here to stay in Florida?
35:25 Thank you and goodbye.
Guest Bio
Captain Jeffrey Fobb currently works on the B-Shift at the Venom Response Unit. He is a responder to snake bite incidents, recovery of venomous and exotic fauna, Technical Large Animal Rescue, and support of fire suppression and rescue units.
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