Truman, the python-sniffing dog, awaits his next command in rural Miami-Dade County, December 2020. Courtesy, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has begun implementing a new program using trained dogs to track down and eradicate invasive species that threaten the state’s ecosystem. Two new dogs to the program, Truman and Eleanor, have already proven themselves to be effective at detecting the scent of invasive snakes – Burmese Pythons.
These elusive apex predators have become a significant threat to Florida’s Everglades as they have no natural predators to offset their population. It is estimated the 100,000-300,000 pythons are thriving in Florida’s swampy conditions and rapidly devouring many of the native birds and mammals.
With more than a month of training under their belts, the dogs have learned to track the scent of these snakes using python scented towels as well as live pythons with surgically implanted trackers. This new training program is just the latest effort to mitigate the Everglades python infestation, following the state’s attempts in recent years to bring awareness to the issue. Gov. Ron DeSantis has made this matter a budget priority, even signing a bill introducing drones as useful tools to track pythons from the skies.
Over the last four years, the state had also hired snake hunters who have been able to nab a whopping 6,300 pythons for bounty. Of course, this doesn’t even begin to put a dent in the snake population’s numbers and questions remain as to what future impact their presence in the ecosystem will have if more effective solutions aren’t found.
See you on the trail,
Lisa
LMA Newsletter of 1-18-21
