Background information on the Burmese Python
Burmese Pythons or Python molurus bivittatus are a species of snake indigenous to Southeast Asia, most commonly found in countries such as India, China, Myanmar, Thailand, and Bangladesh. They are some of the largest, fastest growing snakes on Earth, growing up to 22 feet long and weighing over 200 pounds. These snakes are well revered for their size and beautifully colored skins, making them targets of snake skin hunting. This has resulted in serious population drops in their native jungles and marsh lands. In fact, in their native countries, these pythons are actually endangered. However, the Burmese Pythons are better known for their invasion in the Everglades. These giant reptiles were and still are coveted by many pet owners. They start out as a relatively manageable size, making them the ideal pet. However, over the course of just one year, these snakes can reach over 10 feet long. Subsequently, hundreds of these exotic pets have been released both intentionally and unintentionally by pet owners, exposing the fragile Everglades Ecosystem to an invasive apex predator. Their ability to slither quickly puts any pet owners at risk of damaging the Everglades.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "approximately 99,000 Burmese pythons were imported to the United States between 1996 and 2006,” So one can only imagine how many of those have ended up being released into the wild. Young Burmese Pythons can climb trees, making the predators deadly to both tree and ground dwelling organisms. Luckily, the snakes eventually lose their capability to climb trees as they mature and grow. However, yet another threat posed by the Burmese Pythons is their ability to swim and hold their breaths underwater for 30 minutes. The warm climate and large amounts of untouched land are perfect breeding grounds for Burmese Pythons. Their young are also less vulnerable to predators, making natural selection as an eradication method nearly impossible. So we have to get creative to stop these pesky snakes.