Do alligators in Florida eat invasive Burmese pythons? See for yourself

Florida is home to a whopping 1.3 cardinal alligators and mating play is underway.

During breeding season, antheral gators go much assertive and screen much crushed successful hunt of a mate oregon due to the fact that a much ascendant antheral has kicked it retired of its territory.

Warmer temperatures besides rise an alligator's metabolism and thrust to find food.

Gators are opportunistic feeders, with fish, turtles, tiny mammals, birds and snakes a portion of their diet.

Are invasive Burmese pythons – among the largest snakes successful the satellite – connected the gator menu?

Before we reply that, let's comparison sizes:

• While pistillate alligators seldom transcend 10 feet successful length, males tin turn overmuch larger. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, the authorities grounds for magnitude is simply a 14-foot 3-1/2 inch male. For weight, the grounds is 1,043 pounds. Their beardown jaws tin ace a turtle shell.

• Burmese pythons mean betwixt 6 and 9 feet successful length, but snakes up to 19 feet agelong and weighing much than 200 pounds person been caught successful Florida. The elephantine constrictors wrapper their coils astir prey and compression it to death.

Do alligators devour Burmese pythons successful Florida?

Yes. Alligators successful Florida devour Burmese pythons and there's proof.

In a 2023 USGS study, babe Burmese pythons were outfitted with vigor transmitters. Five of the pythons were eaten by alligators.

On Thanksgiving Day successful 2024, a ample alligator, nicknamed "Godzilla," was caught connected video hauling a monolithic Burmese python done the h2o successful the Everglades.

In 2023, a Florida pistillate captured video of a 10-foot alligator successful the Everglades eating a ample Burmese python.

In 2021, a cyclist filmed a python strangling an alligator to decease successful the Florida Everglades.

Do Burmese pythons devour alligators successful Florida?

What's bully for the goose...

Burmese pythons person been known to marque a repast of smaller alligators.

For example, a bicyclist filmed a Burmese python strangling an alligator successful Big Cypress National Park.

A 5-foot alligator was recovered wrong of an 18-foot Burmese python carcass during a necropsy.

When is alligator mating season?

While alligator courtship begins successful aboriginal April, mating occurs successful May oregon June, FWC said.

"Females physique a mound nest of soil, vegetation, oregon debris and deposit astir 32 to 46 eggs successful precocious June oregon aboriginal July. Incubation requires astir 60-65 days, and hatching occurs successful precocious August oregon aboriginal September."

Out of a 35-egg clutch, lone astir 4 volition scope maturity.

Can I hunt gators successful Florida? What to cognize astir caller Alligator Super Hunt

According to FWC, each twelvemonth since 1988, Florida "alligator absorption units are established with due harvest quotas to supply recreational opportunities for Floridians and non-residents who are astatine slightest 18 years aged to take up to 2 alligators per permit."

Applicants awarded a licence indispensable wage for 2 tags and an alligator trapping licence oregon supply impervious of a licence valid done the extremity of the alligator harvest season. A Florida hunting licence is not required.

New this year, 100 permits volition beryllium awarded successful a drafting for the Alligator Super Hunt, an alternate to the accepted statewide hunt, FWC announced.

A licence allows for the harvest of 2 alligators from astir alligator absorption units and backstage property, with the owner's permission, from Aug. 15 to Dec. 31.

Hunters wage a nonrefundable $5 interest for each exertion and whitethorn use arsenic galore times arsenic they privation from May 3 done June 3.

How to unrecorded with alligators successful Florida

Since alligators are recovered successful each 67 Florida counties, chances are you'll person a run-in with one.

FWC shared these tips to support you and your pets safe:

• Swim lone during the time and successful designated areas. Pets should ne'er swim.

• Make definite pets are connected a leash and a harmless region signifier water's edge.

Call FWC astatine 866-392-4286 to study a nuisance alligator.

This nonfiction primitively appeared connected Palm Beach Post: Florida alligators devour Burmese pythons successful Everglades and beyond