Between 2017 and 2024, researchers used radio telemetry to monitor python activity in Big Cypress National Preserve, recording elevated behavior primarily in December and January. While off-ground positioning represented a small portion of thousands of overall observations, both adult and juvenile snakes utilized elevated perches, with one specimen scaling as high as seven meters. These insights give wildlife managers critical operational data to adjust detection protocols in areas where these predators are exceptionally difficult to spot.
Key points
Burmese pythons climb vegetation primarily during the winter months of December and Janua…: Burmese pythons climb vegetation primarily during the winter months of December and January to bask in the sun.
Elevated python behavior creates additional predatory threats for native bird species suc…: Elevated python behavior creates additional predatory threats for native bird species such as Great Egrets and White Ibises.
New behavioral observations aid conservation managers working to find an invasive species…: New behavioral observations aid conservation managers working to find an invasive species whose standard detection probability often drops below 5 percent.
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Florida’s invasive Burmese pythons are known for moving through wetlands and dense vegetation, but new research has revealed that some also spend time high above the ground. Scientists tracking 356 snakes in Big Cypress National Preserve over eight years recorded occasional tree-climbing behaviour, with one adult male reaching a height of seven metres. The findings show that these movements are more common during the cooler winter months, when pythons may use branches to bask and absorb heat. The discovery offers wildlife managers fresh information about the snakes’ movements and raises questions about their possible encounters with native birds.
How scientists tracked 356 Burmese pythons in Florida
Burmese pythons have established themselves across much of southern Florida, where they occupy a range of natural environments. Their ability to live in different habitats has made them difficult to monitor, and understanding where they spend their time remains a persistent problem for wildlife managers. To examine their movements more closely, scientists from the
US Geological Survey (USGS) and collaborating institutions followed 356 snakes in Big Cypress National Preserve. The tracking work took place…
Cross-cultural research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology reveals that female professionals face distinctive interpersonal penalties when demonstrating intellectual capability. Rather than being rewarded, these individuals confront heightened workplace victimization and reduced peer support due to entrenched gender expectations. This dynamic illustrates the cultural barriers that contribute to the ongoing drop-off of female representation from entry-level roles to executive leadership.
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