TALLAHASSEE -- Pythons and lizards and anacondas, oh my! That’s the message Florida wildlife officials and a pair of state lawmakers sent today as they gathered to launch legislation to put tighter regulations on bone-crushing reptiles they say are slithering their way across South Florida.

Faced with the proliferation of giant snakes, monitor lizards and other dangerous non-venomous reptiles dumped in the wild by overwhelmed pet owners, two Treasure Coast lawmakers are sponsoring measures to stop the invasion of exotic, earth-hugging predators that are competing for food with native species.

Despite a few sensational snake stories, state wildlife officials say the public does not appreciate the scale of the problem, which is getting worse in remote regions throughout the Everglades and Southwest Florida.

If approved, the measure would require a $100 fee from owners of large non-venomous reptiles to help fund education efforts and amnesty programs. The bill would add Burmese, African rock, reticulated and amethystine pythons and monitor lizards to the list of reptiles requiring registration. Officials estimate as many as 5,000 Floridians would be required to permit their pets.

Last year, game officers found 71 adult constrictors in the Everglades, which they say represents a tiny percentage of the well-camouflaged critters living in the region and competing with other native species for food.

Find additional coverage in Friday's edition of the Daily News.

Naples Daily News
Naples Sun Times
The Banner

Collier Citizen
Vista Semanal
PrepZone

Coastalbeat
Set Anchor
SWFLMoms