Conservancy Hits Milestone: Over 20 Tons of Burmese Pythons Removed

Since 2013, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida has significantly ramped up efforts to remove invasive Burmese pythons across a 200-square-mile area—from Naples to the Western Everglades. As of June 2025, staff report having removed more than 20 tons of pythons, including a record-breaking 6,300 pounds during this past November–April breeding season

🔬 How It Works: Targeting the Breeders

• The Conservancy employs a science-based telemetry method: tagging about 40 male “scout snakes” with radio transmitters. During breeding season, these males seek out females, helping removal teams locate and humanely euthanize reproductive adults.

• This targeted approach focuses on female pythons, crucial because eliminating a single breeding female prevents thousands of eggs from hatching. Since 2013, the program estimates it has stopped up to 20,000 python eggs from developing conservancy.org.

🐍 Why It Matters

• Burmese pythons are a top predator with serious ecological consequences: they consume native mammals, birds, reptiles, and even alligators. Their presence correlates with steep declines—up to 90%—in certain mammal populations in the Everglades.

• Invasive pythons are prolific: a female can lay 20–100 eggs biennially, and populations in South Florida number in the tens or hundreds of thousands.

📊 Signs of Success

• Despite the challenge of total eradication, there are promising signs: data suggest fewer large females are being tracked in monitored zones, indicating early ecological impact theguardian.com.

• Public involvement—like “Python Challenges” and bounty hunters—complement science-led removal, helping raise awareness and support.

🧭 What’s Next

• The telemetry program continues year-round, prioritizing breeding seasons and expansion to new properties.

• Conservancy staff are collaborating with partners such as USGS, UF researchers, wildlife agencies, and Florida Python Challenge organizers to refine removal strategies and evaluate ecological recovery conservancy.org.

• Long-term tracking will assess whether native populations rebound as python numbers are gradually suppressed.

💡 Bottom Line for Naples

This milestone marks a meaningful stride in the fight to restore Southwest Florida’s native ecosystems. The Conservancy’s precision-based removal of reproductive pythons is cutting off the snakes at the source—potentially reshaping the long-term health of the Everglades and surrounding areas.