The Burmese python is a large nonvenomous constrictor that is also an invasive species in Florida. Burmese pythons are found primarily in and around the Everglades ecosystem in south Florida where the snake represents a threat to native wildlife, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Over a holiday weekend on July 19th, a Burmese python that was nearly 16 feet long was found nesting under an “old cracker camp house” by two campers. This happened about four miles south of Alligator Alley in Broward County.
“Alligator” Ron Bergeron, an Everglades conservationist, and South Florida Water Management District Board member, was called to help capture the big snake.
“With good fortune, we were able to find a large female, and remove her and an entire nest of up to 50 baby snakes which would have continued killing off our precious habitat,” Ron Bergeron told CBS Miami. “About one-third of the new hatchlings would have likely lived to become adults.”
Environmentalists say the species is responsible for killing deer, alligators, and other important wildlife in the area. Their presence is causing lasting damage to the ecosystem.
“We got her out, we got the snake, we were able to destroy all the eggs, and that’s about 50 less pythons out here in the beautiful Everglades,” said Bergeron.“This is an invasive snake and it’s impacting all of our native wildlife.”
Burmese Pythons were originally discovered in the Everglades 20 years ago and have been spotted all around the area ever since.
The Florida Wildlife Commission and South Florida Water Management District created an eradication program that rewards python hunters for catching the invasive species. Pythons can also be humanely killed on private lands at any time with landowner permission – no permit required – and the FWC encourages people to remove and kill pythons from private lands whenever possible as read on their website.
“The Burmese Python poses a significant threat to the Florida Everglades by disrupting the natural food chain,” Bergeron said.“I want to thank the Governor for making the eradication of the Burmese Python a top priority. He has asked both state agencies to work with our federal partners (Everglades National Park) to find ways to increase access to remote areas so we can engage more qualified personnel to remove this invasive snake.”
The python Bergeron captured was just short of a foot of the largest Burmese python ever captured in the Everglades. That snaked measured 17 feet, weighed 140 pounds, and was carrying 73 eggs!
Watch the video below for more details: