Latest news with #BurmesePython
The Guardian
16-06-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Florida sheds 20 tons of invasive pythons in effort to curb its population
It was a milestone moment in Florida's 25-year war on invasive Burmese pythons: an eye-popping announcement that biologists had removed 20 tons of the slithering invaders from waters in and around the Everglades in little more than a decade, as well as shattering their previous record for a single-season haul. The successes of the team at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida showcase the progress that has been made in efforts to reverse the snakes' takeover of the state's natural wilderness, even though experts concede they will probably never be completely eradicated. 'Every single python that's removed is positive for the environment,' said Mike Kirkland, python program manager at the south Florida water management district, which with its own partners has separately tracked and euthanized more than 15,650 individuals of a predatory species blamed for a calamitous decline in the Everglades' native mammal population. 'We're getting better and better at removing this invasive species. We're learning more about their behavior and life history, and their non-native range here in south Florida, which is leading to more removals and hopefully innovation and novel strategies going forward. 'Progress is being made. Anecdotally we're seeing some demographic shifts, and regionally, we're seeing less larger size-class pythons in certain areas. That's a direct result of our management efforts, and our partners' management efforts.' Kirkland, and other experts, say it is impossible to know how many pythons are swimming in the waters of the greater Everglades region, making it difficult to accurately gauge the impact of the removal efforts. Most estimates settle at tens of thousands, originating from a handful of snakes believed to have been dumped by pet owners in the 1990s when they grew too big. Females can lay dozens of eggs, sometimes up to 100 annually, and although many hatchlings do not survive to adulthood, some still fear that pythons are reproducing faster than they can be caught. 'There's also imprecision about what the goal is because people may implicitly assume that it's complete eradication of pythons in Florida, which is probably not realistic given what we know about invasive species elsewhere,' said Andrew Durso, a herpetologist at Florida Gulf Coast University. '[But] if you can take out one female, it's not just that single python, but all of her current and future reproduction, that's thousands of eggs that will never be laid.' Biologists at the conservancy, a privately funded environmental organization headquartered in Naples, focus efforts on finding and removing females during the November to April breeding season, tracking tagged male 'scout' snakes with radio telemetry. 'There's very good evidence that the scout snake program is our most effective and least biased method. It doesn't just limit us to targeting human accessible areas and it's super targeted toward those reproductive females,' said Durso, who is not connected with the conservancy's removal program. 'But it's expensive to radio track these males into remote parts of the Everglades where you can't go very easily. You need air support from a helicopter, which ups the price per python removed. It's all a balance sheet of how do we want to spend money?' Ian Bartoszek, the conservancy's science project manager and chief wildlife scientist, said tracking and removing the snakes – 6,300lb since November in a 200 sq mile area of south west Florida – was 'a heavy lifting assignment', but that the refinement of the tracking technology in particular had led to increasing success. 'Through years of research we've developed science-based methods to track this apex predator more effectively and mitigate its damage to our native wildlife population,' he said, adding that his team's efforts had prevented about 20,000 eggs from hatching since beginning its work in 2013. 'Burmese pythons are impressive creatures that are here from no fault of their own. As wildlife biologists, we have tremendous respect for all snake species. However, we understand the impact invasive pythons are having on the biodiversity in our area and we humanely remove them from the ecosystem.' Kirkland said that harnessing public fascination with pythons has been a significant tool aiding efforts to remove them. YouTube videos showing fights in the Everglades between pythons and alligators have amassed millions of views, and Kirkland said he gets up to 100 letters a week from hunters seeking to join the 50 freelance 'removal agents' contracted by his agency's python elimination program. Additionally, the highly popular Florida python challenge attracts hundreds of hunters every summer seeking cash prizes. Kirkland hopes next month's 10-day event will surpass 2024, when 895 participants captured 195 snakes. 'Education helps get people involved and helps maintain support for our management efforts,' Kirkland said. 'Programs like the conservancy telemetry program, and similar projects with the University of Florida and US Geological Survey, they all help increase our understanding of the behavior of the species in their non-native range.' Ultimately, he said, that 'village' of eager participants leaves him more optimistic than he has ever been. 'As with most environmental issues, a multi-pronged strategy of different efforts working in concert with one another is really the best path forward,' he said. 'In the future I see the python population being greatly reduced, and to a point where we can begin to see a robust return of our native animal populations, which is why we're doing all this to begin with. 'I'm confident we're going to be able to manage this species to the point where we're seeing our deer populations, our foxes, our possums, our raccoons and so on, restored to the Everglades.'
Reuters
10-06-2025
- General
- Reuters
'Python Huntress' takes on invasive snakes in the Everglades
OCHOPEE, Florida, June 10 (Reuters) - Amy Siewe was a successful real estate agent -- but her life changed after she captured her first python in Florida's Everglades. "I just had this fascination with snakes. So when I learned that there was a python problem here in Florida ... I went on a hunt, I caught a nine-foot (2.75-meter) python, and that was it. I was hooked!" she said. Within two months she had sold her business in Indiana and moved to Florida to become a python hunter. Now, with more than 600 dead pythons under her belt, she is known as the "Python Huntress" -- one of a handful of women amongst hundreds of men hunting the invasive Burmese python in Florida's Everglades wetland ecosystem. "This python is about 10 feet (3 meters) long," she says as she wrestles a snake she has just captured in the tall grass in the middle of the night. "It's probably about three years old, and to date it's eaten about 200 of our native animals, including mammals and birds." Burmese pythons have been spreading through the Everglades National Park since Hurricane Andrew in 1992 destroyed a breeding facility for the pet trade, freeing some 900 snakes. Originally native to Southeast Asia, the python can grow up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) long and has a voracious appetite, consuming the local wildlife, including mammals, birds and even alligators. The Everglades is a unique subtropical ecosystem, with the largest continuous mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere. It is home to a vast array of unique species, including the endangered Florida panther, the American alligator and the American crocodile. But it provides no natural predators to the Burmese python, allowing the population of the invasive species to balloon. Scientists have noted dramatic declines in raccoons, opossums, bobcats, and rabbits in the region. "There's an estimated 500,000 pythons out there," Siewe said. The pythons, which are hunted by night, cannot legally be transported alive, so they are killed on site after being captured and measured. Once home, Siewe skins the dead snakes, and then has the skins professionally tanned into leather to be made into purses, wallets, watch bands and other goods. It takes an average of 12 hours to catch one. "So it's not that effective, right," she admits. "We're always going to have pythons in Florida. What we're trying to do is figure out how to decrease their numbers. Hunting right now is the most effective tool that we have."
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
More than 1,000 Burmese Pythons captured and killed in Florida's war against the invasive species
Image: Conservancy of Southwest Florida Florida's battle against the invasive Burmese python has reached a startling milestone. More than 1,000 snakes have been captured and humanely euthanised by the Conservancy of Southwest Florida since 2013. This amounts to nearly 20 tons of python mass. This aggressive removal effort is part of a broader mission to protect the Everglades' fragile ecosystem, where these non-native predators have been wiping out native species. The latest breeding season alone accounted for a record-breaking 6,300 pounds of python. Though the numbers are daunting, experts believe the numbers may slowly be turning down in favour of native wildlife. Burmese Python: A growing threat to native species in Florida Burmese pythons are native to Southeast Asia. They first appeared in Florida in the 1970s, likely due to pet releases. Since then, they have multiplied rapidly in the wild, feeding on over 85 species of native mammals, birds, and reptiles. With no natural predators and abundant prey in the Everglades, they have spread unchecked and severely damaging local biodiversity. Image: Conservancy of Southwest Florida Record-breaking rise in breeding season Between November and April, which is their breeding season, the Conservancy's team removed more than 6,300 pounds of python from a 200-square-mile area in Southwest Florida. Some individual snakes reached up to 215 pounds and nearly 18 feet in length, with many females euthanized before they could lay eggs. These removals likely prevented the hatching of over 20,000 eggs. Tracking the Burmese Python with 'Scout Snakes' A key tool in this effort is the use of radio-tagged male pythons, known as 'scout snakes.' These snakes are released and tracked during mating season which lead biologists to hidden nests of large reproductive females. After the females are euthanized, the scouts are reused to locate more. The technique has proven to be an effective way to find breeding hotspots. Signs of progress and setbacks While pythons are still expanding their range with sightings near Lake Okeechobee, there are signs of success also. Biologists report smaller and fewer females being located by scout males, suggesting population pressure. Occasionally, native predators like bobcats and endangered eastern indigo snakes have also been observed preying on young pythons, which is a hopeful sign of ecosystem resistance. A Multi-agency effort The Conservancy of Southwest Florida collaborates with the U.S. Geological Survey, University of Florida, National Park Service, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to carry out this ambitious project. The goal is not complete eradication but population control. These efforts reduce pressure on native species and restore ecological balance in one of the world's most unique wetland habitats.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Giant snakes that eat humans— The real life serpent monsters
Giant snakes, including reticulated pythons, green anacondas, Burmese pythons, and African rock pythons, are real predators capable of attacking humans. These powerful constrictors inhabit regions like Southeast Asia, the Amazon, and Florida, posing a threat due to their size and strength. While attacks are rare, they can be fatal, emphasizing the importance of caution and awareness in snake-prone areas. When someone says 'giant snake,' your brain probably jumps straight to a movie scene — you know, a huge slithery beast lurking in the jungle, ready to snatch a person like it's grabbing a snack. Sounds like fiction, right? Well... not always. The truth is, some snakes out there are big enough, strong enough, and occasionally bold enough to go after humans. It's creepy. It's fascinating. And yeah, it's 100% real. Why are we so obsessed with giant snakes? Because they're equal parts terrifying and amazing. These creatures are ancient, powerful, and totally alien in how they move and hunt. They've inspired myths and monsters for centuries, and it's easy to see why. They're real-life predators, living in wild places most of us never see — and that mystery only adds to their legend. Reticulated Python These guys are the world's longest snakes. A reticulated python can stretch out over 20 feet, and a few big ones have even passed the 30-foot mark. That's longer than a school bus! They live in Southeast Asia — places like Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines. And here's the kicker: they're not just long, they're strong. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo These snakes don't use venom. Instead, they wrap themselves around their prey and squeeze the life out of it. Literally. Once the prey stops moving? Gulp — in it goes, whole. And yes, humans have ended up on the menu. There have been actual cases where full-grown adults were found inside these pythons. Inside. Let that sink in. Green Anaconda If the reticulated python is the longest, the green anaconda is the heaviest. Found in the Amazon and swampy parts of South America, this beefy beast can weigh more than 500 pounds. That's like trying to wrestle a grand piano. Anacondas spend a lot of time in water, where they sneak up on prey like caimans (mini-crocodiles), capybaras (giant rodents), and sometimes even jaguars. So yeah, humans? Not impossible. There are stories — still debated — of green anacondas attacking people. With the kind of strength and size they've got, it's definitely within the realm of possibility. You do not want to go swimming where one of these monsters is chilling. Burmese Python Originally from Southeast Asia, Burmese pythons have made themselves way too comfortable in Florida's Everglades. They're an invasive species there now, causing all kinds of problems for local wildlife. These snakes can grow over 20 feet long and weigh more than 200 pounds. They're stealthy, powerful, and crazy good hunters. While attacks on humans are rare, they've happened. Especially with kids or smaller adults. And in Florida, where people live close to the wild, close encounters aren't all that unheard of. African Rock Python Over in Africa, this python reigns supreme. African rock pythons are massive (up to 20 feet long!) and have a rep for being aggressive. They don't mess around. Unlike a lot of snakes that try to avoid humans, these ones are known for being bold. There have been multiple documented attacks — some fatal — in areas where people and snakes live close together. Basically, if it can fit in their mouth and they can squeeze it to death, it's dinner. Why would a snake even try to eat a human? It's not like snakes wake up craving people. But here's why it happens: Size match: Big snakes can only eat prey they can fit in their mouths. So they're looking for things about their width. Unfortunately, that can include children or smaller adults. These snakes are opportunistic. If the right moment presents itself — like someone alone, maybe asleep or distracted — they might go for it. We're in their space! As people build homes or farms near forests, rivers, and swamps, snake encounters go up. And sometimes, nature bites back. How do they even catch a human? Usually, it's a sneak attack. These snakes are masters of camouflage. They'll lie in wait, completely still, until something (or someone) gets close. Then — strike! They bite, grab on, and wrap their bodies around the prey. Within seconds, it's a deadly squeeze fest. Once the prey is still, they slowly start swallowing it whole, head first. It's not quick — but it's effective. Most of the time, they'll go for people who are asleep, too small to fight back, or near water where the snake can ambush them. Can they really kill people? Yep. They absolutely can. And sadly, there are real, confirmed cases of people being killed — and even eaten — by giant snakes. Remember, they're not venomous. It's all muscle. Once they start squeezing, it cuts off blood flow and air. People can pass out in minutes. If no one's around to help, it can turn fatal quickly. How to stay safe around giant snakes If you live or travel in places where big snakes might be hanging around, here's how to avoid becoming a snack: Don't wander alone in the jungle or swampy areas — especially at night. Be careful near rivers and lakes where big snakes love to hide. Keep an eye on kids and pets in snake-prone areas. Watch for signs — like snake tracks, shed skin, or slither marks. If you see a huge snake, don't play hero. Back away. Slowly. In case of an attack — fight to create space. Yell. Get help fast. Giant snakes like the reticulated python, green anaconda, Burmese python, and African rock python aren't just the stuff of nightmares — they're very real. They're rare, but deadly when things go wrong. So whether you're trekking through the Amazon or flipping channels on Animal Planet, just remember: nature's monsters don't always need CGI. Sometimes, they're out there… waiting in the tall grass.
South China Morning Post
24-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Snake handler captures 2.5-metre python that swallowed cat in Hong Kong
A Hong Kong snake handler captured a 2.5-metre (8.2 feet) long python that had swallowed a stray cat near a village house in Ma On Shan on Saturday morning. Police received a report at around 6.25am from a Chek Nai Ping Village resident who discovered that the python was swallowing a cat outside the No 91 village house. A snake handler was sent to the scene and captured the Burmese python, which was later placed in a cloth bag and transferred to the Kadoorie Farm for handling. According to the force, the startled python regurgitated the stray cat during the capture. The cat was found dead, and its body was being handled by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.
