LIONS, TIGERS AND PYTHONS, OH MY

[Grandpa Caver]

Maybe I shoulda posted this in "Critters I Caves" but I hope it doesn't come to that!

http://tinyurl.com/2hbgn2

[Ralph E. Powers]

Burmese pythons are technically illegal in the U.S. because of the hazards they present when they get too large, and they do get very large. As the article states several hundred pounds of a hungry reptile is going to be hard to beat. There are ways to break a python's grip however if they're intent on trying to squeeze you... pouring alcohol (bourbon, whiskey, whatever) down their throats tends to make them let go right quick and doesn't harm the animal. If that isn't available then straight alcohol (rubbing kind) does just as good. Key thing is not to let them wrap themselves around you more than once... twice around your torso is enough to give them the leverage they need to squeeze and squeeze and squeeze... each time you exhale they get tighter, thus making it harder to draw your next breath and so on.
There are a lot of folks who think it's cool to have such a big snake around, but realize that feeding it a rabbit or two a week is pretty dang expensive. They're also escape artists so it shouldnt' be surprising to have those animals roaming free.
Far as finding them in caves? Whell... instinct will tell them it's too cold for them to be in there. But nothing prevents them from hanging around in the trees (they're partially arboreal) to snatch the unwary caver hiking to the cave(s).

[Mirth Beneath the Earth]

Where's Jon Voight when you need him?