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Native mammalian predators can depredate adult Burmese Pythons in Florida

June 1, 2021

Invasive predators are of conservation concern because they contribute to species declines and extinctions worldwide. Interactions of native fauna and invasive predators can be complex, but understanding these relationships can guide management and restoration. Observations of these interactions are especially important for invaders with low detectability like Python bivittatus (Burmese Python) where data are sparse. Here, we provide the first detailed documentation of mammalian attacks on Burmese Pythons in Florida: 1 Lynx rufus (Bobcat) predation of an adult male python and 1 Ursus americanus floridanus (Florida Black Bear) non-lethal attack on an adult female python.

Publication Year 2021
Title Native mammalian predators can depredate adult Burmese Pythons in Florida
DOI 10.1656/058.020.0205
Authors Matthew F. McCollister, Jillian Maureen Josimovich, Austin Lee Fitzgerald, Deborah K. Jansen, Andrea Faye Currylow
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Southeastern Naturalist
Index ID 70223497
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Fort Collins Science Center