Problems with Pythons
The Burmese Python has become a huge problem in the Florida everglades. This is a non-native species that has been brought to the everglades by people who thought this would make a great pet for their home not realizing that the python grows to up to 26 feet and a massive 200 pounds. These "pets" are cast out by their owners long before they reach these sizes because they can no longer house the massive size of the snake. Once they are thrown to the side they flourish in the hot humid climate the Florida everglades has to offer them increasing in size on the occasional snake of the family cat or dog, even alligators and some reports of children. In my opinion the government needs to step in on this growing problem with the population estimated to about 1,900 pythons as counted by the National Park Service. Regulations need to be set for restricting the sales of the python to anyone not accredited with the proper licensing like a zoo. Without government control and policies set in stone I feel like the problem will continue to grow into an uncontrollable level that is on the brink of throwing the ecosystem of the everglades into a downward spiral. These snakes are single handedly decimating the population of many small and even medium sized mammals. As stated in the article linked above this entry the populations of the opossum, raccoon, and deer have dropped off to more than 90% of the typical sightings and bobcats are down below 80% typical sightings. This obvious threat to the delicate ecosystem that is the everglades needs immediate attention and it all starts with government stepping in and putting a stop to the import of the python. Only once people stop abandoning their pet pythons in the everglades can they then be managed and hopefully permanently removed from the everglades and the natural balance be restored.