Florida has been facing a problem with invasive Burmese pythons that have been killing the native wildlife in the Everglades. In an effort to control the python population, the state came up with a plan to hire bounty hunters. Last month, a team of trackers searching for the invasive pythons in a South Florida marsh made a surprising discovery – they found a 500-pound mound of pythons mating. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida reported that they caught and euthanized 11 pythons that were captured during this tracking mission. The capture of these large and invasive snakes is an important step in protecting the native wildlife in Florida.

Discovery of the Mating Mound

The team of trackers who were on a mission to find the invasive Burmese pythons in Florida stumbled upon a massive 500-pound mound of pythons mating in a marsh near Naples. This discovery highlights the scale of the python problem in the region. Burmese pythons are considered one of the most concerning invasive species in southwest Florida by the U.S. Geological Survey, as they pose a significant threat to the native wildlife.

“The Conservancy of Southwest Florida reported it caught 11 pythons and put them down ‘humanely.’ Burmese pythons are invasive in Florida.” – (source)

Conservation Efforts

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, along with other wildlife conservationists, carried out a tracking mission in the marsh near Naples. During this mission, they successfully captured and euthanized 11 Burmese pythons, which collectively weighed 500 pounds. These efforts by the conservation organizations are crucial in managing the invasive python population and protecting the native wildlife. It is notable that this capture took place in February, demonstrating the seriousness of the issue and the early action being taken.

Bounty Hunters and Python Control

This discovery also sheds light on the larger effort being undertaken in Florida to control the python population. The state is paying bounty hunters to assist in the capture of these invasive snakes. By involving bounty hunters, Florida aims to reduce the number of pythons in the wild and mitigate their impact on the ecosystems in the Everglades.

Summary:

• Florida has been facing a problem with invasive Burmese pythons killing native wildlife in the Everglades.
• Bounty hunters have been hired to help control the python population.
• A team of trackers searching for the pythons found a 500-pound mound of mating pythons in a South Florida marsh.
• The Conservancy of Southwest Florida successfully caught and euthanized 11 pythons during a tracking mission.
• Conservation efforts, like this capture, are important in protecting the native wildlife in Florida.
• The discovery highlights the scale of the python problem in southwest Florida.
• Florida is paying bounty hunters as part of their python control measures.