New: USGS Study on Risks of Giant Invasive Snakes in U.S.
10/09/2009
Pertinent links for more information about giant invasive snakes:
The risk-assessment report is available at: http://www.fort.usgs.gov/Products/Publications/pub_abstract.asp?PubID=22691
For U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service information on injurious wildlife, visit: http://www.fws.gov/Contaminants/ANS/ANSInjurious.cfm
Everglades National Park web page for the Burmese Python species profile:
http://www.nps.gov/ever/naturescience/burmesepython.htm
The Invasive Burmese Python in South Florida
Current Situation
The exotic Burmese python continues to expand its range in Florida and land managers are increasingly concerned about the impacts of this invasive snake on Florida ecosystems. Interagency efforts are underway to address the significant challenges posed by Burmese pythons and other large constrictor snakes occupying our natural areas. An invasive species is defined as an alien species whose introduction does, or is likely to cause, economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. More than 624 of the South Asian snakes have been found in Everglades National Park since 2000 with others appearing along Florida's west coast and farther north in Florida.
In 2006-2007 alone, more than 418 snakes were captured and removed or found dead in the park. South Florida is home to a number of species listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, and some of these are susceptible to predation by giant constrictors. Recent reports show that the population appears to be growing in the Everglades, with estimates of their numbers in the thousands putting in jeopardy a wide variety of listed and native species.
Pythons have been implicated in the death of several endangered wood rats in North Key Largo. The wood rat is one of the most endangered species in south Florida, with about 200 individuals remaining in the wild within one small geographic area. A number of other highly endangered species such as the Lower Keys marsh rabbit, Key Largo cotton mouse, and Cape Sable seaside sparrow also occurs in places where pythons have been found. Given the documented increases in wild Burmese python sightings in and around the Florida Everglades, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has found it essential to implement measures to control the spread of Burmese pythons (and other large constrictor snakes) into the Florida Keys.
Trap Development and Field Testing
The Service, along with other partners, has funded an effort with U.S. Geological Survey to design, implement, and evaluate python traps. Initial efforts will focus on testing which trap features are associated with the highest capture yields, using controlled experiments combined with trap deployment in areas with known high densities of pythons. Results of these experimental trials will be immediately applied to traps deployed in the field to maximize capture rates. Experimental traps constructed by University of Florida staff will also be deployed on the South Florida Water Management District's lands which are known to harbor a high-density python population. Current and future trap development efforts will help us to not only capture snakes but also understand their behavior and biology.
Multi-Stakeholder Python Action Workshops
A series of three multi-stakeholder workshops has been held to discuss the large constrictor snake threat, develop action items, and share research information/results. Goals for invasive snake management include prevention, eradication, containment, and reduction of snake populations.
Click here to view the agenda, highlights/action items, and presentations from the last workshop held December 10, 2008, in Stuart, Florida.
For more information on invasive species, rules and regulations (such as the Lacey Act and injurious wildlife), please visit the following web page at http://www.fws.gov/invasives/ or send an email to constrictorsnake@fws.gov.
Links
Burmese Pythons in South Florida: Scientific Support for Invasive Species Management, University of Florida, IFAS Publication Number WEC-242, April 2008
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Information and regulations on nonnative species in Florida.
Florida Invaders: A joint publication between the National Park Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
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New: USGS Study on Risks of Giant Invasive Snakes in U.S.
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