Invasive species have negatively impacted many ecosystems. Invasive reptiles are an increasing problem across the United States. Tracking the establishment and spread of existing and new invasive species is critical to effectively manage invasive species. USGS scientists are developing new tools, particularly molecular techniques, to assist in the early detection of, and rapid response to, invasive reptiles such as Burmese pythons and Argentine black and white tegus in Florida, boa constrictors in the Virgin Islands, and brown treesnakes on Guam.
BLACK AND WHITE TEGU
Relatively recent invaders into South Florida, Argentine black and white tegus are large, highly reproductive, long living terrestrial lizards native to South America. Two established populations of tegu are in Florida, each likely coming from an escaped or released domesticated pet. Tegus eat a variety of plants and animals, but most concerning is their preference for reptile and bird eggs. USGS research on tegus includes developing and testing methods for detection and control, focusing on determining thermal tolerances and predicting tegus potential range in the U.S.
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (WARC)
More information about WARC projects is available from the links below.
- Evaluation of Tegu Movements and Habitat Use in Relation to Location and Habitat
- Ecology and Control of Invasive Reptiles in Florida
- Invasive Species in the Everglades – An Opportunity to Engage Youth in Science
BROWN TREESNAKE
Scientists with the USGS Brown Treesnake project conduct research on this snake species, including control tool development and validation, ecology and ecological impacts, and early detection methods. The program has been expanded to include other invasive reptiles, such as the Burmese Python, Boa Constrictor, and Northern African Python in Florida and invasive watersnakes in California.
Fort Collins Science Center Science (FORT)
More information about FORT projects is available from the links below.
- Brown Treesnake Rapid Response Team
- USGS Brown Treesnake Laboratory and Rapid Response Facility - Guam
- Control and Landscape-Scale Suppression of the Invasive Brown Treesnake
BURMESE PYTHON
USGS scientists continue to conduct research on invasive Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park and other DOI lands in South Florida to aid in the management of these large, voracious constrictor snakes. Our research on Burmese pythons has focused on developing and testing methods for detection and control, predicting potential range of the species in the U.S., understanding thermal tolerances and conducting a risk assessment of pythons to humans.
Fort Collins Science Center Science (FORT)
More information about FORT projects is available from the links below.
- Ecology and Control of Invasive Reptiles in Florida
- Giant Constrictor Snakes in Florida: A Sizeable Research Challenge
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (WARC)
More information about WARC projects is available from the links below.
- Ecology of and Control Strategies for Invasive Burmese Pythons (Python molurus bivitattus) in the Greater Everglades
- Using Environmental DNA for Burmese Python Detection Probabilities and Range-Delimitation in Southern Florida
- Genetic Analysis of the Invasive Burmese Python to Aid Management and Population-Control Decision-Making
- Efficacy of eDNA as an Early Detection and Rapid Response Indicator for Burmese Pythons in the Northern Greater Everglades Ecosystem
⇒ Return to Invasive Species Science
USGS studies related to invasive reptiles are listed below.
Brown Treesnake Rapid Response Team
Biology, Impacts and Control of Invasive Reptiles in the Everglades
USGS Brown Treesnake Laboratory and Rapid Response Facility - Guam
Ecology and Control of Invasive Reptiles in Florida
Control and Landscape-Scale Suppression of the Invasive Brown Treesnake
Giant Constrictor Snakes in Florida: A Sizeable Research Challenge
Invasive Species in the Everglades – An Opportunity to Engage Youth in Science
Optimal Control Strategies for Invasive Exotics in South Florida
Efficacy of eDNA as an Early Detection and Rapid Response Indicator for Burmese Pythons in the Northern Greater Everglades Ecosystem
Genetic Analysis of the Invasive Burmese Python to Aid Management and Population-Control Decision-Making
Using Environmental DNA for Burmese Python Detection Probabilities and Range-Delimitation in Southern Florida
Ecology of and Control Strategies for Invasive Burmese Pythons (Python molurus bivitattus) in the Greater Everglades
USGS FAQ related to invasive reptiles are listed below.
Can invasive pythons be eradicated?
The odds of eradicating an introduced population of reptiles once it has spread across a large area are very low, pointing to the importance of prevention, early detection and rapid response. And with the Burmese python now distributed across more than a thousand square miles of southern Florida, including all of Everglades National Park and areas to the north such as Big Cypress National Preserve...
What should I do if I see a python in the wild?
If you see a python in the wild – or suspect that a snake is a python or an invasive snake – you should take the same precautions for these constrictor snakes as one would take for alligators: avoid interacting with or getting close to them. If you are in Everglades National Park, you can report a python sighting to a park ranger. You can also report the animal via the “Ive Got 1” reporting...
Are large constrictor snakes such as Burmese pythons able to kill people? What is the risk? Would this be in the wild, or in backyards?
Human fatalities from non-venomous snakes are very rare, probably averaging one or two per year worldwide. All known constrictor-snake fatalities in the United States are from captive snakes; these are split between deaths of snake owners who were purposefully interacting with their pet and deaths of small children or infants in homes where a snake was kept captive as a pet. There have been no...
Could invasive pythons move into cities?
Boa constrictors and northern African pythons live in or adjacent to the Miami metropolitan area, and in their native ranges various python species and the boa constrictor are often found living in suburban and urban areas. As with alligators, the risk of human attack in urban areas is very low but not absent.
How have invasive pythons impacted Florida ecosystems?
Non-native Burmese pythons have established a breeding population in South Florida and are one of the most concerning invasive species in Everglades National Park. Pythons compete with native wildlife for food, which includes mammals, birds, and other reptiles. Severe mammal declines in Everglades National Park have been linked to Burmese pythons.The most severe declines in native species have...
How many Burmese pythons inhabit southern Florida?
Tens of thousands of invasive Burmese pythons are estimated to be present in the Everglades. Learn More: Nonindigenous Aquatic Species - Burmese Python
Where are Burmese pythons or other large constrictors distributed in Florida?
The Burmese python is now distributed across more than a thousand square miles of southern Florida, including all of Everglades National Park and areas to the north including Big Cypress National Preserve and Collier-Seminole State Forest. A number of Burmese pythons have been found in the Florida Keys, but there is not yet confirmation of a breeding population in the Keys. A population of boa...
What is the brown treesnake?
The brown treesnake is native to parts of Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and Australia. The snake was first sighted on the island of Guam in the 1950s, probably after stowing away on cargo ships coming from New Guinea. In 2020, a population of brown treesnakes was discovered on Cocos Island, a small atoll of the southern shore of Guam, which represents the first instance of brown...
How is the USGS helping to prevent the spread of the brown treesnake?
Preventing the spread of the invasive brown treesnake is paramount. It is much cheaper than intervention once a snake population is established. Without rigorous prevention, control (let alone removal) of an introduced reptile species is extremely difficult. In the case of the brown treesnake, prevention efforts include working to detect stowaway snakes before they leave the island, as well as...
- Overview
Invasive species have negatively impacted many ecosystems. Invasive reptiles are an increasing problem across the United States. Tracking the establishment and spread of existing and new invasive species is critical to effectively manage invasive species. USGS scientists are developing new tools, particularly molecular techniques, to assist in the early detection of, and rapid response to, invasive reptiles such as Burmese pythons and Argentine black and white tegus in Florida, boa constrictors in the Virgin Islands, and brown treesnakes on Guam.
BLACK AND WHITE TEGU
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Invasive black and white tegu (Public domain.) Relatively recent invaders into South Florida, Argentine black and white tegus are large, highly reproductive, long living terrestrial lizards native to South America. Two established populations of tegu are in Florida, each likely coming from an escaped or released domesticated pet. Tegus eat a variety of plants and animals, but most concerning is their preference for reptile and bird eggs. USGS research on tegus includes developing and testing methods for detection and control, focusing on determining thermal tolerances and predicting tegus potential range in the U.S.
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (WARC)
More information about WARC projects is available from the links below.
- Evaluation of Tegu Movements and Habitat Use in Relation to Location and Habitat
- Ecology and Control of Invasive Reptiles in Florida
- Invasive Species in the Everglades – An Opportunity to Engage Youth in Science
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.BROWN TREESNAKE
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Brown treesnake in a tree in Guam. (Credit: Bob Reed, USGS. Public domain.) Scientists with the USGS Brown Treesnake project conduct research on this snake species, including control tool development and validation, ecology and ecological impacts, and early detection methods. The program has been expanded to include other invasive reptiles, such as the Burmese Python, Boa Constrictor, and Northern African Python in Florida and invasive watersnakes in California.
Fort Collins Science Center Science (FORT)
More information about FORT projects is available from the links below.
- Brown Treesnake Rapid Response Team
- USGS Brown Treesnake Laboratory and Rapid Response Facility - Guam
- Control and Landscape-Scale Suppression of the Invasive Brown Treesnake
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.BURMESE PYTHON
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.A Burmese python coiled in the grass in the Everglades. (Credit: Bryan Falk, USGS. Public domain.) USGS scientists continue to conduct research on invasive Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park and other DOI lands in South Florida to aid in the management of these large, voracious constrictor snakes. Our research on Burmese pythons has focused on developing and testing methods for detection and control, predicting potential range of the species in the U.S., understanding thermal tolerances and conducting a risk assessment of pythons to humans.
Fort Collins Science Center Science (FORT)
More information about FORT projects is available from the links below.
- Ecology and Control of Invasive Reptiles in Florida
- Giant Constrictor Snakes in Florida: A Sizeable Research Challenge
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (WARC)
More information about WARC projects is available from the links below.
- Ecology of and Control Strategies for Invasive Burmese Pythons (Python molurus bivitattus) in the Greater Everglades
- Using Environmental DNA for Burmese Python Detection Probabilities and Range-Delimitation in Southern Florida
- Genetic Analysis of the Invasive Burmese Python to Aid Management and Population-Control Decision-Making
- Efficacy of eDNA as an Early Detection and Rapid Response Indicator for Burmese Pythons in the Northern Greater Everglades Ecosystem
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.This female Burmese python broke the records for her length - 17 feet, 7 inches - and the number of eggs she contained: 87. She was first captured in Everglades National Park by USGS researchers in the spring of 2012, when they followed a "Judas snake" - a male python with a transmitter - and found her nearby in the bushes. USGS scientists then outfitted her with two radio transmitters, a GPS device, and a motion-sensing device before releasing her back into the wild. The second radio transmitter was a failsafe, ensuring she wouldn't "go wild" again. The snake remained in the wild for 38 days and then was removed and euthanized. The information from this snake's every move - each pitch, roll, and yawl - was recorded by the motion detector, allowing biologists to piece together her behaviors, including her kills. Biologists plan to use detailed information about the snake’s biology and activity patterns to develop control methods for this invasive species. Pythons are effective at blending in the tall marsh grasses that give the Everglades its nickname, "The River of Grass," making it hard to spot the pythons even when they are being radiotracked.(Credit: Catherine Puckett, USGS . Public domain.)
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.⇒ Return to Invasive Species Science
- Science
USGS studies related to invasive reptiles are listed below.
Brown Treesnake Rapid Response Team
Brown Treesnakes continue to cause major problems for the ecology, economy, and quality of life on Guam. Our scientists conduct research on this snake species, including control tool development and testing, ecological impacts, and early detection methods. We hold Brown Treesnake Rapid Response Team training courses on Guam throughout the year to develop the skills needed to effectively respond to...Biology, Impacts and Control of Invasive Reptiles in the Everglades
Invasive species are considered to be second only to habitat degradation in terms of negative impacts on the Earth’s ecosystems, and our scientists make up a significant proportion of the global expertise in the rapidly-growing problem of invasive reptiles.USGS Brown Treesnake Laboratory and Rapid Response Facility - Guam
USGS scientists and staff associated with the Brown Treesnake Project are co-located at the Guam National Wildlife Refuge at the northern end of Guam in the western Pacific Ocean. Project staff work on developing and testing control tools for invasive brown treesnakes, as well as understanding their impacts on Guam's ecosystems. Project staff also lead the multi-agency Brown Treesnake Rapid...Ecology and Control of Invasive Reptiles in Florida
This project involves ongoing development of tools for the detection and capture of invasive reptiles in Florida, with an emphasis on Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) and Black and white tegu lizards (Salvator merianae). The goals are to reduce the risk of reptile invasions in high-value resources such as Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys, to access early detection methods of new...Control and Landscape-Scale Suppression of the Invasive Brown Treesnake
The Brown Treesnake is a highly destructive reptile species that has extirpated many native species of birds, bats, and lizards from the U.S. Territory of Guam. For more than two decades branch scientists with the Invasive Reptile Project have developed, validated, and tested the feasibility of Brown Treesnake control and suppression at various spatial scales.Giant Constrictor Snakes in Florida: A Sizeable Research Challenge
Since the mid-1990s, several species of non-native, giant constrictor snakes, such as Burmese pythons and boa constrictors, have surfaced in localities throughout southern Florida. Several are known or suspected to be breeding and appear to be spreading northward. Increasingly, media and other reports of sightings or encounters with these animals have emphasized the dangers they could impose on...Invasive Species in the Everglades – An Opportunity to Engage Youth in Science
Invasive reptiles like the Burmese python (Python bivittatus) and Black-and-White Tegu Lizard (Tupinambis merianae) are exerting tremendous harm on Everglades ecosystems, but these problematic species present an excellent opportunity to engage the next generation in science. Since entering into an agreement with Everglades National Park in late 2013, the Invasive Species Science Branch of the U.S...Optimal Control Strategies for Invasive Exotics in South Florida
The establishment and proliferation of exotic plants and animals can interfere with native ecological processes and can cause severe stress to sensitive ecosystems.Efficacy of eDNA as an Early Detection and Rapid Response Indicator for Burmese Pythons in the Northern Greater Everglades Ecosystem
Traditional approaches to locating Burmese pythons - including visual searches and trapping - have resulted in low detection. Environmental DNA - or eDNA - is increasingly being used to detect the presence of non-native species, particularly when traditional methods may not be adequate.Genetic Analysis of the Invasive Burmese Python to Aid Management and Population-Control Decision-Making
Invasive Burmese pythons threaten the success of Everglades restoration efforts. To assist with management and population control decision making, USGS scientists are implementing genetic studies to identify potential new entry pathways and to help quantify the size of the breeding population.Using Environmental DNA for Burmese Python Detection Probabilities and Range-Delimitation in Southern Florida
Current tools for detection of Burmese pythons in South Florida have resulted in low detection rates. Environmental DNA - eDNA - has shown to be effective at detecting these invasive snakes, and can help to determine range limits for the species, information that is critical for management and control efforts.Ecology of and Control Strategies for Invasive Burmese Pythons (Python molurus bivitattus) in the Greater Everglades
Telemetry tracking of captured pythons reveals movement patterns of the invasive Burmese python in the Greater Everglades, information that managers can use to prioritize python control efforts. - News
- FAQ
USGS FAQ related to invasive reptiles are listed below.
Can invasive pythons be eradicated?
The odds of eradicating an introduced population of reptiles once it has spread across a large area are very low, pointing to the importance of prevention, early detection and rapid response. And with the Burmese python now distributed across more than a thousand square miles of southern Florida, including all of Everglades National Park and areas to the north such as Big Cypress National Preserve...
What should I do if I see a python in the wild?
If you see a python in the wild – or suspect that a snake is a python or an invasive snake – you should take the same precautions for these constrictor snakes as one would take for alligators: avoid interacting with or getting close to them. If you are in Everglades National Park, you can report a python sighting to a park ranger. You can also report the animal via the “Ive Got 1” reporting...
Are large constrictor snakes such as Burmese pythons able to kill people? What is the risk? Would this be in the wild, or in backyards?
Human fatalities from non-venomous snakes are very rare, probably averaging one or two per year worldwide. All known constrictor-snake fatalities in the United States are from captive snakes; these are split between deaths of snake owners who were purposefully interacting with their pet and deaths of small children or infants in homes where a snake was kept captive as a pet. There have been no...
Could invasive pythons move into cities?
Boa constrictors and northern African pythons live in or adjacent to the Miami metropolitan area, and in their native ranges various python species and the boa constrictor are often found living in suburban and urban areas. As with alligators, the risk of human attack in urban areas is very low but not absent.
How have invasive pythons impacted Florida ecosystems?
Non-native Burmese pythons have established a breeding population in South Florida and are one of the most concerning invasive species in Everglades National Park. Pythons compete with native wildlife for food, which includes mammals, birds, and other reptiles. Severe mammal declines in Everglades National Park have been linked to Burmese pythons.The most severe declines in native species have...
How many Burmese pythons inhabit southern Florida?
Tens of thousands of invasive Burmese pythons are estimated to be present in the Everglades. Learn More: Nonindigenous Aquatic Species - Burmese Python
Where are Burmese pythons or other large constrictors distributed in Florida?
The Burmese python is now distributed across more than a thousand square miles of southern Florida, including all of Everglades National Park and areas to the north including Big Cypress National Preserve and Collier-Seminole State Forest. A number of Burmese pythons have been found in the Florida Keys, but there is not yet confirmation of a breeding population in the Keys. A population of boa...
What is the brown treesnake?
The brown treesnake is native to parts of Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and Australia. The snake was first sighted on the island of Guam in the 1950s, probably after stowing away on cargo ships coming from New Guinea. In 2020, a population of brown treesnakes was discovered on Cocos Island, a small atoll of the southern shore of Guam, which represents the first instance of brown...
How is the USGS helping to prevent the spread of the brown treesnake?
Preventing the spread of the invasive brown treesnake is paramount. It is much cheaper than intervention once a snake population is established. Without rigorous prevention, control (let alone removal) of an introduced reptile species is extremely difficult. In the case of the brown treesnake, prevention efforts include working to detect stowaway snakes before they leave the island, as well as...