S8: From Pets to Predators: Python Population Explodes out of the Everglades

The Burmese python, a nonvenomous constrictor native to Southeast Asia, has long been popular in the pet trade. Between 1996 and 2006, roughly 100,000 pythons were imported into the United States as pets. Owners found that their new pet – a 20 inch "hatchling" – could grow into an 8-foot predator within one year.  Many were released in South Florida. More importantly, the destruction of a large breeding facility during Hurricane Andrew released an extensive breeding population into the Everglades. Today, the population is expanding dramatically. As they multiply, they expand their territory decimating the mammal population as they go. Experts have extensively explored methods to capture and remove pythons, but so far, there are no easy solutions. Today, the principal means of combatting this invasive species is by hunting individual snakes, often at night, through the dense Everglades swampland. The python's only key predators are humans. Each year, Florida hosts the "Florida Python Challenge," a 10-day competition designed to remove as many pythons from the area as possible. Between contractors, novice hunters and the state-sponsored competition, more than 17,000 pythons have been removed or euthanized in the Everglades over the years – a small percentage relative to the total population.

Purpose: Learn about this rapidly expanding invasive species and its impact on the Florida ecosystem

Facilitator: Bruce Cropf