Panthers, and Gators, and Pythons - Oh My

The Predators of the Everglades

Putting characters in dangerous situations is important to a good story. The Everglades is as good a location as any. In Backwater Grave, Kurt Hunter travels to the Glades and faces several of the species. His posting in Biscayne National Park has placed him in contact with gators and crocs, the latter of which thrive in the cooling canals used by Florida Power and Lights Turkey Point facility.

The pythons are a new and serious threat.

Historically the Florida panther, alligators, crocodiles, and a handful of snakes were the primary predators of the ecosystem. All dangerous and with few natural predators they thrived. Feral pigs, which were introduced by man, are common as are the deer, multiple species of birds, fish, and of course, insects.

The panther and crocodile are currently endangered, mostly because of habitat loss. Both have made a resurgence in recent years, but the entire list of predators is now in jeopardy.

The reason is the Burmese python. A non-native, invasive species released by reptile owners over the years the Python has no predators and has taken over large swaths of the Everglades.

Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash

The Everglades proved to be an ideal habitat for the Burmese python. With its vast expanses of marshes, swamps, and subtropical vegetation, the snakes found an abundance of prey and suitable breeding grounds. Lacking natural predators and with ample resources, the python population thrived. Over time, their numbers skyrocketed, causing detrimental effects on native wildlife.

Government agencies, such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), have implemented programs to address the python invasion. These initiatives include public awareness campaigns to educate people about the risks of releasing non-native species and encouraging responsible pet ownership. The FWC also supports the removal of Burmese pythons through a combination of licensed hunting programs, trained python removal contractors, and the establishment of python removal competitions.

For a look into the hunting and harvesting of the pythons, check out this guy:

In recent years pythons have moved into new areas and have been spotted in Biscayne Bay and the Upper Keys.