You have learned that invasive species are plants, animals, and organisms that encroach on and ultimately take over the habitat of native species. Search “invasive species in the United States” and choose one species from the results. Find information on the invasive species you choose, including when, where, and how it was introduced into the United States and what dangers it might pose. Should these dangers be addressed? Are attempts being made to stop the spread of this species? If not, should anything be done to stop the spread of the species?
Respond to the prompt. Support your opinions with explanations and evidence.
Burmese Pythons
Burmese pythons are native to Southeast Asia. the pythons were first brought to the United States as exotic pets. When the exotic pet trade increased in the 1980s, Miami had thousands kinds of snakes because pythons can grow to uncontainable sizes and some irresponsible owners would release the snakes into the wild.
The releasing of these exotic pets might not be the only reason this species of snakes was spread in Miami because most experts believe the pythons’ population grew immensely in the Everglades previously after Hurricane Andrew. It was during that storm that a python breeding facility was destroyed, releasing many snakes into the nearby swamps.
Today, authorities don’t know how many pythons wander the area, maybe because the Everglades is huge and some snakes camouflage their surroundings. The Burmese python has already overwhelmed the mammal population of the Everglades, cruelly damaging its biodiversity. These snakes cause serious destruction to Miami. This snake affected certain species by declining their population by a large amount. These snakes are believed very dangerous predators. According to one study, between 1997 and 2012 the Everglades’ raccoon, opossum and bobcat populations dropped 99.3, 98.9, and 87.5 percent correspondingly. Meanwhile “marsh rabbits, cottontail rabbits and foxes successfully extinct,” the study said.
The Burmese python had a massive a population in Everglades, so the state of Florida has detached policies to hunting them, and even set up encouragement programs. Hunters can hunt Burmese pythons and other invasive reptiles on private lands all year without a permit or hunting license. These strategies to reduce the invasive snake population are efficient, but in my opinion they should do more. For example, every time a citizen that finds an invasive snake in the wild or thinks that they found one could send a photo, description, time, date, and where they found to an official, and if it is an invasive snake the official could send back to Southeast Asia.
Can you please check my essay if it meets all the requirements and opinions are welcomed too.