Do alligators in Florida eat invasive Burmese pythons? See for yourself

Florida is home to a whopping 1.3 million alligators and mating season is underway.

Throughout breeding season, male gators grow to be extra aggressive and canopy extra floor searching for a mate or as a result of a extra dominant male has kicked it out of its territory.

Hotter temperatures additionally elevate an alligator’s metabolism and drive to seek out meals.

Gators are opportunistic feeders, with fish, turtles, small mammals, birds and snakes part of their food plan.

Are invasive Burmese pythons – among the many largest snakes on this planet – on the gator menu?

Earlier than we reply that, let’s examine sizes:

• Whereas feminine alligators not often exceed 10 ft in size, males can develop a lot bigger. In response to Florida Fish and Wildlife, the state file for size is a 14-foot 3-1/2 inch male. For weight, the file is 1,043 kilos. Their robust jaws can crack a turtle shell.

• Burmese pythons common between 6 and 9 ft in size, however snakes as much as 19 ft lengthy and weighing greater than 200 kilos have been caught in Florida. The enormous constrictors wrap their coils round prey and squeeze it to demise.

Do alligators eat Burmese pythons in Florida?

Sure. Alligators in Florida eat Burmese pythons and there is proof.

In a 2023 USGS research, child Burmese pythons had been outfitted with radio transmitters. Five of the pythons were eaten by alligators.

On Thanksgiving Day in 2024, a big alligator, nicknamed “Godzilla,” was caught on video hauling a massive Burmese python by the water within the Everglades.

In 2023, a Florida lady captured video of a 10-foot alligator in the Everglades eating a large Burmese python.

In 2021, a bike owner filmed a python strangling an alligator to demise within the Florida Everglades.

Do Burmese pythons eat alligators in Florida?

What’s good for the goose…

Burmese pythons have been recognized to make a meal of smaller alligators.

For instance, a bicyclist filmed a Burmese python strangling an alligator in Huge Cypress Nationwide Park.

A 5-foot alligator was found inside of an 18-foot Burmese python carcass throughout a necropsy.

When is alligator mating season?

Whereas alligator courtship begins in early April, mating happens in Could or June, FWC mentioned.

“Females construct a mound nest of soil, vegetation, or particles and deposit roughly 32 to 46 eggs in late June or early July. Incubation requires roughly 60-65 days, and hatching happens in late August or early September.”

Out of a 35-egg clutch, solely about 4 will attain maturity.

Can I hunt gators in Florida? What to find out about new Alligator Tremendous Hunt

In response to FWC, every year since 1988, Florida “alligator administration items are established with applicable harvest quotas to supply leisure alternatives for Floridians and non-residents who’re a minimum of 18 years outdated to take up to 2 alligators per permit.”

Candidates awarded a allow should pay for 2 tags and an alligator trapping license or present proof of a license legitimate by the top of the alligator harvest season. A Florida searching license just isn’t required.

New this 12 months, 100 permits will likely be awarded in a drawing for the Alligator Super Hunt, a substitute for the normal statewide hunt, FWC introduced.

A allow permits for the harvest of two alligators from most alligator administration items and personal property, with the proprietor’s permission, from Aug. 15 to Dec. 31.

Hunters pay a nonrefundable $5 payment for every software and will apply as many instances as they need from Could 3 by June 3.

How one can stay with alligators in Florida

Since alligators are present in all 67 Florida counties, chances are high you may have a run-in with one.

FWC shared these tricks to hold you and your pets secure:

• Swim solely throughout the day and in designated areas. Pets ought to by no means swim.

• Be certain that pets are on a leash and a secure distance type water’s edge.

Name FWC at 866-392-4286 to report a nuisance alligator.

This text initially appeared on Palm Seashore Publish: Florida alligators eat Burmese pythons in Everglades and beyond