Python Hunting Season Has Ended in Florida

The Florida python hunting season that opened March 8 ended on April 17. No snakes were killed by hunters during the relatively short time period. Additionally, 9 of 10 snakes that were being tracked with implanted radio transmitters in Everglades National Park died and, the tenth was reported in poor condition. All of this follows an unseasonably cold January. Does this mean that 90 to 100% of the invasive pythons died? The answer to this is unknown. Snakes with implanted transmitters may have been more susceptible to the stress produced by the cold because of the surgery; they may have been more active than other snakes and closer to the surface or more exposed to the cold. Other unknown factors may have made them more sensitive to the cold weather. Officials who claimed the 50% of the snakes, snakes and other invasive reptiles died from the cold snap have no real way of supporting that number and it has generated considerable skepticism and sarcasm in the press considering that 90% of the snakes that were being tracked died. Ten snakes is a relatively small sample size, particularly in light of the size of the area occupied by the snakes. With the approach of summer I suspect python sightings are likely to increase and those that are seen are likely to be the ones that are cold resistant because of their physiology or behavior.