Pythons vs. Gators: Who's Really Running the Everglades These Days?

The roar of cicadas in mid-afternoon mixes with the gentle rustle of sawgrass, creating a soothing soundtrack that makes the tensions of Miami feel a million miles away. The Florida Everglades, just a short drive from the metro area, has always been a mysteriously intriguing subtropical wonderland—sparking imagination in writers, artists, and kids alike. Alligators have long ruled as the top predator, but lately there’s a new contender slithering through the Sea of Grass: Burmese pythons.

Illegal Aliens of the Swamp

Burmese pythons exploded in popularity during the exotic pet craze of the 1990s. Every kid (especially in Florida) seemed to want one—after all, the state’s primitive jungle playground felt like the perfect backdrop for Animal Planet heroes like the late Crocodile Hunter or Jeff Corwin.

But those adorable 3-foot hatchlings grow fast—up to four feet per year, reaching lengths over 15 feet. When they outgrew the terrarium, many owners figured they were “doing the humane thing” by releasing them into the wild.

The swampy Everglades turned out to be a little too perfect: since the late 90s, python numbers have exploded. Florida State Senator Bill Nelson’s office estimated 100,000 of the snakes now slither through Everglades National Park. Nelson called for a massive python hunt that winter, coordinated by the Department of the Interior alongside state and federal agencies.

Skip Snow, the park biologist leading the study and eradication program, said: “We’ve found Burmese pythons in more places each year than before. We’re also finding more size classes.”

The History Channel’s Life After People even hypothesized that if humans vanished, invasive species would dominate—and pythons would battle alligators for Everglades supremacy. The premise felt plausible after scientists discovered a 13-foot python that had burst and died after swallowing a 6-foot alligator whole. Photos of the gruesome showdown went viral.

The Everglades: It’s What’s for Dinner

Florida’s no stranger to invasives—iguanas, fire ants, love bugs, Australian pines—but pythons are in a league of their own. Adults have almost no natural predators, and they eat everything: endangered Florida panthers, wood storks, wading birds, rodents, rabbits, raccoons, even bobcats.

They rarely target people. “I think there’s a better chance of somebody getting hurt swerving a car around a python crossing a road and having an accident, than having an encounter with one,” said Dan Kimball, Everglades National Park superintendent.

Still, tragedy struck elsewhere: on June 30, 2009, 2-year-old Shaiunna Hare was tragically asphyxiated in her Oxford, Florida home by an 8-foot Burmese python that escaped its terrarium.

Removing the Threat

Scientists have gone low-tech and high-tech to fight back.

Low-tech: They’ve deputized snake-sniffing beagle dogs to track them down.

High-tech: They capture, sedate, and implant select pythons with radio transmitters, turning them into “Judas” snakes. The bugged pythons return to dens and betray their comrades—leading to mass apprehensions.

Legislation is also in play: Florida lawmakers considered a bill making it a third-degree felony to release pythons (or negligently allow escape), requiring owners to register, photograph, and pay $100/year per snake. Some owners argued it would just create a black market and out-of-state smuggling.

A New Tour Attraction?

Everglades tours remain hugely popular for South Florida visitors. In fact, The Miami Tour Company—which offers daily excursions into this celebrated swamp—was recently named one of Miami’s top attractions on TripAdvisor.

So if you’re out in South Florida’s outback—hiking a hammock trail or gliding on an airboat—keep your eyes peeled for these newest residents… before they’re permanently deported!

Pythons in Florida Today (2026 Update)

Burmese pythons remain a major invasive threat in the Everglades, with estimates now in the hundreds of thousands (some say over 300,000). Florida’s Python Elimination Program (run by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) has removed tens of thousands since 2010—hunters are paid per snake, and the program continues with training, incentives, and public hunts.

The 2023 record: over 200 pythons removed in a single 10-day challenge. They still prey heavily on native wildlife, but human attacks remain extremely rare. Everglades tours now often highlight the python issue as part of conservation education—airboat guides point them out (safely) and explain the ongoing battle. The problem’s far from solved, but efforts are more organized and visible than ever. If you’re visiting, ask your guide—they’ll have the latest stories (and probably a few python-spotting tips). Stay on marked trails!

Editor’s Note: Originally published July 27, 2009. Updated in 2026 with new photography; Matt Meltzer’s original writing remains unchanged.