Burmese Python Research Paper

The Burmese python has become a predatory species in the Florida Everglades. The Burmese Python has slowly been taking over the Florida Everglades eating small animals and causing massive destruction. The reason for this problem is the growth rate of the species occurring all over the Everglades. The ecosystem is perfect for the ever growing population of Burmese pythons in the Everglades. Pythons have migrated to the Florida Everglades by irresponsible pet owners and escaping from their homes.

Clearly,the Burmese pythons are drawing hunters to the everglades. According to Andrew Ng in his 2013 article,”To address the problem,the state's Fish and Wildlife commission is sponsoring its first ever Python Challenge.” This means that people from all across the country will be coming to participate. This is a big deal because the hunters in this challenge are now fully allowed to kill these pythons and would save some of the animals that they're killing and bring in some tourist. Andrew Ng goes on to say,”prizes will be awarded in two divisions:one for novices and

Sounds weird, right? Well, it is not what it seems to be. This hunting event is taking place in the Everglades National Park. This is where the pythons hang around the most. Normally, python as well as Burmese pythons are have no natural predators in Florida but seem to strangle and eat everything in their path. In Florida, the Burmese population has increased drastically while the rate of mammals has dropped drastically. This meaning, Burmese pythons have been eating all the rabbits, coons, deer, bobcat, panthers, and bear leaving hunters coming home

Have you ever seen a snake that can grow up to 23 feet long and weigh up to 200 pounds? If you have, then you have seen a Burmese python. These pythons can grow to be the width of a sycamore tree branch. They are native to Southeast Asia, but due to bad ownership, they are now roaming the Everglades, unbalancing the ecosystem. The Burmese Pythons are negatively affecting the Everglades by disrupting the food chain, causing an unsafe sport, and they are growing exponentially.

When animals are voluntary or involuntary let into the wild many native species can become threatened by animals that, in the foreign ecosystem, have no natural predators. Pythons in Florida is a great

The Burmese Python is one of many invasive species. These snakes are native the Southeast Asia. They were imported to the U.S. for pet trade. However, people who own these snakes sometimes don't realize they can grow up to 22ft and weigh up to 200 pounds. The size of these snakes prohibits them from being appropriate pets. As a result these animals are released into the wild. Not only does this affect the ecosystem, but it also affects the mammal and bird populations. In the

The prizes included of $1,500 for the winner of most Burmese Pythons caught and $1,000 for the person who finds the longest one, however, the prizes will be divided in two: one for the experienced, licensed Burmese Pythons and another for amateurs. Michael Sarill, Director of EcoWild Conservation from University of California, Berkeley, says that out of 30,000 Burmese Pythons only 68 were actually killed, thus meaning that the 30 day hunting only helped clear .2% of the invasive Burmese population. Another hunt was done one year after, in 2013, with better results. The hunting lasted for 30 days such as the one the year prior, with hundreds of people attended equipped with rifles, shotguns, machetes, handguns, and some with even hooked spears, as stated by Andrew Ng in his article, Florida’s python hunt. In all, the challenge helped capture 108 Burmese Pythons, but it didn’t merely prove any effect to the population or tens of thousands pythons that were still roaming in the

The presenters of the burmese pythons is negative it is impacting Florida's everglades. According to the news article that the senate of the committee brought a 16 foot long snake skin to a meeting. Its response to these is Florida's fishing and wildlife and sent out a prize to whoever finds the fattiest and the longest. The longest python found was 23 feet long and the fatties one was 200 pounds.

Scientist fear that huge 250 pound Burmese Pythons could spread from South Florida to much of the Southern United States. According to a survey report, pythons find ⅓ of the United States to be comfortable for them to spread. Snakes such as Burmese Pythons have shown to be highly adaptable. These snakes can slither at a constant rate of 20 miles, and they never stop moving. The Burmese Python have killed children who were mistaken for food and are unable to stop their instinctive reaction to coil and squeeze. However, Burmese Pythons will have to get past Florida’s alligators first. The absence of predators such as alligators can make these snakes’ journey much easier.

One can conclude that the alligator has been superbly adaptable to change. In the late 1800’s it became very common to hunt alligators for their skin. The “gator” population began to decrease and even disappeared from certain areas around the southern east side of the United States (a place where they used to thrive by the millions). It is estimated that between 1930 and 1940, more than 1 million alligators were killed in Florida. In the late 1940’s people began to fear that alligators would become extinct which is why laws were passed in states where alligators lived, only allowing the hunting of “gators” during certain times of the year and with specific permits. In the late 1950’s people realized that the laws were not being held with high standards and states such as Louisiana declared it illegal to kill alligators. The campaign to save the alligator was finally working and by the mid 1970’s the alligator was taken off the U.S. endangered species list. Today, alligators are thriving, however certain geographical areas such as the everglades, are becoming more populated by humans; thus, increasing interactions between humans and alligators. This could destroy their habitat and endanger the

Burmese pythons are an invading species that are causing problems to the local animal population, the local ecosystems, and the people in the area of Florida’s Everglades. These snakes are one of the biggest snakes in the world and grow up to be twenty three feet long and weigh up to two hundred pounds. They are able to hunt in the dark due to the chemical receptors on their tongues and heat sensors all over their jaw. This is bad for humans, as we cannot see very well in the dark. This can cause the snake to see us, but us not be able to see them. Without natural predators, these animals are lean, mean killing machines that can destroy many populations of animals and stand as a threat to humans.

With no regular meals for pythons these “eating machines” are devouring “huge numbers” of animals. (Andrew Ng, Page 45, Paragraph 1) And when you have pythons killing and eating animals, it becomes a threat to our Florida Everglades. It has even come to the making of a “python challenge”. (Source 3: Advertisement, Page 46) Where they are willing to hire anyone to kill a python. All you have to do is pay “pay a $25 registration fee” and you’ll get a lessons from “experts” who know about hunting. Even though this could be an even bigger threat to the Everglades, rather than the Burmese pythons

Burmese Pythons is a non-native pest in the United States of America, which originated from South Asia. The species is becoming an established breeding population in South Florida and its environs. The python was illegally freed in the Everglades National park where the marshy grasses and water provide a conducive environment for its survival. Burmese python was recognized as a reproducing population around the year 2000. The python has been classified as an invasive species in Florida. The species has disrupted the ecosystem by preying on native species and out-competing them for food. The python is a successful invasive species because their large size makes it have fewer predators (alligators and humans) (Brown, 2006). Efforts have been put in place to manage the increase of the Burmese pythons due to the devastating effects it has caused in the ecosystem. Python removal and control is being done through dogs and human search. Dog search has recorded much greater success than human beings because humans cannot access some areas due to the thick vegetation.

There are many different efforts in place to slow the population growth of the Burmese python. Due to the overwhelming amount of the non-native pythons in the Everglades (which is expanding to the Florida Keys and beyond) there has been a ban on Burmese pythons and 3 other constrictor snakes. On January 17, 2012 the Federal Wildlife service declared a ban on overseas imports of the snakes as well as interstate imports. That means the snakes are now illegal to bring into the United States as well as just transporting over state lines (BIG snakes, 2012). Although there is now a ban in place some feel that it is already too late to save the Florida Everglades. According to Steven A. Williams, former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) warns that invasive species are "the number one environmental threat to the United States."(BIG snakes, 2012) The federal government has spent billions of dollars trying to slow or stop the threat of invasive species.

One problem is that there causing other animals being extinct. In the video, it talks about how they're eating everything,and making different mammals extinct included, and explains how they’re doing it. It states in “Burmese Python: Not the ideal pet” , “... their rapid growth rate, and their docile disposition.”, that people like they’re