{"id":16220,"date":"2025-06-09T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/?p=16220"},"modified":"2025-06-09T11:15:19","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T15:15:19","slug":"conservancy-surpasses-20-ton-milestone-in-burmese-python-removal-sets-new-record-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/conservancy-surpasses-20-ton-milestone-in-burmese-python-removal-sets-new-record-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Conservancy surpasses 20-ton milestone in Burmese python removal, sets new record season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Conservancy of Southwest Florida announces a record-breaking Burmese python research and removal season of 6,300 pounds of invasive snake. This marks a milestone for the Conservancy\u2019s python program, with more than 20 tons of Burmese pythons removed from a 200-square-mile area in Southwest Florida since 2013.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have been on the front line of the invasive python battle for more than a decade,\u201d states Ian Bartoszek, wildlife biologist and Conservancy Science Project Manager, who oversees the python program. \u201cRemoving more than 40,000 pounds of snake, carried out through some of Florida\u2019s unrelenting wildlife habitats, is a heavy-lifting assignment. But, through years of dedicated research, we\u2019ve developed science-based methods to track this apex predator more effectively and mitigate its damage to our native wildlife population.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Conservancy of Southwest Florida Python Biologist Day in the Life\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yhrMk8Ee47k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Join the Conservancy of Southwest Florida python tracking team during a field outing in peak python breeding season. The beginning of the video shows telemetry field tracking, followed by a python capture of three new males and one new female Burmese python, thanks to two of the Conservancy scout snakes that were released to continue tracking. Video shows Conservancy biologists Ian Bartoszek and Ian Easterling, along with Kathryn Koo (graduated intern) Jason Edelkind (field tech)<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Using radio telemetry and tagged male pythons known as scout snakes, the team, including Bartoszek and Conservancy Biologist Ian Easterling, along with a field tech and python interns, currently track 40 pythons. These scout snakes help locate reproductive pythons during the breeding season, November through April. Conservancy staff monitors scout snakes across a 200-square-mile area of public and private land from Naples through the Western Everglades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1050\" data-id=\"16224\" src=\"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-1-1400x1050.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-1-1400x1050.png 1400w, https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-1-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-1-1536x1152.png 1536w, https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-1.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Conservancy of Southwest Florida staff holding a 16-foot 130-lb female Burmese python captured while tracking a male scout snake during the Conservancy\u2019s record season, Jason Edelkind (field tech), Ian Easterling (biologist), Kathryn Koo (graduated intern), Ian Bartoszek (biologist)<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1044\" height=\"1400\" data-id=\"16225\" src=\"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-2-1044x1400.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-2-1044x1400.png 1044w, https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-2-768x1030.png 768w, https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-2-1145x1536.png 1145w, https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-2.png 1527w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1044px) 100vw, 1044px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Conservancy of Southwest Florida biologists capture three 17-foot, 140 lb breeding female pythons during season (Ian Easterling (biologist) Ian Bartoszek (biologist), Jason Edelkind (field tech)<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In this science-based approach, biologists target adult female pythons, attempting to suppress python reproduction. Since 2013, the team has stopped an additional 20,000 python eggs from hatching. As the program expands into new areas, long-term monitoring has shown signs of positive effectiveness of these efforts, as scout snakes increasingly struggle to locate mates or the females they find are smaller in size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/conservancy.org?bbFormId=e7dc4e88-160f-465a-a386-cdfcb72354f8\"><strong>Click here<\/strong> <strong>to donate to python research today!<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Burmese python is decimating native wildlife across their invaded range. Here at the Conservancy, we also rehabilitate thousands of injured native animals in the von Arx Wildlife Hospital and release them back into the wild each year. The python team\u2019s work of reducing the local population of the invasive snake allows our native wildlife safer conditions to recover,\u201d says Rob Moher, President and CEO of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Conservancy of Southwest Florida biologist handles invasive Burmese python\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hEd0k9OcH4M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Conservancy of Southwest Florida biologist Ian Bartoszek demonstrates safe solo python capture techniques for a Conservancy intern during the season\u2019s largest capture of a 17-foot, 153-pound female Burmese python.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Conservancy\u2019s python program is one of the leading research and removal initiatives globally, with its scientists recognized for capturing the largest female python ever documented to date, measuring 18 feet long and weighing 215 pounds, as well as the largest male python on record at 16 feet and 140 pounds. Conservancy biologists have also published more than 20 collaborative scientific articles that reveal insights into python biology and behavior. These include the documented observation of an adult female python consuming a white-tailed deer, which uncovered the largest gape ever recorded for the species, and new evidence of the python\u2019s ability to ingest prey. Pythons can consume meals over 100% of their body mass, feeding on a diet that includes more than 85 species, including deer, bobcats, foxes, rabbits, birds, various reptiles, and other native wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBurmese pythons are impressive creatures that are here from no fault of their own,\u201d Bartoszek states. \u201cAs wildlife biologists, we have tremendous respect for all snake species. However, we understand the impact invasive pythons are having on the biodiversity in our area, and we humanely remove them from the ecosystem as part of the Conservancy\u2019s commitment to protecting our water, land, wildlife, and future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1044\" height=\"1400\" data-id=\"16226\" src=\"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-3-1044x1400.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16226\" srcset=\"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-3-1044x1400.png 1044w, https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-3-768x1030.png 768w, https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-3-1145x1536.png 1145w, https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-3.png 1527w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1044px) 100vw, 1044px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Pictured is 700 lbs of Burmese python captured during Conservancy of Southwest Florida&#8217;s record 6,3000 lb capture season<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1044\" height=\"1400\" data-id=\"16227\" src=\"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-4-1044x1400.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16227\" srcset=\"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-4-1044x1400.png 1044w, https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-4-768x1030.png 768w, https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-4-1145x1536.png 1145w, https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/COSWFL_Photo-4.png 1527w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1044px) 100vw, 1044px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>This is what was discovered during a Burmese python necropsy, the remains showing the snake had consumed a white-tailed deer. Conservancy of Southwest Florida is committed to protecting native wildlife, Pythons can consume meals over 100% of their body mass, feeding on a diet that includes more than 85 species, including deer, bobcats, foxes, rabbits, birds, various reptiles, and other native wildlife<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Conservancy python tracking team collaborates with Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve researchers, the United States Geological Survey, the University of Florida, and the South Florida Water Management District. Funding for the program comes from private philanthropy, grants, the Naples Zoo Conservation Fund, and the Fish &amp; Wildlife Foundation of Florida. To learn more about the Conservancy\u2019s work with Burmese pythons, visit conservancy.org.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Conservancy of Southwest Florida<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is a nonprofit environmental organization that has protected water, land and wildlife in Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties for more than 60 years. Through environmental science, policy, education and wildlife rehabilitation, the Conservancy safeguards Southwest Florida\u2019s natural resources for future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Headquartered in Naples, Florida, the Conservancy is home to Collier County\u2019s only native wildlife hospital and its vibrant Nature Center. Currently open to visitors, the Nature Center is undergoing a major transformation into a new, impactful community offering\u2014the John &amp; Carol Walter Nature Experience, set to open in 2028. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a gateway to conservation, offering immersive exhibits, hands-on learning and expanded programs to inspire environmental stewardship and enhance the region\u2019s quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more and support Southwest Florida\u2019s environmental future at conservancy.org.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Media Inquiries<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Rene\u00e9 Stoll, Conservancy of Southwest Florida Director of Communications and Marketing, (239) 430-2460, renees@conservancy.org<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Conservancy of Southwest Florida announces a record-breaking Burmese python research and removal season of 6,300 pounds of invasive snake. This marks a milestone for the Conservancy\u2019s python program, with&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":76,"featured_media":2112,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/76"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16220"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16220\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16249,"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16220\/revisions\/16249"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2112"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/conservancy.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}