A 7-foot Burmese python was spotted and killed over the weekend at Margood Harbor Park in Goodland, marking the third recorded python sighting in the area in the last 16 years.
The snake, discovered by a local charter captain, was seen attempting to constrict a rabbit near the park’s parking area before being stopped and humanely killed.
"It was the first python I’ve ever encountered," said Captain Devin Harrison, who spotted the snake.
The sighting comes as experts warn of increased python activity during mating season, which runs from December through March. During this time, male pythons become more active as they seek out females.
"Goodland is surrounded by python habitat on all sides ... It’s actually a prime location for sightings, especially during mating season when males are more active," said Dr. Andrew Durso, a snake biologist and professor at Florida Gulf Coast University.
The Goodland python sighting follows another high-profile report on Marco Island, where a snake was seen near Tigertail Beach in late November.
"Males are crossing roads and entering unexpected areas ... It’s all part of their search for mates," said Durso.
Burmese Pythons are native to Southeast Asia, are apex predators, and are considered an invasive species in Florida. The snakes, which typically inhabit the Florida Everglades, have reduced some mammal populations by about 90%, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. As prey species become scarce in their natural habitats, there’s speculation that pythons may venture closer to human-populated areas in search of food.
"We’re seeing invasive snakes globally move into urban areas ... As the Everglades empties of mammals like marsh rabbits, pythons may start targeting neighborhoods where prey like mice and chickens are more accessible," said Durso.
If you encounter a python, experts urge you to document the sighting and report it.
"Take a photo and upload it to apps like iNaturalist or EDDMapS ... It’s legal to humanely kill pythons in Florida, but the most important thing is reporting them so we can track their spread," said Durso.