Nonnative species do not belong in Florida. Some don’t cause any negative impact, while others are invasive, meaning that they negatively impact native fish and wildlife, causing damage that is costly to repair, or pose a threat to human health and safety.
The Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Program is focused on reducing the negative impacts of nonnative species in Florida through prevention, early detection, rapid response, control and management, and education and outreach. An example of an invasive species that continues to multiply in the state is the Burmese Python.
The Burmese python is a large nonvenomous constrictor that is definitely an invasive species in Florida. Burmese pythons are found primarily in and around the Everglades ecosystem in south Florida where the snake represents a threat to native wildlife. The FWC works with partners to manage Burmese pythons in a variety of ways. However, they are encouraging the public to get involved.
Pythons can be humanely killed on private lands at any time with landowner permission – no permit required- and the FWC encourages people to remove and kill pythons from private lands whenever possible.
Pythons may also be killed at any time throughout the year from 25 Wildlife Management Areas, Public Small Game Hunting Areas, and Wildlife and Environmental Areas where pythons are known to exist. There is no bag limit and pythons may be humanely killed by any means other than traps or firearms (unless provided for by specific area regulations).
The Florida Python Challenge® is an exciting conservation effort that helps protect the rare Everglades habitat and the animals that live there from these invasive, nonnative snakes.
