Burmese pythons studied in S. Carolina

AIKEN, S.C., June 28 (UPI) -- Ten Burmese pythons have been imported to South Carolina for a study to determine if the huge snakes can survive and thrive outside subtropical areas.

The pythons, which can grow to 20 feet long and 200 pounds, are known to be breeding in the Florida Everglades. The population there is believed to descend from pets released by owners when they became too large to handle and too expensive to feed.

The snakes at the Savannah River Ecology Lab are living in a large enclosure designed to be escape-proof, The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle reported Saturday. They also have radio chips so they can be tracked if they do get lose.

"Part of what we want to learn is how far north they could survive," J.D. Willson, a post-doctoral research scientist at the lab, said.

Scientists plan to observe how the snakes deal with colder weather in South Carolina. Some researchers believe pythons could adapt to life in much of the southern United States, while others say they need conditions like those in their native tropical swamps, limiting them to a few areas, mostly in southern Florida.

The National Parks Service, University of Florida and Davidson University are cooperating with the lab in the study. The lab is operated by the University of Georgia.