Are pythons invading the Everglades?

　　Burmese pythons are one of the most popular animals in the global pet trade. But many pet owners who purchase these colorful, non-venomous snakes quickly realize that they have more pet than they bargained for. The snakes can grow quickly, and in two to three years can be more than 9 feet (3 meters) long.

　　Most zoos refuse to take pet snakes, and animal shelters aren’t usually equipped for such creatures, so many snake owners end up releasing them into the wild. In south Florida the preferred drop-off spot for pythons is in the Everglades. Discarded pythons have quickly become the new king of the swamp. Between 1995 and 2005, 212 Burmese pythons were captured or found dead in the Everglades.

　　Native to South Asia, the Burmese python eats a wide variety of prey, lives for about 25 years, lays large clutches of eggs and routinely grows to almost 20 feet (6 meters). All these traits have combined to make the invading pythons a potential ecological threat to the Everglades. The python is rivaling the alligator at the top of the Everglades food chain.

　　As part of the effort to track, control and capture pythons, wildlife officials and scientists are implanting radio transmitters in captured snakes. A professor and students from Davidson College, in North Carolina are part of the radio-tagging effort. In an hour-long procedure, they implant a transmitter and data logger in the snake’s body cavity behind the stomach.

　　The radio tracking is paying off. When the snakes are re-released into the Everglades, officials track their movement as the tagged snakes lead them to other pythons. Dozens of pythons have been located and removed from the Everglades using this technique.

(2006－2007学年第2期)