Current Burmese Python Range in Florida
The Burmese python range in Florida now covers most of southern peninsular Florida, with core populations in Miami-Dade, Broward, Collier, Hendry, and Monroe counties. The U.S. Geological Survey maps the established range as stretching from Charlotte Harbor south through the Everglades and into the Florida Keys corridor, where the snakes continue to expand northward and westward.
Recent detection data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission show that roadkill and removal records have pushed the northernmost reliable sightings into Osceola, Polk, and Highlands counties. The FWC python removal program and public sighting reports confirm that the species is now considered established across a continuous lowland corridor linked to water management areas and residential developments.
Ecological and Economic Impact
Within the Burmese python range in Florida, studies document severe declines in marsh rabbits, foxes, raccoons, and several bird species in the Everglades ecosystem. The U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service research indicate that small mammal observations have dropped by more than 90 percent in heavily invaded areas.
From a financial perspective, the state invests millions annually in python detection, removal contracts, and research grants. Private wildlife control companies and public agencies now list python removal as a core service, with some firms reporting a sharp rise in demand as the snakes spread into new neighborhoods and agricultural edges.
State and Federal Control Measures
Florida has expanded its python removal efforts through the FWC's annual Python Challenge, public training sessions, and contracted removal teams operating in high-risk zones. The state also funds research into detection dogs, thermal imaging, and genetic tracking to map the full python range in Florida more accurately.
At the federal level, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists the Burmese python as an injurious species under the Lacey Act, which restricts importation and interstate transport. For more details on federal regulations and current python management plans, see the official FWC python information page at myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/habitat/invasive-pythons/. Additional scientific context on the python's spread and ecological effects is available from the U.S. Geological Survey at usgs.gov.