Burmese Pythons in the Everglades: What Visitors Should Know
"Will we see a python?" is one of the questions our captains hear most from families, groups and cruise passengers. The honest answer is probably not. That says a lot about why pythons are such a problem. Here's what the science says, what it means for a sightseeing tour, and how to get closer to the issue if you want to.
Why you probably won't see one
The National Park Service says park visitors are unlikely to see a python in the wild. Burmese pythons are secretive and well camouflaged. Even though they're large snakes, their coloring and behavior help them disappear into the marsh. They're so hard to find that the Park Service says even estimating how many there are is very difficult.
So on a typical private airboat tour, keep your eyes on the animals you're more likely to see. Alligators, wading birds and turtles top most visitors' lists. Sightings always depend on conditions, and we never guarantee a particular animal.
How pythons got to the Everglades
Burmese pythons are native to Asia, not Florida. The Park Service says they became established in Everglades National Park through the accidental or intentional release of captive pets. The U.S. Geological Survey describes them as having a breeding population in South Florida and as one of the most concerning invasive species in the area.
What the research shows
Pythons eat a wide range of animals, including mammals, birds and reptiles. Two studies help explain the impact:
Road surveys (2012): Researchers compared nighttime road surveys in Everglades National Park from 2003 to 2011 with surveys from before 2000. Raccoon observations fell 99.3%, opossum observations 98.9% and bobcat observations 87.5%. Rabbits weren't detected at all. These figures measure how often animals were seen on surveys, not a full head count.
Marsh rabbits: In another USGS study, researchers moved marsh rabbits into the park and followed what happened to them. Pythons caused 77% of the rabbit deaths within 11 months.
The Park Service says pythons are probably the main reason mammals have declined so sharply in the park. That's part of the story your captain can talk through on the water: what's missing matters as much as what you see.
Who removes pythons, and how you can help
Removing pythons is a long-term effort. Everglades National Park runs an authorized agent program, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) supports removal through its own removal programs and the Florida Python Challenge.
A few things every visitor can do:
Report sightings. FWC asks people to report python sightings to its Exotic Species Hotline at 888-IVE-GOT1 (888-483-4681).
Don't let it loose. The Park Service stresses that preventing pet releases is far easier than removing an established species.
Never feed wildlife. Feeding alligators is illegal in Florida, so leave the snacks for yourself and let your captain handle the viewing.
Want to look for pythons? Book a guided hunt
A sightseeing airboat tour and a python hunt are different trips. If searching for pythons is the goal, Florida Tour Company offers guided python hunts in two formats:
Road hunts: a nighttime search along Everglades roads, using mounted lights to scan the habitat.
Airboat hunts: travel by airboat into Everglades habitat to search. This can involve walking through vegetation and over uneven ground.
Sightings and catches are never guaranteed. Age requirements, fitness, meeting point and the guests included are confirmed before you book. The free-child policy for our sightseeing airboat tours doesn't automatically apply to hunts. For more detail, read what a guided python outing involves.
Python questions from visitors
Is a night airboat tour the same as a python hunt?
No. A private night airboat tour is a sightseeing trip after dark. A python hunt is a separate guided search with its own pricing and requirements.
Can kids come on a python hunt?
Talk to us first. We'll go over ages, the physical demands and your group's needs before you reserve.
Are there pythons where airboat tours run?
The USGS says pythons have a breeding population across South Florida, and the Park Service says they're found throughout Everglades National Park. Even so, they're rarely seen.
Plan your Everglades day
Compare private airboat tours for families and groups, add private hotel pickup ($400 round trip for up to 13 guests), or request your date.
Sources: NPS: Burmese python · USGS: How have invasive pythons impacted Florida ecosystems? · Dorcas et al. 2012 (PNAS) · USGS marsh rabbit study · FWC: removing pythons.
