Feds declare war on pythons

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Thursday the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are stepping up efforts to eliminate Burmese pythons from the Everglades. The move comes as state officials approve plans to capture and kill the giant snakes that have invaded the river of Grass.

“Burmese pythons are an invasive species that have no place in the Everglades and threaten its delicate ecosystem,” Salazar said. “We are committed to aggressively combating this threat, including having trained and well-supervised volunteers hunt down and remove snakes.”

He said he's also directed staff to look at the possibility of spending more federal dollars this year. And he's asked federal and state agencies to develop an action plan to control the invasive species.