Burmese Pythons Are Ruining The Everglades

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

The Burmese Pythons are negatively affecting the Everglades by disrupting the food chain. Andrew Ng, author of, “Florida’s Python Hunt”, quoted this from the article, “With no natural predators, these eating machines appear to be wiping out huge numbers of opossums, raccoons, and bobcats, as well as many bird species.” The pythons have no natural predators, so animals that

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

In the 1980s the Burmese python was transported the United States as an exotic pet from Southeast Asia, but soon after owners began releasing the natural predator into Florida’s Everglades. The population of the python in the Everglades was estimated to be 5,000 – 180,000 in 2009 by South Florida Water Management

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

Clearly the burmese pythons are drawing hunters to the everglades.according to andrew nick 2013 article they are sponsoring a challeng. This means that millions will get hurt or injured,and adding this giant challenge. This means that there will be a lot of hunters in the everglades

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.

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.

The everglades is a place where nature is free in it’s paradise, besides the fact that there are hundreds of issues. The Everglades is home to many types of wildlife, and also provides for humans. The water supply has dramatically affected everyone, and everything, not all of it good. Water issues have affected the Everglades, and Florida by decreasing wildlife, droughts, and money issues.

As previously stated, overpopulation is a big problem too. With so many of them in the Everglades, their food sources numbers are declining. But this is the outcome of previous python owners being “downright stupid” and purchasing a pet snake “without researching anything” about the python. (EcoEchoes, page 47, Paragraph 3) The outcome usually ends with the owners letting them go into the wild. Resulting in its overpopulation in the Everglades.

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.

The Burmese Python is one of the most invasive of these non-native species. The snakes originate from Southeast Asia, so they thrive in Florida’s similar environment. The Everglades became sort of a paradise to the pythons, since their introduction in the early 1990’s.

In January 2013 in an effort to curb the python problem Florida began it’s very first ever python hunt. Thousands of hopeful hunters have signed up for a month long challenge where prizes for the longest snake and others are up for grabs. People from around the country have slithered their way to Florida in hopes of bagging a Burmese python or two. As of January 25th

Since these pythons have such a variety in their palette they can be a huge threat to the wildlife within the Everglades, possibly wiping out a group of animals when there are a team of the dangerous pythons. Another piece of evidence to back up my reasoning is also stated in "Pythons Invade the Florida Everglades" , it states, "Studies have shown that since their appearance in the Everglades, the numbers of small mammals in the area are down significantly." This evidence shows that there is a definite and proven decrease of some species due to the Burmese pythons entering the Everglades. With the Burmese pythons still in the wetlands more and more animals, big and small, are slowly being eaten because of these dangerous