Hunting python snakes in Florida

In Florida permits have been issued to allow trained herpetologist to catch python snakes. Pythons are not native in Florida and according to media they are killing endangered species in Florida and wrecking up the ecosystems of Florida. In Everglades National Park pythons snakes are of some concern to biologist and rare species of birds and mammals can be threatened with extinction if the problems persists.

Python snakes was introduced into Everglades National Park by an accident at a reptile breeding facility in 1992 and by pet owners disposing their Burmese Pythons when they have become to large to handle. Without any natural enemies and plenty of food they have been able to breed into a large population. It is estimated that 3,000 - 150,000 python snakes can be found throughout Florida in the wild.

Python snakes will not be eradicated by these efforts, but is probable that the population will decrease significantly. If continued efforts are undertaken to remove python snakes from Everglades National Park and other areas of Florida, the population of pythons can be kept at low levels and the pressure on the ecosystems can be relieved. Continued efforts may concentrate of a combination of capturing pythons and setting up traps and baits for the pythons.

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