The Burmese Python, a large constrictor native to Southeast Asia, is a recognized invasive species in Florida. Its established presence in the southern part of the state has caused substantial ecological damage and public concern. This has led many residents and visitors, including those in the Orlando area, to wonder about the geographical extent of the problem. This article clarifies where the python population is currently established and provides information for residents to identify and report large snakes in Central Florida.
Python Presence in Central Florida
The established, reproducing population of Burmese Pythons is not located in Central Florida or the Orlando area. The core population is concentrated hundreds of miles to the south, primarily within and around the Everglades National Park. This range extends from south of Lake Okeechobee toward the Florida Keys, including Collier, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties, where the tropical climate supports year-round breeding.
Sightings outside this established South Florida range, such as in the Orlando metropolitan area, are almost always isolated incidents involving escaped or intentionally released pets. These individual snakes do not constitute a breeding population in the cooler central and northern parts of the state. Infrequent but intense winter cold fronts experienced in Central Florida act as a natural barrier to the species’ sustained expansion.
Distinguishing Pythons from Native Snakes
Concerns about pythons often arise from encounters with large native snakes that are frequently misidentified. The Burmese Python is characterized by a tan body overlaid with dark, irregularly shaped blotches that appear similar to puzzle pieces. They also possess a distinctive dark, arrowhead-shaped wedge mark on the top of their head, which helps distinguish them from native reptiles.
The longest native snake, the Eastern Indigo Snake, is often mistaken for an invasive constrictor due to its impressive size. Males of this non-venomous species commonly reach lengths between seven and nine feet. The Indigo Snake is easily distinguished by its glossy, uniform bluish-black coloration, which sometimes exhibits an iridescent purple sheen.
Another common large snake is the Eastern Rat Snake, which averages between three and six feet in length. Adults are typically yellowish or gray with four faint dark longitudinal stripes running down the body. This striped pattern contrasts sharply with the python’s blotched markings, which are persistent throughout the python’s life.
How Pythons Invaded Florida
The introduction of Burmese Pythons into Florida began primarily through the exotic pet trade in the 1970s. Many owners acquired these animals when small but later released them into the wild after they grew too large to manage. This release mechanism created the foundation for the current problem.
The population was significantly bolstered in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew swept through South Florida. The storm destroyed a large python breeding facility, releasing hundreds of additional snakes directly into the Everglades ecosystem. The warm, humid climate and abundant prey then allowed this introduced group to establish a reproducing population.
Reporting and Management Efforts
Despite the low risk of an established python population in the Orlando area, all sightings of non-native constrictors must be reported immediately to state authorities. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) manages the Exotic Species Hotline, which can be reached by calling 888-IVE-GOT1 (888-483-4681). Reports can also be submitted using the IveGot1 smartphone application or website.
Quick reporting is important to prevent any isolated snake from establishing a new breeding population outside the Everglades. FWC encourages the public to humanely kill any python found on private land, where permissible. However, live transport of these non-native reptiles is strictly prohibited.
These efforts work in conjunction with state programs, such as the Python Elimination Program. This program pays trained contractors to remove pythons from sensitive public lands in South Florida.