Serpent Takeover

Many of us know about at least one species of invasive species be it Asian carp, kudzu, or those darn starlings. What many of you may not know is that former pets are eating up Florida. I'm not talking about cats and dogs, hamsters, or even alligators that someone may have unwisely kept as a pet. I am talking about some other reptiles though, boas and pythons. Boas and pythons that used to be pets but that were released when they got bigger than some naive people thought are taking over many areas of Florida.

One of the most damaging species is the Burmese python. They are one of the largest snake species on earth growing up to 23 feet long and weighing over 200 pounds. The pythons do not pose too much of a threat when they are smaller as young snakes and eggs may be eaten by other predator but once they reach the eight feet in length. At this size they begin to eat almost every other animal in southern Florida. They will eat raccoons, alligators, adult deer, almost anything. They will also eat federally listed species like wood storks and wood rats. They are apex predators that once they are big enough nothing else can eat them.



Pythons are devastating southern Florida and especially Everglades National Park.
they are not the only reptiles that are hurting the ecosystems in Florida. Nile crocodiles, tegus, and multiple other species of snakes have been brought to southern Florida due to the pet trade. Miami is a hub of legal and illegal importation of animals.

The state of Florida and other organizations have been working to to control and determine the extent of the problem of the invasive snakes. They have made nine species of snakes illegal to transport beyond state borders without a permit. They have also started a hunt where anybody can come and kill whatever pythons they can find. This was not very successful because these snakes are elusive animals and are hard to spot. This is also the reason why managers do not know how many invasive snakes are in the wild. Without knowing the extent of the problem it is hard to find an effective solution.

It is currently believed that the only truly effective solution to the snake problem would be a long hard freeze, but this is Florida we are talking about and the world currently isn't getting any colder. Other states should be concerned as these pythons may spread to the southern third of the United States and could possibly reach New York by 2100. Seeing as how much damage these snakes do in their current locations, the magnitude of problems they could cause in a greater area would be very large.

This is a growing problem that needs to be slowed down and eventually stopped. Burmese pythons and all of the other species of invasive reptiles are causing possibly irreversible damage to southern Florida and the Everglades. Greater pet importation and breeding regulation is needed as well as pet owners understanding their responsibilities. More information is needed so that we can effectively remove the snakes. This may mean hunts to remove these animals and while this may seem like a cruel solution it is certainly better than releasing another animal into the wild that may eat the snakes or introducing chemicals to kill the snakes.




Articles

NPS Burmese Pythons

The Snake That's Eating Florida

Pythons in Florida Everglades

Which Exotic Species are Really Scary?

Burmese Pythons in Florida 

Python "Nightmare"

Python Patrol


Pictures

People Holding Python

Snake Killing Deer

Snake Killing Bird

Snake Killing Alligator