Burmese python population surges in Florida's Everglades, posing biodiversity threat

Burmese pythons, invasive predators in Florida's Everglades, have surged in population, with estimates between 100,000 and 300,000. Recent research shows these snakes can open their mouths wider than previously thought, allowing them to consume large prey. Efforts to control the python population include a Python Elimination Program that pays residents to remove snakes and an annual competition offering cash prizes. Since 2017, about 14,000 pythons have been removed, but complete eradication remains unlikely. Despite their size and predatory nature, the risk of attacks on humans is very low, with no recorded fatalities from wild pythons. Authorities advise avoiding interactions with these large snakes.