Escapees Survival Chances?

[BROWNS]

Hi guys,ican't remeber what thread etc i read ages ago but it was regarding snakes that have escaped from peoples collections, or let go, be they natives or certain exotics and it was mentioned that they would not survive.

One opinion or two put forward was that snakes have home ranges and even if you relocate a wild snake a certain distance outside from where it was found that it would not survive.

I 100 % disagree with this and would like to hear peoples thoughts and opinions if they feel like sharing them..Say a corn snake or 3 escaped in sunny queensland or jungles etc that are out of their natural range???

Cheers..

 

[olivehydra]

If environmental conditions are fine I dont see why an exotic population couldnt survive. Situations such as Florida and Guam are prime examples of how foriegn species have thrived. Perhaps a larger group than 3 or 4 individuals would be required for ongoing population growth though.

 

[Dicco]

If the exotic is just as well adapted or even better adapted than the local species that fill the same void, there is every chance the exotic(or even a native from a different reigon) could take hold and start to populate the area.

 

[Jungleland]

I had a Juvie diamond python escaped about 6 or 7years ago, He went missing when he was 6 months old, 23 months later I found a shed skin in my shed which is a few meters away from my house, so I started searching and got him back, he grew a fair bit and was in top condition, that is almost two years, He survived two cold winters obviuosly with no dramas.

By the way I'm in south Oz...

 

[Jason]

here is a good example of an Australian snake becoming a pest, after being introduced onto an island, i dont know if many of you new that our brown tree snake is a pest over seas. here are some links., i have red that it was fist introduced in a war from an australian plane.

http://www.fort.usgs.gov/resources/fact_sheets/btsnake/btree.asp
http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/Snake.html
http://www.hear.org/AlienSpeciesInHawaii/articles/browntreesnake_worldconservation.htm

 

[Herc]

I believe most reptiles and animals for that matter are capable of quickly adapting to survive in new environments. however extreme conditions are usually a good exception ie the arctic regions etc

 

[Herc]

a good example of adaption and survival is with the green iguana. as there is actually a small population of them living in the blue mountains. i know this first hand.

 

[Jason]

a good example of adaption and survival is with the green iguana. as there is actually a small population of them living in the blue mountains. i know this first hand.

well in thats case, they should be put on liscence and aloud to be kept, if they have adapted then techniqualy they can be classed as "natives". iw ould happily take one .
where is it in the blue mountains they are located have you seen them?

 

[Splitmore]

a good example of adaption and survival is with the green iguana. as there is actually a small population of them living in the blue mountains. i know this first hand.

Herc,
I find it very hard to believe a tropical lizard that feeds on fairly specialised diet of fruit and plant matter could survive at all in the Australian bush, let alone an area that get down to almost freezing at times of the year.

 

[Dicco]

I'm with Splitmore, I'll eat my words when I see an Iguana living healthy in the Blue Mountains, I'd be more inclined to think it's a simple case of mis-identification, Water Dragons probably. And I know your only joking Jason but what your saying is toads and feral cats would also be native.

 

[Greebo]

I know of a Darwin python that escaped on a Wagga property 5 years ago and is still alive and well. They occassionally spot him in the hay shed but he is usually very high up and they have long since given up trying to catch him.

 

[Retic]

Iguanas will easily tolerate freezing temperatures, in Florida where it gets very cold in the morning they go as stiff as a board and 'thaw' out in the morning. They also have anything but a specialised diet, they will eat anything and everything. They could easily survive in the Blue Mountains

 

[Possum]

When you get them back after such a long "I'm Free" stint, do they settle back into captivity well? :?

 

[munkee]

With the common escapees like carpets I can't see any reason where snakes and prey live. If the animal can attain body temps that let it hunt and there is enough food so it can eat it should survive. A darwin in wagga for example, The colouring of a darwin speaking in eveloution terms was less successful than the local colouring and hence was out competed.

I can't see why a copperhead couldn't live in north QLD. Same with a carpet or python in Vic.
Areas that a species isn't in is not ness because it couldn't just less successful than whats there. My two cents.