Burmese pythons ended up in the Florida Everglades because captive snakes were released, either by accident or on purpose, and then survived long enough to establish a breeding population. The National Park Service says they are now established in the park because of the release of captive pet animals.
Once that happened, the Everglades gave them what an invasive species loves: warm weather, thick cover, and plenty of prey. The NPS says pythons eat mammals, birds, and reptiles, and research has tied their spread to sharp declines in native mammals. The U.S. Geological Survey describes them as a serious invasive species in southern Florida.
The practical lesson is simple: exotic pets are not harmless when they are let loose. In the Everglades, one released snake can become part of a population that is extremely expensive and difficult to control.
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