Pythons Decimate FL Mammals

The spread of Burmese pythons in Florida’s Everglades has spelled bad news for raccoons, rabbits, and other mammals, leading to a decline of 90 percent or more in sightings of some creatures. The invasive species of snake was brought to Florida as an exotic pet, but in the wetlands the pythons have thrived without fear of predators. Though the government has indicated that it may ban the importation of Burmese pythons, this newest study, which looked at data on mammal populations collected between 2003 and 2011, found that the snakes may have already had a profound impact on the Everglades’ subtropical ecosystem.