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The Burmese python (Python bivittatus) has been established in Florida for quite some time now, the result of pets either intentionally released or escaping from their owners’ homes into the wild. An invasive and alien species, it has had an impact on the native biodiversity of the region. But now, researchers think they may have found ways to successfully remove the species from the wilds of the Sunshine State.
Scientists from the University of Florida statistically analysed large amounts of data collected by Burmese python contractors, people called on to remove the snakes, revealing critical insights about how to most efficiently remove the reptiles.
The researchers recommend that surveys undertaken to remove Burmese pythons can be most successful and efficient during Florida’s wet season from May to October.
They add that the most efficient survey period is between 8 pm to 2 am. Aquatic vehicles, including motorboats, canoes, kayaks, and airboats, enhance survey effectiveness.
Moreover, nighttime surveys generally yield better results than daytime surveys, except during extreme cold events, such as mean daily air temperatures of 50 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
The researchers see their study as a pivotal point in research that now provides guidelines supported by data for successful detection and removal efforts.
“Pythons disrupt food webs, altering predator-prey dynamics and reducing populations of key native species. By refining removal strategies, we’re working to give native wildlife a chance to adapt and persist,” said Alex Romer, a quantitative ecologist at UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center and corresponding author on the paper.
“Managing pythons is an enormous effort, undertaken by Floridians deeply invested in restoring the intricate ecological processes that define the Everglades,” said Romer. “This work is about safeguarding one of the world’s most unique ecosystems—not just for today, but for generations to come.”
Optimizing survey conditions for Burmese python detection and removal using community science data has been published in Scientific Reports in January 2025.