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http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/excursions/post/enormous-python-killed-in-florida-is-a-state-record/

A Miami man briefly wrestled with and ultimately used a knife to kill a Burmese python measuring 18 feet, 8 inches.

That sets a state record for pythons captured or killed in the wild. The previous record measured 17 feet, 7 inches.

Jason Leon was not hunting pythons but, while driving late at night recently in southeast Miami-Dade County, he and a friend spotted about 3 feet of snake protruding from the brush.

Leon applied the brakes, climbed out of the car, grabbed the visible portion of the snake, and began hauling it onto the road.

The giant constrictor responded by trying to wrap its body around one of Leon’s legs, but he was able to dispatch the reptile with a knife.

Burmese pythons are native to grassy marshes of Southeast Asia and can grow to about 23 feet and weigh up to about 200 pounds.

In Florida, where they’ve been released as pets and escaped from wildlife facilities, there are thousands of them, mostly within the Everglades ecosystem.

As such a large and voracious invasive species, they’re a threat to native wildlife. The state would like to eradicate them, if that were possible.

Leon, meanwhile, is being praised.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued a news release, in which exotic species specialist Kristen Sommers stated:

“The FWC is grateful to him for both safety removing such a large Burmese python and for reporting its capture…With the help of people like Mr. Leon and our ongoing partnerships with other agencies, the FWC is advancing what we know about Burmese pythons in Florida.”

Leon, who said he once owned Burmese pythons and has experience handling the nonpoisonous snakes, reported the capture via a hotline used for reporting exotic species.

The python was delivered to the University of Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, where it was measured and a necropsy was performed.

 

[BY2K]

So the guy just saw the snake, got out of his car, pulled it out of the bushes and killed it?

 

[Rayis]

I knew it was Florida cuz of their problems with invasive pythons

 

[Slayven]

So the guy just saw the snake, got out of his car, pulled it out of the bushes and killed it?

So many jokes.

 

[highrider]

Close call Leon.

 

[Wynnebeck]

There's a joke somewhere in here about a snake in the bush, but I've got nothing.

 

[outsida]

Would have been a natural speed bump if I'd have seen it....

 

[The Technomancer]

Lets be honest, is it ever G or A anymore?

 

[Vermillion]

Lets be honest, is it ever G or A anymore?

Sometimes!

...I mean no.

 

[Sorian]

Nothing to see here folks, just taping a new episode.

 

[Furious Styles]

So the guy just saw the snake, got out of his car, pulled it out of the bushes and killed it?

That's exactly how my brain processed that article.

 

[akira28]

I was thinking why didn't he just drive over the tail to pin it down, but then he'd have 15 feet of angry snake to deal with, I guess.

 

[Anbokr]

Dude's got some massive stones, if I saw a snake like that, I'd floor it and probably end up with a speeding ticket.

 

[FelixOrion]

Snake? Respond! SNNNAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKKEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

 

[Falcs]

Leon applied the brakes, climbed out of the car, grabbed the visible portion of the snake, and began hauling it onto the road.

Why the hell did he do this?? If I see a massive snake on the road the last thing to cross my mind is to get out of my car, grab it, and pull it onto the damn road!

 

[docbon]

hey look, a snake

let's beat the shit out of it

 

[Acrylic7]

So the guy just saw the snake, got out of his car, pulled it out of the bushes and killed it?

what I was thinking.

 

[bengraven]

Snake? Respond! SNNNAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKKEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

 

[Natural]

So the guy just saw the snake, got out of his car, pulled it out of the bushes and killed it?

Hahaha, I can't even imagine seeing someone do this in the middle of the road if I was driving on the other side. I think I'd crash into a bush or something.

 

[RdN]

Jason Leon was not hunting pythons but, while driving late at night recently in southeast Miami-Dade County, he and a friend spotted about 3 feet of snake protruding from the brush.

Leon applied the brakes, climbed out of the car, grabbed the visible portion of the snake, and began hauling it onto the road.

Yeah... What the fuck??

 

[Why would you do that?]

Lets be honest, is it ever G or A anymore?

That's why some people use it as Georgia/Arizona/Florida.

Ga/Az/Fl?

 

[Amakusa]

I hope he skinned it and cooked the meat, thems good eat'n

 

[Radec]

Poor Python.

He was just looking for some rat.

 

[Sorian]

No one is highlighting the real point of this story. He was driving late at night. Fuck if I'm going to pull a snake out into the road but no way is that happening in pitch black too.

 

[Jackson50]

He has my sword.

 

[Gareth Bale]

He has my sword.

I think his knife will suffice

 

[Stinkles]

You come at the Leon, you best not hiss.

Poor Python.

He was just looking for some rat.

And half the indigenous species in Florida. Killing pythons is legit, even if you love animals.

 

[javac]

Anyone want to post that gif of that snake moving even though it's head was pretty much cut off? Yeah me neither.

 

[Deleted member 284]

You come at the Leon, you best not hiss.

Made me laught a bit too hard.

 

[Jackson50]

I think his knife will suffice

For this one, sure. But there are more out there. Slithering. Hissing. Waiting...

 

[Ignis Fatuus]

So the guy just saw the snake, got out of his car, pulled it out of the bushes and killed it?

It's an invasive species wrecking havoc on the native wildlife down there. He was rendering a public service.

 

[Not Spaceghost]

No Snake you are small time!

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

so what's Florida doing to stop these idiots from bringing in Pythons then? you can't kill them all so what then?

 

[ffdgh]

A shame he didn't throw an egg at it.

 

[ReturnOfTheRAT]

Shady. No chance in hell would I be driving along, minding my own business and decide to pull over and check out a snake.