The Everglades is home to a vast and diverse snake population that is integral to the unique subtropical wetland ecosystem. This extensive region supports numerous species, which fall into two distinct categories: native snakes that have evolved within the habitat and non-native invasive species that pose a serious threat to the area’s natural balance. The presence of these reptiles contributes to the complex food web of the Everglades. Understanding the difference between the native residents and the established invaders is important for grasping the ecological dynamics of this Florida wilderness.
Native Snake Diversity
The vast majority of snakes in the Everglades are native species that play a significant role in maintaining the health of the ecosystem. These reptiles act as both predators and prey, helping to control populations of small mammals, amphibians, and insects while also providing food for larger animals like alligators and birds of prey. One of the most recognizable native snakes is the Eastern Indigo Snake, which is the longest native snake in the United States, known for its lustrous black color and its preference for drier, pine forest habitats.
Other common species include various water snakes, such as the Florida Banded Water Snake and the Brown Water Snake, which are non-venomous but are often misidentified as the venomous Cottonmouth due to their similar aquatic habitats. The Everglades Rat Snake, an excellent climber, is another frequent resident, identifiable by its yellow or orange coloration and its role in controlling rodent populations. The Common Kingsnake even preys on other snakes, including venomous species.
The Burmese Python Problem
The most significant threat to the Everglades’ native wildlife comes from the non-native Burmese Python, a giant constrictor that has established a breeding population in South Florida. These pythons were introduced to the region primarily through the exotic pet trade, with many being released intentionally or accidentally, such as after Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Since the species was officially recognized as reproducing in the wild around 2000, their population has expanded rapidly, making them the dominant predator in large parts of the Everglades National Park.
The pythons’ large size—they can exceed 20 feet in length—and their generalist diet allow them to prey on nearly any bird, mammal, or reptile they encounter, including white-tailed deer and even alligators. Scientific studies have documented severe declines in native mammal populations that coincide with the proliferation of pythons. For example, sightings of raccoons, opossums, and bobcats have decreased by up to 99.3%, 98.9%, and 87.5% respectively, since the pythons became widespread. These constrictors are also highly reproductive, with a typical female producing a clutch of 20 to 50 eggs every other year, compounding the difficulty of their removal and the ongoing ecological damage.
Identifying Venomous Species
While the majority of snakes in the Everglades are harmless, the region is home to a few native venomous species that warrant caution. The four venomous snakes found in the Everglades ecosystem include three pit vipers and the Eastern Coral Snake. The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is the largest rattlesnake in North America, recognizable by its distinctive diamond pattern and audible rattle.
The Water Moccasin, also known as the Cottonmouth, is a semi-aquatic snake found in marshes and swamps that will often display the white interior of its mouth as a warning when threatened. Pit vipers generally possess thick, blocky heads, thick bodies relative to their length, and heat-sensing pits on their faces. The Eastern Coral Snake is smaller and highly venomous, identifiable by its bright pattern of red, yellow, and black bands, where the red bands touch the yellow bands, which is a key distinction from non-venomous mimics.
Controlling Invasive Populations
State and federal agencies are actively implementing measures to manage and reduce the population of Burmese Pythons. Organizations like the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) support networks of paid contractors and authorized agents trained for python removal. These efforts include the FWC Python Action Team Removing Invasive Constrictors (PATRIC) and the SFWMD Python Elimination Program (PEP), which incentivize the removal of pythons from public lands.
Annual public competitions, such as the Florida Python Challenge, also raise awareness and engage the public in the removal efforts. Researchers are continuously developing new techniques to improve detection, given the snakes are cryptic and difficult to find. This includes using environmental DNA (eDNA) to confirm python presence and the “Judas snake” technique, where male pythons are implanted with tracking devices and released to lead researchers to breeding females. The goal of these coordinated strategies is to prevent the further spread of the pythons and mitigate their negative impact on native wildlife populations.