{"id":15806,"date":"2025-07-22T16:13:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T16:13:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/15806\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T16:13:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T16:13:09","slug":"thats-a-win-for-the-home-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/15806\/","title":{"rendered":"‘That’s a win for the home team’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Invasive species<\/a> can wreak havoc on ecosystems, outcompeting native plants<\/a> and animals for resources and throwing off the food chain.<\/p>\n

Wildlife cameras near outside the city of Naples, Florida, caught an American bobcat preying on an invasive<\/a> Burmese python, Good News Network reports<\/a>, citing earlier reporting from Gulf Coast News<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Burmese python<\/a> is one of the largest snake species in the world, growing to an average length of six to nine feet. The snakes are tan in coloration with dark splotches and a pyramid-shaped head. They live in and around water and are native to Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n

Because they are so large, they have few predators, outside of humans<\/a>, and will eat a variety of prey. The USGS has linked the invasive species<\/a> to the decline of multiple species in Everglades<\/a> National Park.<\/p>\n

According<\/a> to the USGS, a 2012 study found that populations of raccoons had declined 99.3%, opossums 98.9%, and bobcats 87.5% since 1997. Marsh rabbits, cottontail rabbits, and foxes effectively disappeared over that time.”<\/p>\n

However, the bobcat has not given up the fight for its home territory.<\/p>\n

“A 25-pound cat killed and cached a 52-pound python? That’s a win for the home team,” said<\/a> Ian Bartoszek, a wildlife biologist with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Bartoszek notes that the ecosystem is bouncing back as other predators are beginning to see the snakes as a potential food source.<\/p>\n

Wildlife conservationists have also stepped in to help balance the ecosystem. “Spy pythons<\/a>” were implemented in Everglades National Park. These collared males lead scientists to female pythons and their nests since females can lay up to 100 eggs at a time. The hope is to remove both before they can further impact the ecosystem.<\/p>\n

Allowing invasive species to prosper unchecked can have disastrous long-term effects on biodiversity<\/a>. There are currently 36 threatened or endangered species<\/a> within Everglades National Park, so controlling the python is important to their successful preservation.<\/p>\n

If you’re inspired by the bobcat fighting back to take control of its ecosystem, you can look into ways to take local climate action<\/a>, too.<\/p>\n

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Florida residents can hunt and humanely kill pythons<\/a> on public land, or they can report any pythons to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Join our free newsletter<\/a> for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list<\/a> of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.<\/p>\n

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