Python Fatally shot

According to an AP story a Michigan State trooper fatally shot a Burmese python. What the hell? Last time I looked Burmese pythons were not indigenous to Michigan! Authorities seem to think that it was a pet that either escaped its owner or was deliberately released because of its size. Well duh!!! My bet would be on the fact that it was deliberately released, because it seems to be becoming more and more common that people are buying reptiles as pets, and not realizing how large some of them become. Seriously, a quick look over at the Wikipedia entry for Burmese pythons, which can be found here, states that they can grow up to 7 m or 23 feet long! Are you dumb enough to buy an exotic animal with out doing even a small amount of research. You can read the entire AP story by clicking here.