Transmitter implantation observations for wild adult Burmese pythons in southern Florida

Observations from 20 years of tracking Burmese pythons in southern Florida using VHF radiotelemetry. From 2005 to 2024, we implanted 305 transmitters in 142 adult Burmese pythons. There were no observations of transmitter-related mortality. Overall, 98.7% of transmitters were retained, with a 1.3% expulsion rate (n = 4 transmitters). Expelled tags were only observed in subcutaneously-implanted transmitters from 4 of 13 gravid females.