The Battle of the Burmese Python and the Florida Everglades
The Everglades National Park is located in the state of Florida and hosts various wildlife. The native species of the Everglades include the freshwater alligators, crocodiles, and birds such as the great blue heron. However, the existence if non-native species in Everglades has thrown off balance in nature. The Burmese python is one of the new predators which has had significant damage to the ecosystem. The Burmese pythons are natives of the Southern region of Asia and were released to the Florida Everglades by pet owners who wanted to get rid of them. It is essential to understand the damage that is brought about by the pythons to ensure measures are taken to eliminate or reduce their presence in the ecosystem.
The Burmese pythons in the Everglades are estimated to be over 150,000. They weigh 113.4 kilograms and could grow up to the length of 23 feet. A female python can hatch 30-100 annually, making their numbers to increase rapidly. The pythons have eaten many of the native wild animals such as raccoons, foxes, birds and marsh rabbits. According to Michael Kirkland, a biologist in South Florida, there has been a reduction in the fur-bearing animals by 99%. A decrease in the smaller wildlife has created a break in the food chain endangering the native predators in Florida such as the panthers and alligators. The Burmese feed on most of the available prey, making the native wildlife lack a primary source for their food. The existence of Burmese python is painful for the predators in the Everglades whereby the snakes eat the predators too. The snakes can outgrow native predators such as the alligators, and rare pythons can become 10 feet long compared to alligators which are 4 feet in length.
The pythons deplete the prey base in the surrounding areas and expand their territories to different regions in search of food. The snakes threaten Everglade ecosystem to no life since the national park has also been primarily affected by agricultural expansion and urbanization. The need to take action and protect the remaining wildlife has led the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to license particular groups of people to hunt down the pythons. The agency has permitted the use of short guns to remove the snakes and has continually recruited more python hunters to join the elimination movement. The state officials have used public money to ensure that there is efficient control of the booming numbers of the Burmese pythons. The python hunters are paid hourly as well as bonuses for the size of the snake captured. For a 4 feet long python, 50 dollars are awarded whereas 200 dollars is spent for the elimination of python nests with eggs. The hunting program is aimed at speeding up the process of eliminating the snakes which are invasive species to the area.
The battle of the Burmese pythons is fierce due to the unfriendly environment in the Florida Everglades. The park is characterized by slow-moving and wide waterway with different terrain. The swamp is mostly affected by changes in the seasons. The hunters could spend an entire week working 12 hours a day without getting any snakes. Great dedication and perseverance are required in the elimination of the invasive species in the ecosystem. SFWMD has created other tactics to ensure that they eliminate as many pythons as possible. Some of the male pythons that are captured alive are implanted with trackers and released to the wild. The aim of using the transmitters is creating a lead to the female snakes during the mating season leading to their capture. In February 2018, a python named Argo was implanted with transmitters and directed the officers to female pythons which weighed 99 and 115 pounds. The snake led to the capture of 6 more snakes which makes the hunting of the snakes easier. The tracking tactic has brought great success in the fight against the Burmese as it has led to an elimination of 10,00 pounds biomass of pythons in the Everglades.
In conclusion, Burmese pythons have brought adverse effects on Florida Everglade’s ecosystem by completely disrupting the food chain. The pythons are non-natives and can lead to an extinction of both prey and predators in the swamps. The initiative by the state to eliminate the pythons from the ecosystem is a move in the right direction. Such actions will enhance the preservation of wildlife in the park. The state should educate the general population on the dangers of releasing their pets to the wild irresponsibly by creating an awareness on the havoc by the Burmese pythons.