A Burmese python, estimated at approximately eight feet long, was spotted at Tigertail Beach on Marco Island over the weekend, marking the first reported of the invasive species sighting at the beach since 2018, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission (FWC).
The apex predator was seen by an out-of-state visitor near the path connecting local condos to the beach.
“Even an eight-foot python can just melt away ... searching for more than a few minutes is just not cost-effective; you literally have no chance of finding it after that," said Andrew Durso, associate professor of biology at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU).
Burmese Pythons, invasive to Florida, are notorious for their impact on the environment and ability to hide. While the snakes primarily inhabit freshwater wetlands (like the Florida Everglades) they’ve been documented surviving in saltwater for short periods.
“There was one experiment where hatchling pythons were exposed to saltwater in a lab for about a month, and most survived ... One even lasted over a year," said Durso.
Pythons are uncommon on Marco Island, with only 14 sightings reported since 2010, according to the University of Georgia-based EDDMaps .
“If you spot one, definitely get a photograph for verification ... Keep a close eye on it if possible until someone qualified can respond," said Durso.