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Southwest Florida Conservancy Tops 20-Ton Removal of Invasive Burmese Pythons

The program blocked more than 20,000 python eggs by tracking radio-tagged males to breeding females.

Overview

  • The Conservancy has removed 40,000 pounds of Burmese pythons since 2013, with over 6,300 pounds eliminated in the latest breeding season.
  • By fitting roughly 40 male pythons with radio-telemetry tags, biologists can track them to large breeding females in remote wetlands for removal.
  • The effort has thwarted more than 20,000 python eggs from hatching, aiming to curb the invasive population before it can rebound.
  • Long-term data indicate tagged males are finding fewer or smaller female mates, suggesting early signs of program effectiveness.
  • Burmese pythons have driven medium-sized mammal sightings down by up to 98% in parts of the Everglades, prompting urgent conservation action.