Swamp Apes, PTSD and Pythons in the Everglades
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
Eugene, Oregon
December 22, 2017 11:50am CST
I have been fascinated (and little horrified) at the thought of Burmese Pythons, turned loose in the Everglades by irresponsible "pet" owners. They are decimating the Everglades native species can grow to nearly 20 feet in length and over 100 pounds. That is one big ugly snake!
Lots of people hunt these monsters, but I heard a story this week of a group of US military veterans who call themselves the Swamp Apes, who combat their PTSD problems with camaraderie and the thrill of the hunt in capturing these big snakes. One vet I read about says, it helps keep away the nightmares. Most of the captured snakes are euthanized by authorities.
The "Apes" have been around for a few years now trying to reduce the python population, which is estimated at over 100,000 and doing themselves some good too.
Link to the Swamp Apes website:
EndureEvolveAchieve Dedicated to serving Veterans through serving the Wilderness The Swamp Apes Established April 29, 2009 Founding Chapter of the Volunteer Wilderness Alliance View on Mobile
17 people like this
15 responses
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
22 Dec 17
@JamesHxstatic Are they poisonous or do they kill their victims by crushing them?
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
25 Dec 17
I can imagine that walking under trees there could be a dangerous thing.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
25 Dec 17
@DianneN Happy Hannukkuh to you, Dianne!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246906)
• United States
25 Dec 17
@JamesHxstatic I get the shivers just thinking about it! Merry Christmas to you!!!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458230)
• Switzerland
23 Dec 17
@JamesHxstatic Look how cute baby alligators are and how big and dangerous they become.
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@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
23 Dec 17
@LadyDuck That is a good example, Anna.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
23 Dec 17
Yes, what was once small can grow to unmanageable sizes.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118459)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Dec 17
Wow, as a Floridian who hears and reads about the pythons all the time, I must admit I hadn't heard about the Swamp Apes! That is awesome what they are doing! Those snakes are so darn elusive, despite their giant size, so it must be a great thrill for these guys to hunt and capture them!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118459)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Dec 17
@JamesHxstatic Wow, a 15-footer is quite a catch, considering the record in the Everglades is only a little over 19 feet!
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@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
23 Dec 17
I am sure it is. I heard an interview on NPR with reporter along when they were out about 12 hours and got a 15 footer.
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@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
22 Dec 17
It is for sure. Those snakes are invasive and breed like rabbits.
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@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
23 Dec 17
It really is good on both sides.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Dec 17
@JamesHxstatic There are four Vietnam vets in Vince's casual golf group and they are TPIs (totally and permanently incapacitated). They all have PTSD. I think the golf (which involves a lot of banter followed by coffee and chips) is quite therapeutic for them too. While we were away, one 'regressed' and spent about 10 weeks in hospital. Thankfully he seems much better now.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)
• China
23 Dec 17
It is nice of the military veterans to capture these big snakes off their own bat.The pythons damage the native ecological balance.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
23 Dec 17
They certainly do wreak havoc with native species.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
27 Dec 17
This has been an issue for a long time, but hopefully the Swamp Apes will get these under control soon.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
27 Dec 17
I'm afraid it will take an army of vets to do that.
@Tampa_girl7 (49014)
• United States
23 Dec 17
I appreciate what they are doing to reduce the population. Any snake frightens me
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
25 Dec 17
Many snakes are quite beneficial, but these pythons are bad news.
@RasmaSandra (73473)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Dec 17
That is fascinating and scary too. One of these days these snakes might start invading homes.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
23 Dec 17
I am not sure how close any homes are to the 'glades.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Dec 17
I have read about these pythons in the Everglades. These "introduced" species are doing damage across the country.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
22 Dec 17
Yes, it is a really bad thing.
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@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
23 Dec 17
I couldn't do it. Snakes make me wig out.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
23 Dec 17
Might be fun to hunt them, but someone else could do the wrestling.
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@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
23 Dec 17
I would not like to be anywhere near these snakes.
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
22 Dec 17
Wow, these snakes multiply fast! That's a useful and constructive way of working out their stress!
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
22 Dec 17
It is a constructive way for vets to use the skills they learned in the military and so some good too.
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