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This was a Christmas visitor who didn’t overstay his welcome.
A Burmese python spotted in a Miami-Dade neighborhood was removed just days before Christmas, when a resident out for a walk spotted the snake hiding inside an areca palm next to a home and contacted a local snake wrangler.
The snake was removed after neighbors grew concerned about its proximity to homes, pets and children as the holidays approached.
Video from the scene captured the stunned reactions of nearby residents as the python was pulled from the palm tree.
“Oh my God, oh my God,” an unidentified woman can be heard gasping as the snake emerges.
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Humane Iguana Control pulls a Burmese python from an areca palm in a Florida neighborhood. (Courtesy of Humane Iguana Control)
Michael Ronquillo of Humane Iguana Control identified the snake on camera as a Burmese python and explained how it got into the residential area.
“So this is a Burmese python that was invading this neighborhood. It probably came up near one of the local canals. So we’re glad we were able to capture it,” Ronquillo said.
While residents appeared alarmed by the snake’s size, Ronquillo remained calm while handling it.
“Yeah, I thought it would be bigger,” she said, petting the reptile.
Ronquillo said the python’s location made the situation particularly dangerous because it was hiding inside a betel nut tree that sat directly next to a house.
Ronquillo said, “It was so deep in this den that it could have easily snatched someone’s pet or attacked a human. Luckily a neighbor out walking kept an eye on where it was hiding.”
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A Burmese python was spotted hiding under a betel nut tree in the Miami-Dade area of Florida before being removed. (Courtesy of Humane Iguana Control)
“The areca palm was actually right next to the house, so it was quite dangerous,” he said.
According to Ronquillo, the python was “about six and a half feet long and weighed about 30 pounds”.
Residents were particularly concerned about the potential danger to their families if the snake remained in the neighborhood.
“Since this is not a very common occurrence, they were quite surprised to see such a large snake in their neighborhood. They were mostly concerned about pets and small children,” Ronquillo said. “They were also concerned that the situation could have worsened if it had laid eggs.”
Ronquillo said removing the snake was risky due to its location inside the palm.
He said, “The place where I was hiding him was quite dangerous because it was difficult to determine where the betel nut had his head with so many palm reserves.”
Michael Ronquillo poses with a Burmese python after it was removed from a Florida neighborhood. (Courtesy of Humane Iguana Control)
Despite the danger, Ronquillo said the experience makes a difference.
“Doing iguana removal and python removal on a regular basis, you get used to handling them. It’s a thrill for us,” he said.
Ronquillo said if the python had remained in the area it could have posed a serious threat to pets and wildlife.
“It will start eating cats and native animals like possums and raccoons,” he said.
Ronquillo said python sightings are becoming more common in urban areas.
“It’s becoming quite common, with at least one to two evictions happening every month in urban areas,” he said. “About five months ago, we removed another python in Doral that also caused panic.”
He warned residents not to attempt to catch the python themselves.
Michael Ronquillo of Humane Iguana Control holds a Burmese python after it was removed from a Miami-Dade neighborhood in Florida. (Courtesy of Humane Iguana Control)
“They have about 100 very sharp teeth that curve backwards [to] Stop their hunting,” Ronquillo said. “Having [a] If the python is very large, the bite may be difficult or fatal,” he added.
Ronquillo said residents should refrain from intervening if they spot a python.
“They should keep an eye on it and not disturb it so that it doesn’t run away,” he said. “And then [do] Don’t try to take over if you don’t have the experience.”
Ronquillo said trained professionals are best equipped to safely handle aggressive snakes.
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“Trained python removal companies like ours have the knowledge and expertise to complete the job correctly and safely,” he said.
“Being an invasive species, it is also important to euthanize it in a humane manner, as stated on the FWC [Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission] Website,” he added.
