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Burmese Pythons Invasion of the Florida Everglades

Jun 19
Posted by cand3la in Article

The Florida Everglades is currently been invaded by a predator not native to this land. This South-East Asian predator is taking over the land by competing with the native animals for space and food.

These invaders are putting in danger all the endangered species in the Florida Everglades and in the process possibly bringing diseases with them (PBS, 2010).

Over the years many big animal warehouses had been hit hard by hurricanes (Scicchitano, 2010) and thanks to that the Burmese Python population they had in captivity escaped. Also starting as pets, the Burmese pythons have been release into the wild by their owners, who do not know what to do with them after these pets got too big to handle (In Brief., 2009). These owners are either scare due to the size of these snakes or cannot afford the bill to feed them. And in some cases, these snakes have brought tragedy to their owners by killing a family member (CBS, 2009).

After the Burmese pythons get release into the wild, they have started to breed and since they have no natural predators their population has been exponentially increasing corroding the natural habitat that exists in the Florida Everglades. The Florida Everglades, currently two and a half square miles of animal reserve, host about 36 species that are protected by the federal government who are also put in danger of extinction due to the problem (PBS, 2010).

This issue usually starts when a person goes to an exotic pet shop and buys a Burmese Python snake, usually as long as 20 inches long (PBS, 2010).  Once these people get them in their homes these predators start growing and require bigger portions of food.

In only a few years, these pythons could reach a size between 11 to 12 feet long, weighing about 200 pounds (PBS, 2010). It reaches a point when these snakes become unmanageable for their owners and they have no other choice but to set them free. Also, the collections of this predators that big animal warehouse have collected over the years have scape because these warehouses got hit hard by hurricanes (PBS, 2010).

These predators then end up in the Florida Everglades were the environment is really close to their native home of South East Asia. Been that this is the ideal environment, they reproduce and since they have no natural predators, their numbers grow exponentially.

Currently, there may be tens of thousands of Burmese Pythons roaming in the Florida Everglades (PBS, 2010). The Burmese Pythons then eat the local wildlife like other snakes, frogs, pigs, deer, and alligators among others (CBS, 2009). This is a serious problem because these predators put in danger all 36 endanger species that currently live in the Florida Everglades (PBS, 2010).

The living and non-living factors that contribute to the Burmese Pythons been in the Florida Everglades as well as who is affected by these predators comes from various sources.

The living contributing factor that plays an important role in this problem is the sales and distribution of Burmese Pythons. About 12,000 shipments of wildlife arrive in Miami every year. Among these shipments, in the last four years we have received 140,000 pythons (PBS, 2010). These predators get sold to people that in a few years are unable to take care of these animals.

Because they get too big, too expensive to feed, or get too dangerous to have, they get release into the wild. Also the big warehouses that hold these shipments of animals thanks to the frequent hurricanes in Florida they get destroy (PBS, 2010). Since these building are destroy, all these animals scape free into the wild.

Upon looking at the non-living contributing factors we find that the Florida Everglades itself plays a major role. The two and a half square miles of animal preserve is a prefect haven for the Burmese Python.

Since the Florida Everglades has the same characteristics and climate as the South-East Asian native habitat of these predators, this habitat becomes a real Club Met for the Burmese Python (PBS, 2010). The natural wetlands of the Florida Everglades become a great way of travel since the Burmese Python can swim about six miles without stopping (PBS, 2010).

And since the Burmese Python does not have any natural predator in the Florida Everglades, they have a wide open menu to all the animal species they can eat. So as you can see they have an ample supply of food, the perfect home, climate, and environment to live.

As you can see the Florida Everglades has a big problem that primarily affects the 36 species that are federally protected. The endangered species, prior to the invasion of the Burmese Python, were enjoying the protection of the Florida Everglades (PBS, 2010). Now all of these endangered species are in danger of extinction by the increase population of these predators.

Eventually we all will be affected because the natural balance of the Florida Everglades thwarted. Every animal plays an important part in the big circle of life and if we lose all these animals to the invasion of the Burmese Pythons then we are looking serious environmental implications.

As you can clearly see there is no positive human impact to this problem. This issue negatively impacts humans because these predators are a corrosive factor that could eventually kill each of the 36 endangered species currently living in the Florida Everglades.

Since their numbers keep increasing there will be more cases where these predators will come into the suburbs and possibly cause not only traffic accidents but there could be an increase in animal related attacks.

A solution needs to be reach to control the overpopulation of the Burmese Python in the Florida Everglades. The strategy implemented needs to be sustainable so we can continue controlling the overpopulation of these predators.

I believe that at this point it will be impossible to completely eradicate these snakes from the Florida Everglades but if we are able to control their numbers then our battle is won. In order to accomplish this, a couple of programs need to be put in place and well as tougher laws.

The plan that I propose to handle this issue in a sustainable way requires the support of everyone. Here are the steps required to resolve the problem of the Burmese Python invading the Florida Everglades.

Action Items

(in correct order)

 Action Steps Timeline
Create and enforce tougher law for animal warehouses. Petition law makers of the importance for the animal warehouse to protect their buildings and make them accountable if something happens. Bring signed petition. Creating of a law is imperative. 1 – 12 Months
Grant Burmese Python hunting license. Petition the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to give unlimited amounts of hunting licenses to help kill as many Burmese Pythons as possible (The Associated Press, 2009). 1 – 3 Months
Create an organization that will explorer the Everglades killing all Burmese Pythons found. Petition for the creating of a government organization under the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that will periodically search and kill these predators. 1 – 12 Months
Ban Burmese Pythons sales without a license. Petition the US government to prohibit sales of these predators without a license. 1 – 12 Months
Create a law that requires a license in order to have a Burmese Python. Petition the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to require an owner’s license to own a Burmese Python. 1 – 6 Months
Require a Burmese Python class in order to obtain a Burmese Python license. Petition the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to require a Burmese Python class to obtain an owner’s license. 1 – 6 Months
Register all Burmese Pythons owned. Petition the US government to require registration of the Burmese Pythons for all license owners. 1 – 6 Months
Set drop-off locations for owners that cannot keep their Burmese Pythons. Petition local government to set drop-off locations for those owners that cannot keep their pet Burmese Python. 1 – 3 Months
Offer a bounty for every Burmese Python killed. Petition the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to set a bounty for every Burmese Python killed. 1 – 2 Months
Create an international law that helps prevent the trafficking of Burmese Pythons. Petition the US government to create a law that protects us against the trafficking of Burmese Pythons. 1 – 12 Months

The challenges to my plans are not many. It involves hard work and dedication in order to obtain the petitions necessary to bring it to local law makers. Also the time required to locate and talk to all the necessary people that could pass laws. No counting the time necessary to make the issue publicly known. Also this plan requires funding in order to create all the programs necessary. Finally in the creating of the organization, it will require staff, which would be ideal if this staff could be federal staff.

The benefits of my plan will be the control of the population of Burmese Pythons in the Florida Everglades. This will bring the protection all each of the 36 endangered species currently living the Florida Everglades. The protection of the untouched natural beauty of the Florida Everglades, which all will collaborate to the resolution of this worldwide environmental issue.

The support require for my plan would mainly come from the implementation of laws and their enforcement by government agencies. I believe that without their support this plan would not work.

The global support is also important in helping control the trafficking of these animals to areas they do not belong. But finally the great support comes from society by educating ourselves about the issue so we can help in prevent the natural disaster that this problem could possibly cause.

As you can see from the paper, the Florida Everglades invasion of the Burmese Python is a serious environmental issue that needs to be handled immediately. Not handling this issue could bring serious environmental implications not only to locals but to the world.

References

In Brief. (2009). Alternative Journal Vol. 35 Issue 6, p4-6 http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=45177027&site=ehost-live.

CBS. (2009, July 27). Pythons Invade The Everglades. Retrieved from YouTube CBS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjaM7wBWWoc

PBS. (2010, February 21). Invation of Giant Pythons. Retrieved from PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/invasion-of-the-giant-pythons/video-full-episode/5565/

Scicchitano, P. (2010, May 18). Burmese pythons prosper in Everglades, though chilly winter reduced their number. Retrieved from The Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/17/AR2010051703119.html

The Associated Press. (2009, November 3). Florida: Wild Pythons Are Caught. Retrieved from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/us/04brfs-WILDPYTHONSA_BRF.html

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Energy Resource Plan

Jun 13
Posted by cand3la in Article

The human requirement for the consumption of energy will only increase because the human population keeps growing (Berg & Hager, 2007). Among others, this would be one of the reasons why the conservation of energy is extremely important in our environment.

Another reason why the conservation of energy is important is that this consumption of energy will also increase as many developing countries raise their standards of living (Berg & Hager, 2007).

If you look at the birth rate on this planet and the increasing numbers of developing countries raising their standard of living, it is not difficult to realize that it is only a matter of time before we could no longer have any energy to consume. Therefore, if you analyze all of these facts, you can easily see why it is so important for us to conserve energy.

Renewable energy is a better alternative to non-renewable energy. This is because non-renewable energy created from resources like coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy (Berg & Hager, 2007) cannot be renewed once these resources are no longer available.

Once the resources are all depleted, then that type of creation of energy can no longer be used. So you can see that if we rely on only these types of resources, with the increase of demand it will only be a matter of time before we would no longer have any energy.

In the other hand, resources of renewable energy can be renewable. If you look at renewal energy created from fuel cells, solar cells, or solar heating, then you will see that the renewable resource is the sun. Another type of renewable energy is wind energy, which uses wind as a resource. Or geothermal energy that uses the earth interior for the generation of energy (Berg & Hager, 2007).

Look at all these types of renewable energy and you will see a constant. All of the resources used for the creation of the renewable energy mention will always be there. The sun, wind, and the earth interior will always be there for us.

As you can clearly see that energy conservation is paramount to our environment, so we need to implement methods to conserve energy while helping the environment. There are currently several methods to help in the conservation of energy.

When you choose any or all of the methods to conserve energy, not only are you helping the environment but, in many cases, help you financially. One thing you can do to start right away is to take inventory of all technologies contained within your home. Then look for more efficient technologies to replace these old technologies with.

For example looking at your water heater you can see the energy consumption. Then research another model that will use less energy. I believe that replacing all of the technologies within your home with more energy efficient technology; will significantly reduce not only your energy consumption but your energy bill as well.

Another thing you can do to is to equip your home with solar panels for electricity and solar heater for water heater from company like The Alt E Store (Alt E Store, 2010). This will be a big investment initially but it will pay off in the long run since you will be able to minimize or eliminate your electricity bill. Another thing you can do is to examine the insulation on your home and make sure that it is well-insulated and air tight. This will make your already efficient air cooling and heating system work efficiently. In some cases if the home is super insulated, it will not require a furnace during the cold season (Berg & Hager, 2007).

The United States Government has different incentives design to help promote energy conservation. These programs are design to reward those citizens who are doing their part in the nation-wide conservation of energy. The U.S. Government feels that if they give an incentive to promote energy conservation, then more and more people will adopt these technologies and in doing so help the current energy crisis.

The U.S. Department of Energy lists some of the technologies that could get you either a tax credit, which reduces your taxes dollar-per-dollar or a tax reduction, which reduces the percentage of the tax that it is owed (The United States Department of Energy, 2010).

Among many other programs listed on the U.S. Department of Energy website, one of the programs is the “Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credit”. The U.S. Department of Energy says that any consumer who purchase and install specific products like energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in existing homes can receive a tax credit for 30% of the cost (up to $1,500) for improvements placed in service starting January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010 (The United States Department of Energy, 2010). There are many other tax credit programs that you can take advantage depending on the type of home improvement you are doing in your home. I recommend that you visit the government websites to learn more about the many opportunities available to you.

As you can see from all the information provided, it is extremely important for all of us to help in the energy conservation effort which helps our environment. Not only does it help you consume less energy but your energy bill will be reduced.

We also learn that there are many government incentive programs that you can take advantage tax credits. Energy conservation is paramount to all of us. It helps you use less energy, which in turn helps the environment.

The government helps you with some of the cost involved with the installation via tax breaks, and it helps you financial since your bill could be reduce. Help the environment by helping yourself.

References

Alt E Store. (2010). Retrieved from Alt E Store: http://www.altestore.com/store/

Berg, L. R., & Hager, M. C. (2007). Visualizing environmental science. [University of Phoenix Custom Edition e-Text]. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Retrieved Axia College, SCI 275 website.

The United States Department of Energy. (2010). Tax Breaks: Consumer Energy Tax Incentives. Retrieved from The United States Department of Energy: http://www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm

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