Hounds of war: Let`s see `em!

[barnetmill]

Link doesn’t work...

http://news.ufl.edu/articles/2016/05/

Scroll towards end of news report or search for the word: nile
Sorry about that.




http://news.ufl.edu/articles/2016/05/

Spotting native alligators and crocodiles in Florida is common, but anyone who sees a large reptile may want to take a second look— man-eaters that can grow to 18 feet long and weigh as much as a small car have been found in the Sunshine State.
Using DNA analysis, University of Florida researchers have confirmed the capture of multiple Nile crocodiles in the wild.
The ancient icon eats everything from zebras to small hippos to humans in sub-Saharan Africa. Now three juveniles of the monster crocodile, have been found in South Florida, swimming in the Everglades and relaxing on a house porch in Miami.
The invasive crocodiles were captured between 2000 and 2014, leading UF scientists to analyze their DNA, study their diet and one of the animal’s growth. Scientists verified the animals were Nile crocodiles linked to native populations in South Africa, and confirmed the species can survive in Florida—and potentially thrive, said Kenneth Krysko, herpetology collections manager at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the UF campus.
In other words, there likely are more.
“The odds that the few of us who study Florida reptiles have found all of the Nile crocs out there is probably unlikely,” said Krysko, co-author of the study published in April in the Journal of Herpetological Conservation and Biology. “We know that they can survive in the Florida wilderness for numerous years, we know that they grow quickly here and we know their behavior in their native range, and there is no reason to suggest that would change here in Florida.”
Nile crocodiles, Crocodylus niloticus, were responsible for at least 480 attacks on people and 123 fatalities in Africa between 2010 and 2014. They are generalist predators and eat a wide variety of prey. In Florida, everything from native birds, fish and mammals to the state’s native crocodile and alligator would be fair game for the carnivorous croc.
The study found one juvenile grew nearly 28 percent faster than wild Nile crocodile juveniles from some parts of their native range.
DNA analysis revealed the three similar-size Nile crocodiles were genetically identical, suggesting they were introduced via the same source, but Krysko said the source has not been confirmed. Prior to graduating in 2013, former UF doctoral student and co-author Matthew Shirley extensively sampled DNA of live Nile crocodiles housed in U.S. zoos, including Florida. The DNA of the three crocodiles did not match any of those Shirley sampled, suggesting they were either acquired by a permitted source later, or introduced by someone without a permit.
Study scientists note that over the last decade, large groups of Nile crocodiles have been imported from South Africa and Madagascar for display at places like Disney’s Animal Kingdom and to supply Florida’s flourishing pet trade, with the latter being the most likely introduction pathway, according to the study.
While there is currently no evidence of an established population, study scientists recommend a scientific risk assessment to evaluate the potential for Nile crocodiles to breed and spread across the state. According to the study, Florida’s Atlantic coast and the entire Gulf of Mexico coastline provide favorable climate for Nile crocodiles.
Florida’s subtropical climate is one reason the state has the world’s largest number of invasive species—from the Burmese python that has invested the Everglades to the Cuban tree frog, which has been found as far north as Jacksonville on the East Coast and as far north as Cedar Key on the Gulf Coast.
“My hope as a biologist is that the introduction of Nile crocodiles in Florida opens everyone’s eyes to the problem of invasive species that we have here in our state,” Krysko said. “Now here’s another one, but this time it isn’t just a tiny house gecko from Africa.”

[barnetmill]

Cletus is expanding his empire. lol
I found one of the pups curled up in there with him yesterday.

Just went out to check on them to find this little booger digging out a hole. I don't even know what to say. smh lol

Like father like son

[twinboysdad]

Barnett,

Are those pups some offspring of your dogs or did you buy them?

[weenis]

Some pups at 14 weeks

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[barnetmill]

Barnett,

Are those pups some offspring of your dogs or did you buy them?

They are not mine and the three I have are more than enough.
They belong to the head of our little white english group. Most of them are males. I believe the female is spoken for. This is her website http://oweps.weebly.com/ and Heather told us on the related facebook page when she was in the hospital Cletus climbed into the kennel with his female litter mate begating that litter of pups. The owner is Heather Wilkins and her thinking has gotten her in trouble with the typical bulldog people sort of like the way WT thinking is not so popular with many in the gun world.

Their family history with the dogs so far has been traced back to 1893.

[barnetmill]

[red-it]

fullsizeoutput_141d.jpg
My 5 month old "puppy" 59.7 pounds of Boomer!

[barnetmill]

Mick, a Texas bulldog, has been guarding this summer the home of the owners father in a crime ridden neighbor near the Arizona-Mexican border.

The blue house behind my Dad's house in the background used to be used for drug deals and the neighborhood was overrun by thugs but in the last month Mick here has been working security. He has guarded,patrolled,chased,cornered, stopped break-ins, interrupted drug deals, found drug stashes, harassed and basically destroyed the thug biz that had gone on for years.Mick's work is done. The punks haven't been around here for weeks and the blue house sold and is being renovated. It's amazing what a good dog can do for a neighborhood. All that's left for Mick is chewing on the bones.

Capture mick.jpg

[barnetmill]

from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HistoricFloridaX/

"Florida Cracker Cattlemen driving their cattle through the swamps of Florida." No date.

Think this yellow river bridge in the panhandle

[Bob F.]

Mick deserves a big juicy steak!!