Find a python in the Lowcountry? Here's what to do, according to SCDNR

SOUTH CAROLINA, S.C. (WCIV) — The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is encouraging people to be more responsible when it comes to keeping exotic animals as pets.

This follows major increases in reports of invasive reptiles and amphibians found in the wild over the last several years.

A graph shared by SCDNR shows a dramatic increase in reported sightings. From 2013 to 2018, there were less than 10. After 2019, that number jumps to 19 in 2019 and all the way to 90 in 2020- the highest its been.

Experts say many of these non native animals started out as pets.

“You have people who bring them into a state and they come to us after they have lost their charm so to speak and they don’t understand they're cutting loose an animal that is not native to this environment," said Janet Kinser, the Founder and Director of Keeper of The Wild in Waterboro, SC.

When an invasive species is released into a new area, it can harm the environment and the native animals already present within the habitat.

"They don’t have any natural predators once they’re in this new place so that allows them to kind of take over the landscape in a way that they don’t do in their native range because the balance is kind of whack, they have nothing to keep them in check," said Allison Guggenheimer, the Invasive Species Outreach Coordinator for Clemson University’s Plant Industry.

On Facebook Tuesday, SCDNR shared photos of some of the surprising animals found- from lizards and geckos to huge snakes like the Burmese Pythons and some exotic crocodile species as well.

They said the most commonly reported species include Mediterranean house geckos, brown anoles, Cuban tree frogs, black and white tegus, sulcatta tortoises and ball pythons.

SCDNR is asking people who observe potential invasive species to report them, but experts advise caution when doing this.

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"(People) need to back off and not approach it ... and report it to SCDNR or the Fish and Game people and let them know that there's that particular animal in that particular area because it’s going to create a problem," Kinser said.

When the presence of these invasive species begins to decrease, the danger will also decrease.

"It can be dangerous to environment, it can be dangerous to the animals, and to our ecosystem," Kinser said.

For more information on how to report invasive species, visit the SCDNR website for a list of resources and contacts.