MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — A blind dog known as "Helen Killer" tracked down a blind python with her extraordinary sense of smell during a hunt in the Everglades.
Mike Kimmel, known as the "Python Cowboy," took her out into the swamp where she sniffed out the snake and got "another notch on her belt."
Video posted on YouTube and Facebook shows Helen running excitedly through the marsh until she finds the large reptile, while her brother Otto jealously waits on the boat.
"Would you look at that, blind Helen found a snake just as blind as her," Kimmel said.
The snake was blind because she was "in the blue," which means it was shedding its skin. During that process, the snakes eyes get clouded as the skin goes over its eyes as protection. Then, the eyes get a blue tint to them causing the snake to not be able to see, according to Kimmel.
He said he was very impressed with her as it can be hard for dogs with their sight intact to be able to find pythons.
"Just because they don't have eyes, don't mean they can't hunt," he said.
Burmese pythons are considered an invasive species in the state. They are primarily found in the Everglades where they are a threat to native wildlife, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
They have few predators, which make them a problem to local species because they prey on native species and reduce their populations. They also can consume threatened or endangered species, according to the commission. Sometimes they even prey on cats and dogs.
To help control the population, the state even holds an annual 10-day challenge to control the species. The goal for participants is to bag the most Burmese pythons possible.
However, pythons may be humanely killed on private lands at any time with landowner permission with no permit required. The snakes can also be killed at any time on 32 Commission-managed lands
If wrangling snakes isn't your thing, you can still help the FWC combat invasive species by reporting sightings to the Invasive Species Hotline at 888-IVE-GOT1 (888-483-4681) or online.
