Florida Everglades crews locate two 17‑foot Burmese pythons preying on deer

Wildlife crews in Florida’s Everglades discovered two massive Burmese pythons, each about 17 feet long, together in the same area. The snakes are believed to have been feeding on white‑tailed deer, highlighting their potential to impact larger native mammals.

Because mature, breeding‑capable adults of this size can dramatically expand the invasive population, removal teams classified the find as high‑priority. Burmese pythons, introduced through the exotic‑pet trade and illegal releases, have no natural predators in the wetlands and threaten birds, mammals, and reptiles. Ongoing removal efforts are employing new detection methods to target the largest individuals, which are most likely to reproduce and further endanger the ecosystem.