Burmese pythons in Florida

Burmese pythons were introduced to Florida in the 1970s as part of the exotic pet trade. Many owners who found it challenging to care for these snakes released them into the wild. Then, in 1992, Hurricane Andrew destroyed a python breeding center, resulting in hundreds more snakes being released. ==Invasive impact==

and a Burmese python in Everglades National Park struggling in lock Burmese pythons in the state of Florida are classified as an invasive species. They disrupt the ecosystem by preying on native species, outcompeting them for food or other resources, and/or altering the physical environment. They are comparable in size or even larger than adult native snake species and quickly reach sizes that reduce their vulnerability to predation. The native American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is known to be prey, a predator, and a competitor of the serpent, depending on the size of the individuals. Bobcats (Lynx rufus) have also been observed raiding python nests for eggs. The high reproductive potential, rapid sexual development, and longevity of Burmese pythons make it difficult to control the population by removing individuals. A typical female breeds every other year, produces a clutch of between 20 and 50 eggs, and can live for 20 years or more. Additionally, as predators and dietary generalists, Burmese pythons target a wide array of taxonomic groups. Thus, they are not dependent upon a specific prey species. The flexible dietary requirements of Burmese pythons enable them to survive for long periods of time without food, but when prey is readily available, they will eat regularly. Comparisons of road surveys conducted in 1996–1997 (before proliferation) and 2003–2011 (after proliferation) indicated declines from 88% to 100% in the frequency of raccoon, opossum, bobcat, rabbit, fox, and other mammalian species sightings. In the Everglades The Everglades is a region of tropical wetlands comprising the lower third of the Florida peninsula. Only 25% of the original Everglades remains, protected within Everglades National Park. The climate of South Florida and the location of the Everglades, surrounded by a metropolitan area to the east, Naples to the west, and Florida Bay to the south, make it particularly vulnerable to infestations of exotic species. Miami, in particular, is the hub for the exotic pet trade in the United States. Although the exact origin of Burmese pythons in the Everglades is unknown, likely, many were once pets released by owners who found them too difficult to care for. However, the majority of experts concur that the python population grew particularly after Hurricane Andrew. The category 5 storm destroyed a python breeding facility, which released numerous snakes into the adjacent swamps. An evaluation of the genetic structure of Burmese pythons sampled from Everglades National Park determined that the population is genetically distinct from pythons sampled in their native range. Still, within the Everglades population, there is little genetic diversity. In 2001, the United States Geological Survey began a 10-year period analysis of 400 pythons captured in the Everglades. The survey discovered that there existed a tangled genetic tree between these captured snakes, and that hybrid pythons were manifesting within the Everglades. Indian rock pythons are a smaller and faster species than the Burmese python. Namely, it is counterintuitive to the primary goal of python removal to return captured pythons to the wild. Furthermore, the low detectability of pythons means that even if mark-recapture studies could be conducted, they would require more research effort than is currently feasible. Pythons spend the majority of their day in hiding, whether in burrows or aquatic habitats. One study indicated that even seasoned herpetologists showed only a 1% efficacy in detecting pythons housed in a seminatural environment. Consequently, estimates of python populations range from at least 30,000 to more than 300,000. Spatial ecology Several attempts have been made at better understanding the spatial ecology of Burmese pythons in the Everglades, including capture analysis and radio telemetry studies. Since the recognition of the breeding population of pythons, researchers have made an effort to note the capture history (date, location, and time) as well as characteristics (mass, length, sex, reproduction condition, and gut contents) of each animal to better characterize the python's activity patterns, spread, and ecology. A 2014 study suggests that Burmese pythons have navigational map and compass senses. In contrast to previous research that documented the poor navigational abilities of terrestrial snakes, the movement behavior of the Burmese python seems to be nonrandom. The movements of 12 adult Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park were tracked following their translocation from their initial locations. Five of the six snakes that were displaced from their capture sites exhibited oriented movement, returning to within of their original locations. This homing ability of the Burmese python is therefore an additional factor that must be considered in predictions of the future range of the python within the southern US and the management of the current population within South Florida. ==Risk assessment==

One of the most contentious issues related to the Burmese python population in Florida is the potential spread to other areas of the southern United States. A potential limitation to a species's habitat range is climate. In February 2008, USGS scientists published a projected range map for the US, based on average climate data of the snake's home range and global warming projections, which predicted that by the end of the 21st century, these snakes could migrate to and flourish in as much as a third of the continental United States, including three of the country's coasts. Numerous climate matching models have indicated that most of Florida and vast portions of the coast of the rest of the Southeastern United States provide hospitable habitats for Burmese pythons. The original model takes into account only the fundamental climate space of the python and thus disregards other factors that could limit python spread. However, a subsequent study produced a map incorporating both climatic extremes and averages which projected that the Burmese python's range as limited to southern Florida and extreme south Texas, though this projection was criticized in an unsigned Axcess News article as not having been peer-reviewed. Burmese pythons kept throughout winter in an experimental enclosure in South Carolina all died during the study, apparently because they could not properly acclimate to the cold. Still, most survived extended periods at temperatures below those typical of southern Florida. The report concluded, "Regarding areas of putative suitability and potential expansion within the United States, we find, remarkably, that the area in which the snakes are known to have colonized (south Florida) is essentially the only region where the climatic conditions are suitable for the pythons. Almost no potential for further continental expansion is predicted based on the results from the ecological niche models." In contrast to the 2009 proposal, the more conservative niche model identifies regions of suitable climate in South Florida, extreme southern Texas, and spotty areas across the Central and Southern Americas. However, the use of this model has been criticized for the overfitting of data from excess variables and the misidentification of four Blood pythons as Burmese pythons. However, numerous snakes survived this cold spell, potentially by using behavioral mechanisms (such as seeking refuge underground). If these behavioral traits are heritable, the winter of 2009–2010 may have acted as a selective event favoring more cold-tolerant pythons. This selected population of pythons would have an enhanced ability to spread northwards and extend the python's invasive range.If these traits continue to be passed on then they would enable pythons to continue digestion during colder periods of time, which would be useful in geographic regions further north. Data published in 2012 contradict the initial USGS study which claimed that non-native Burmese pythons could expand as far north as the southern third of the United States. The Burmese python will remain in the Everglades. Furthermore, other reputable herpetologists have commented on the controversial theory positing future migration past the Florida Everglades. The National Geographic Society's resident herpetologist, Dr. Brady Barr, said, "Climate data reveal that temperatures found in southern Florida simply are not conducive to the long-term survival of large tropical snakes. When it gets cold, these snakes die." Dr. Barr also said, "Feral hogs are a bigger problem for the Everglades than pythons. The press has sensationalized this story to the point that people think the sky is falling. Hopefully, comprehensive research such as Jacobson et al. will put an end to the hysteria." ==Control==

Several methods have been proposed to control the thriving Burmese python population in Florida because much of the python's introduced range includes areas inaccessible to humans. Unfortunately, all strategies proposed thus far have resulted in only limited success. For example, numerous people have suggested using dogs to detect pythons. A 2011 assessment of detection dogs for python removal found that the success of dog search teams (73%) was not significantly greater than that of human search teams (69%) in controlled plot searches. Another hunt was nonetheless held in 2016, resulting in 106 pythons removed by over 1,000 participants. The challenge returned in 2020 and has since been an annual event over the duration of ten days. In 2023, it resulted in 209 pythons removed by 1,050 participants. In 2017, the Florida Water Management District created a permanent team of 50 contracted bounty hunters working alongside another 50 contractors employed under the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. However the FWC is studying mercury levels again to make recommendations about what size, age, and location of origin might be safe to eat. This measure aims to prevent the introduction of snake species such as the Burmese python to other regions beyond South Florida. Further, the United States Department of the Interior placed four additional snake species, including the Burmese python, under the Lacey Act provisions. According to these provisions, importation of Burmese pythons to the United States is illegal as of January 2012. ==See also==