Burmese Pythons Research Paper

Burmese Pythons Are Invading the Everglades More than 2,000 pythons have be removed from Florida’s Everglades, but this is only representing a fraction of the population of tens of thousands. Burmese pythons are native to the grassy marshes of Southeast Asia, and they are among the largest snakes in the world (Source 1). They are capable to growing to an astounding length of 23 feet and a weight of up to 200 pounds (Source 1). The presence of Burmese pythons is changing Florida’s everglades because of the pythons being an invasive species, the impact on the ecosystem, and how we as a group have responded to this unfortunate mishap. The Burmese python is an invasive species. At the end of the 20th century, a population of Burmese pythons became an offensive species in the Everglades National Park in South Florida. Invasive species means that they are not constrained by natural factors as much as they were in their native habitat. “Burmese pythons are carnivores and survive primarily on small birds and mammals” (Source 1). “Tens of thousands of Burmese pythons are estimated to be living in the Everglades, where they …show more content…
Road surveys from 2003-2011 revealed that the number of observed raccoons, rabbits, bobcats, and opossums dropped 90% or more since the pythons became established in the Everglades. The population of these animals has been severely declining over the years due to the presence of these species. “In a 2012 study, populations of raccoons had dropped 99.3 percent, opossums 98.9 percent, and bobcats 87.5 percent since 1997. Marsh rabbits, cottontail rabbits, and foxes effectively disappeared” (USGS). Lastly, the near to extinction species are now at greater risk due to the Burmese python’s climbing place on the food