Reticulated Python Found Dead in Long Island, New York

Reticulated Python Found Dead in Long Island, New York 

By: Kyanna Gonzalez

Published by CBS News on March 6th, 2023, a reticulated python was found dead on the side of the road in the Long Island, New York town of Medford. The python was discovered on Valentine's day and reported to the Department of Environmental Conservation to be removed from the side of the road. This story circulated the news outlets as the reticulated python was measured to be fourteen feet long. Author Li Cohen illustrates the length of the python by comparing it to the height of most single-story homes. The article has a picture of the python reaching the length of a police truck. When officials found the dead snake, it was curled up in a ball. Pythons curl up into a ball for warmth, protection, and/or to combat fear or stress. In the case of this fourteen-foot reticulated python, it was most likely curled up for protection and to combat stress and fear. 

Reticulated pythons are considered to be the longest snake recorded globally. Li Cohen denotes that reticulated pythons are native to Southern Asia and can grow to be as long as twenty-feet long. These massive snakes are known to be predators that eat other large animals like deer, boar, birds, and rabbits. 

Interestingly enough, London's Natural History Museum has a record of a reticulated python that was thirty-three feet long back in 1912. This article provided un-biases commentary and presented facts with links to the information she used for CBS News. 

Many animals are victims of being killed or injured by cars. Highways have disrupted the habitats of many animals across the U.S. and animals traveling from one area to the next fall victim to being roadkill. One way to combat animals from being victims of roadkill could be adding tunnels and fences along the highway to allow for animals to safely cross the highway. For example, the Flordia Panthers were on the brink of extinction due to death by motor vehicles as a major Florida highway separated the panther's natural habitat. In order to combat this extinction, Floridians devised a plan to implement tunnels and walkways for local wildlife to safely cross the highway and decrease the number of animal deaths by cars. Coupled with the tunnels for animals to walk across, fences would be implemented to funnel any animals to the appropriate tunnel/walkway. If states like Long Island implemented highway protocols to aid in animal safety, then animal death by vehicles could decrease and this reticulated python could have been saved. 

Here is a link to the original story by Li Cohen on CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reticulated-python-found-dead-road-long-island/

ECO Kaufherr with deceased 14-foot reticulated python. CBS NEWS