Global Warming: Boo, Hiss

Discussion Policy

Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.

Gordon: Oh, they'll definitely bite your butt. Then they'll very quickly throw coils around your body and squeeze.

Me: You mean, playfully?

Gordon: No, they squeeze so hard your heart and aorta can't pump against it, and all your blood stops flowing, and you die instantly.

Me: But you said . . .

Gordon: I said they won't eat you. They will kill you. Burmese pythons are responsible for more human deaths than any other nonvenomous large constrictor on Earth. That we know of.

Me: Oh.

Gordon: You know, I project that they're going to like some indigenous North American pest mammals as dietary items. For example, I predict they'll eat nutria, which are a nuisance to water management programs.

Me: Now we're cookin' with gas!

Gordon: Yes, that could beneficial.

Me: So, how do the snakes know the difference between nutria and, say, a dog or a cat?

Gordon: They don't.

Me: Oh.