Burmese python in the Florida everglades http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwssoutheast/6888340967/

Chances are, you’ve heard mention of the growing problem of Burmese pythons in Florida.  This massive, exotic species kind of makes the snake problems the rest of us face pale in comparison.  Burmese pythons are native to Southeast Asia but have become a problem in Florida as a result of individuals owning them as pets.  When these snakes either escape or are released by their owners, they make their way into the wild where they reproduce and wreak havoc on the local wildlife. There are now estimates that tens of thousands of these invasive reptiles exist in southern Florida.  As a result, there have been significant reductions in populations of raccoons, deer, certain species of birds and even some crocodiles in this area.  Continue reading →