Burmese Pythons in the Everglades Hurt Environment
Published February 8, 2012
Flickr User Tambako the Jaguar
An uptick in the population of Burmese Pythons in the Everglades in Florida is expected to have a negative environmental impact.
With their magnificent color pattern and purported docility, the Burmese Python is one of the most popular pets for reptile aficionados. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, between 1996 and 2006 approximately 99,000 Burmese pythons were imported to the United States from their native range in Southeast Asia. Due to the uptick in Burmese Pythons being imported into the U.S., the species is now classified as "near threatened" in its native land.
In the United States, however, the species continues to thrive; thousands of captive Burmese Pythons are bred annually for sale as pets. They are sold at reptile shows for as little as $20, while pet stores charge between $65 and $80. But due to these reptiles falling into the wrong hands, the popularity of this species has had unexpected consequences. More likely than not, inexperienced snake keepers purchasing an adorable 20-inch long Burmese Python hatchling will have a difficult dilemma on their hands once their pet reptile becomes an eight-foot long predator one year later. No longer able to handle their powerful snake or find an experienced keeper to adopt it, many owners often resort to illegally and irresponsibly releasing them into the wild.
This illegal release of the species into the wild, combined with the many snakes that may have escaped from pet stores in 1992 during Hurricane Andrew, has led to tens of thousands of Burmese Pythons making their home in the Everglades, something that is a cause of concern for scientists.
Burmese Pythons are putting the food chain and the delicate balance of the Florida Everglades environment at risk to an undetermined degree. When noting the effects of Burmese Pythons in the Everglades, research scientist at Virginia Tech John Wilson said, “The effects of declining mammal populations on the overall Everglades ecosystem, which extends well beyond the National Park boundaries are likely profound.”
Wilson’s assertion is also backed by a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, proving that sightings of medium-sized mammals in the area has dramatically declined. Researchers discovered a 99.3% drop in the raccoon population, 98.9% drop in the opossum population, a 91.4% drop in the white-tailed deer population and an 87.8% drop in the bobcat population.
The results of this study serve as a strong warning to humanity. Through the importation of any species of animal or even vegetation that are not only native to Florida but throughout the planet, we are taking the chance to wreak havoc on the magnificent ecological balance that took eons to evolve.
What do you think about the impact of Burmese Pythons in the Everglades? Tell us in a comment.
Shortly after retiring as a social worker and psychotherapist, I discovered my "writer's voice"…
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Comments (6)
This article reminds me about a documentary - "Wasted" which explores our apathy towards the waste situation. It traces the journey of waste from a house to a landfill and beyond. Globalization and consumerism has led to ignorance, indifference, arrogance and complete abdication of responsibilities by a civilization towards its environment. The film highlights the irony of our waste being someone else's source of existence.
To watch please visit - http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/830
Florida should pass a bill to wipe out these Burmese Pythons! When they run out of prey, they will be coming into neighborhoods. It's not a matter of "if" but "when"!
Even if we have to poison the south everglades to get rid of the snakes, all of the other small animals have been devoured, so there would be not harm to them.
It would be disastrous to harm the Everglades,
but even more so to allow these snakes to migrate north. The females lays 100 eggs at a time.
I advocate for legislation making it illegal for any private keeping of any member of any species which can be lethal to humans and/or our traditional companion animals. Pythons do NOT belong in private hands.
As the executive director of the Burmese Python Initiative, a non-profit adoption intermediary I commend you on your fair reporting (rather than the sensationalism) of mainstream media. We acknowledge that the snakes are invasive and injurious to our natural wetlands in South Florida and also commend the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission for approaching this problem with registration and micro-chipping. We are not in favor with the euthanization or for that matter abandonment of these beautiful animals. We have a created a vast network of seasoned, capable keepers that will adopt these animals in compliance with Florida law and give them a home and care for them. We invite your readers to visit our website, savetheburms.org to learn more. Again thank you.
I saw a story on this same situation jusst a few days ago. People buy these snakes for pets and when they grow so big, they do not want them any more. According to the story, they take them out to the wild and turn them loose. People should be more educated when looking for on of these for pets. I really do think that the pet stores that sell them to people should let the buyer know exactly what they are getting in to.
I am not a native to Florida but I do know that many of the native animals were endangered before this crisis with Pythons began. Like the Cane Toad in Australia the python is causing havoc by disrupting the eco system and killing off already endangered animals. Two that are very dear to me are the Florida Panther and the Key Deer. It would be a terrible event to loose either one. The way pythons multiply is astoundingly fast. I don't think we could ever actually remove them now that they are established but we might be able to control them if we keep removing as many as possible from the wild.