FLORIDA INVASIVE SPECIES LIST

The Florida Everglades are already overrun with invasive pythons, but other species are apparently trying to gain a foothold in the Sunshine State. They include several species of Anaconda, the raccoon dog and a fruit bat called the flying fox. The Florida Fish and Wildlife             Conservation Commission is meeting in Gainesville today and tomorrow to decide which species should be added to the state’s prohibited species list. Because the animals under consideration aren’t on Florida’s list of prohibited species, they can come in from other states, be used for commercial purposes, or possessed as pets. Yellow anacondas, one of the three species of anaconda being considered for prohibition this week, can grow to 15 feet long. They have been found in Florida, but the FWC doesn’t believe they are breeding…Yet.