FLORIDA: The Invasion Of The Everglades

A group of researchers collected data to support the theory that the overpopulation of snakes is killing off the mammal population. Ashley Townsend, National Geographic writes, “the python population has continued to grow at a remarkable rate and has caused great distress to the park 's ecosystem.” For this study, the researchers at the South Florida Water Management District recorded the rates of live and dead mammals during a nocturnal road survey and compared it to the 1996-1997 road surveys. Scientists for the South Florida Management District, stated, “Researchers noted that the animals in the park were dying at a greater rate since the python population has gotten so enormous.”

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

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.

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

I think that these pythons are causing many problems and if we do not remove them from the ecosystem soon, they might cause permanent damage. I think that if we need to step in to stop this problem, it has grown far too big for comfort. These snakes are diminishing populations by the minute. If we wait any longer, the entire Florida ecosystem may no longer

Humans have caused another extinction, one that could possibly take us down in the process, species are exponentially going extinct because of habitat loss, species exportation, and invasive species bullying native species. On the other hand, scientists are trying to safe guard native species, keep animals in captivity whether it be for the animals well-being or for research, and widespread invasion. In this essay I will be comparing and contrasting “What Everglades Pythons and Other Invasive Species are Trying to Tell Us,” by Julia Whitty and “The Sixth Extinction,” by Jeff Corwin.

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.

The Burmese Pythons are a Native Species of Southeast Asia, but recently these pythons have appeared in the Florida Everglades and have been reproducing exponentially ever since their arrival. Some measures have been taken to reduce the population of the Pythons such as, introducing the Python Challenge, an annual Python hunting competition. The Burmese Python has had devastating impacts on the Native Species of the Florida Everglades. Some organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are outraged about the hunting of the Burmese Python in the Everglades. Even though PETA and other animal rights groups believe that Burmese Pythons should not be killed, measures need to be taken to solve the Python problem because

Burmese pythons are overpopulating the Everglades. People buy them when they are babies, so they are small, but when they keep growing they get too big. Eventually the people that bought them just let them go, into the wild, so now they are out in the open ruining everything.The local animals population is decreasing because the Python snakes are eating them.The python snakes could change the people because it could eat their pets whole, so then they would want to move away from the Everglades. Or more people might join the challenge.The python snakes are changing the ecosystem because the python snakes are eating all of the other animals, so that is making the ecosystem breakdown; so they are taking over the other animals.

With no natural predator, the animal is thriving and getting fatter by the minute. The Burmese pythons are loving their new home and enjoying the hot weather. Source 2 states that “Florida Senator Bill Nelson actually took the skin from a 16-foot Burmese python to the Senate Committee…” This was to address the snake problem. When the python first arrived, it wasn’t much to worry about, but they have multiplied and now something needs to be done. To protect the rest of the Everglades, people are going to be hunting these harmful reptiles. Source 2 also states, “If you happen to be in the area, be sure to wear a bullet proof vest.” To conclude, this powerful animal is threatening many species of animals and their homes. The wildlife workers are trying their best to put it all to an

The Burmese python out competing other predators by the number of offspring produces and eating a large diversity of animals as large as white-tailed deer and the American alligator. Because of this, many of the animals are threatened, and endangered by the Burmese Python like the Florida panther, mangrove fox squirrel, Key Largo cotton mouse, Key Largo wood rat, American alligator, etc. (McCleery,

Think or a telephone pole and then imagine a snake as big around as the middle of that pole. That’s a Burmese Python. The presence of Burmese Pythons is changing the Everglades but they are also changing animals, people, and the ecosystem. Clearly these pythons are not a good default to anyone or anything.

In source four, the text states that it is not enough to say “Let’s go out and shoot some pythons.” These animals are in Florida because we brought them here. We must do a better job of educating people about the effect their careless have on ecosystems here in Florida and around the world. In source two, it says that a growing population of Burmese pythons-many pets turned loose by their owners when they became too big-is threatening the ecosystem of Florida’s Everglades. Many people like snakes because of their beautiful skin, but their rapid growth rate, and their generally docile disposition is not a thing to like about. Like I said before, after they grow too big, they let them go in the wild and when Hurricane Andrew hit, it never did help matters. In source four, the text states that an exotic pet dealer’s warehouse that housed nearly nine hundred Burmese pythons was destroyed, and many of its pythons escaped. As I conclude, the Burmese pythons has effected local animals, people, and the Florida Everglades.

On the morning of June 23, 2014, Henry and his family went to the marshy swamps of the Everglades. Once Henry stepped out of his car, he noticed a ravishing egret fly over his car. Right away he took a massive deep breathe of the astonishing place. It had a musky smell of plants and rotting wood. However, he noticed a pungent smell of reeking trash in the air. Anyhow, he continued to stroll along the sidewalk until he reached an enormous visitor center. Inside, he learned many fascinating facts about the animals that lived there. He also learned on how he could help stop pollution of the environment. Bored by the tedious words, he decided instead of reading about the Everglades, he was instead going to go see it. So, he and his family