The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says it has euthanized a 9-foot long anaconda found in Central Florida. Officials say a fisherman spotted the green anaconda by State Road 50, near the St. Johns River.
Anacondas are not native to the Central Florida area.
From the FWC’s Facebook page: “Our officers responded to a call from a citizen about a 9+ foot green anaconda. Thanks to the quick reporting by the caller, the officers were able to euthanize the nonnative constrictor before it could escape into the water. This incident shows how important it is to report sightings of nonnative wildlife including constrictor snakes like this one. If you see nonnative fish and wildlife please report them to our Invasive Species Hotline at 1-888-IveGot1 (1-888-483-4861), online at IVEGOT1.org or by using the free smart phone app IVEGOT1.”
If you would like to provide hands-on help to combat nonnatives in Florida, register for the Python Challenge. Pythonchallenge.org