Interior secretary bans invasive pythons

MIAMI – Officials are announcing new rules banning the importation of four snakes that have been plaguing the Everglades.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Tuesday announced the ban on Burmese pythons, yellow anacondas and northern and southern African pythons.

The snakes are also now banned from being transported across state lines.

Pythons have become a growing problem in Florida's revered swampland. Many are believed to have been pets that were dumped once they grew too big; others may have escaped from pet shops battered by 1992's Hurricane Andrew and have been reproducing ever since.

The snakes can grow to be 26 feet long and more than 200 pounds and threaten indigenous species. Last year, one even killed a deer.