Authorities prosecuted a man from New York City for carrying three Burmese pythons in his trousers as he crossed the US-Canadian border.
The New Yorker may be subject to a maximum term of 20 years in jail and a fine of up to $250,000 for breaking international and domestic rules regarding the illegal trade in and ownership of wild creatures, including Burmese pythons, in the United States.
New Yorker Smuggles Python Near US-Canadian Border
Authorities in the area charged Calvin Bautista, a 36-year-old New Yorker, of transporting the concealed snakes on a bus into northern New York in July 2018.
According to NBC News, the accusation was based on the importation of Burmese pythons, which is prohibited by an international convention and local legislation since they are "injurious to human beings."
Bautista, a native of Queens, New York, was allegedly charged with federal smuggling on Tuesday, October 4, in Albany and freed pending trial.
According to federal prosecutors, the offense carries a possible penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 29: Edward Mercer, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission non-native Wildlife Technician, holds a Burmese Python during a press conference in the Florida Everglades about the non-native species on January 29, 2015, in Miami, Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, along with the Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (ECISMA), Miami-Dade County, National Park Service, South Florida Water Management District, U.S. Fish, and Wildlife Service, United States Geological Survey, University of Florida were surveying an area for the Northern African pythons (also called African rock pythons) and the Burmese Python in western Miami-Dade County. The teams of snake hunters were checking the levees, canals, and marsh on foot for the invasive species of reptiles. Many non-native snakes have been introduced into the wild when people release pet snakes after they grow too large to keep.
Burmese Pythons: Invasive and Vulnerable Species
The Burmese python, a nocturnal predator, kills its victim through constriction.
Even though it spends its early years on land or trees, it is the largest and most water-dependent member of the Python molurus complex, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
These invasive snakes, in particular, pose a threat to native amphibians, birds, bats, lizards, and snake species.
Additionally, it endangers both domesticated animals and people, especially young children.
The stealthy reptiles can harm agricultural endeavors as well.
Adult pythons have also been known to attack full-grown caimans, goats, pigs, and even pet owners in a number of confirmed incidents.
Despite their terrifying reputation, Burmese pythons are nevertheless included on the IUCN Red List as "vulnerable" species.
Biggest Snakes Yet
The Burmese python (Python bivittatus) is one of the world's biggest snakes.
This snake species, native to Asia, is considered invasive in Florida, where it threatens the survival of other wildlife.
The pythons compete with other natural species for food by preying on small animals.
They became one of south Florida's expanding issues in the 1980s.
According to the Florida Fish and Animals Conservation Commission, the huge nonvenomous constrictor is mostly found in and around the Everglades habitat in south Florida, where it continues to pose a danger to local wildlife.
It is still unclear how many Burmese pythons there are in Florida.
Unconfirmed sources indicated that it might have more than 100,000 people throughout the entire state.
According to Newsweek, the terrifying reptiles' reputation for outcompeting local fauna for food has resulted in a decline in the numbers of native mammals in the Everglades.
RELATED ARTICLE: Pair of 10-Foot Carpet Pythons Captured on Video; Snakes Caught on Cam Writhing on the Floor, Grappling Each Other
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