Florida’s Snakes: Burmese Python. (2020, April 13). Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/snakes/burmesepython.shtml
The Burmese Python is commonly found in Southern Florida, and tends to live in freshwater habitats. These snakes thrive best in aquatic places such as marshes or canals, and are commonly found in the Everglades. Initially considered pets, the pythons escaped from their owners’ homes and adapted to the surrounding ecosystem. Though they currently reside mainly in the south, scientists worry that these snakes will be able to adapt to forested habitats and thus be able to spread farther north and perhaps to other southeastern parts of the United States. They have a diverse diet consisting of birds, mice, bobcat, rabbits, raccoons, deer, and even alligators—their invasive presence could potentially threaten biodiversity in certain parts of Florida.
This article was interesting because it mentioned specifically how the pythons became an invasive species, and it’s quite unconventional. Oftentimes, invasive species are introduced on purpose to certain habitats as an attempt to solve a certain issue but only end up introducing a new problem—for example, the Cane Toad in Australia was introduced as a way to help eat insects harming crops, but in turn killed off native species. The Burmese Python, on the other hand, became an invasive species in Florida because people who owned them as pets either intentionally released them or the snakes escaped. The climate and aquatic biomes of Florida provide an ideal environment for the pythons to grow and thrive, despite not being native to Florida. The diverse wildlife in Florida’s freshwater swamps and their expansive diet allow them to populate quickly, growing up to 20 feet in size at the largest.
This is a terrifying invasive species for me, and I imagine more so for the residents of FL. So what do you think Kari- how do they manage these. I think these snakes are allowed to be sold as pets- should that continue? Or would making them illegal just create a black market for them?
That’s a good question! I think that simply making the snakes illegal would lead to other problems such as the black market, like you mentioned. While outlawing them as pets may not be the best solution, it might be better to limit the amount of stores that are licensed to sell them and perhaps increase the price they sell for. This might help quell the demand for the snakes in the long run. As for managing the snakes, it’s hard to say—I’m sure that snakes that get up to 20 feet long are quite a challenge to manage! Trial and error is likely the best way to see what methods work, and which have bad drawbacks. Poison might work, but it could also harm other animals. Traps might work, but this could also traps other animals. I suppose the most effective method is the one that can most specifically target the snakes and help scientists and conservationists to eradicate the species to the best of their ability.