ORLANDO, Fla. -- Officials at Gatorland said they have been inundated with calls from snake owners looking to get rid of their pets after a Burmese python strangled a 2-year-old Sumter County girl, prompting fears that snakes could be released in the wild and start showing up in neighborhoods.

Two-year-old Shaiunna Hare was killed earlier this week by an 8.5-foot Burmese python, which escaped from its cage and wrapped itself around the toddler, who was asleep in a crib in her Oxford home. The owner of the snake, who is the boyfriend of the girl's mother, may be charged with child neglect for failing to properly secure the animal.

Since the incident, Gatorland has said they have received numerous calls from snake owners wanting the theme park to take their pets.

"We can't take them. We just don't have room for them, but we don't want people turning them loose," said Tim Williams, a snake handler with Gatorland. "These things in the wild will live underneath homes, they'll crawl into flower gardens, crawl into garages, they'll crawl up underneath old, dead logs and trees and trash. They'll get anywhere they can."

Williams said the python that killed the girl appeared thin to him and was likely searching for prey.

"The large snakes like these pose a big problem in the wild because they're non-native species. They compete heavily with our native species for food, for shelter; animals like this can eat pets, dogs, cats -- these types of things -- and just pose a big threat," Williams said. "We're not supposed to have these giant reptiles running around Florida, and it could create a huge huge problem."

About 150,000 Burmese pythons have been imported to the United States over the last five years, Local 6 News reported. Many of the snakes have been found in the Everglades, and South Florida has a growing snake problem.

Anyone considering getting rid of a snake is urged to call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.