Arboreal habitat use by invasive Burmese Pythons in southern Florida

Abstract

Understanding habitat use and behavior is critical to developing effective management strategies for a species. Burmese Pythons ( Python bivittatus ) are large-bodied snakes native to southeastern Asia that have become prolific invaders throughout the Greater Everglades Ecosystem in southern Florida, USA. We radio-tracked 188 adult and 168 juvenile Burmese Pythons to investigate arboreal microhabitat use and quantify the likelihood of observing Burmese Pythons in arboreal habitat. We observed adult pythons basking, resting, aggregating with other pythons, or brooding eggs in arboreal habitat, whereas we observed juvenile pythons resting, basking, or moving between tree limbs. Both adult and juvenile pythons were more likely to use arboreal habitat during the cooler months of December and January in southern Florida's dry season. A higher percentage of individual juvenile pythons than adult pythons used arboreal habitat, and the probability that a python occupied arboreal habitat decreased as its weight increased. Brazilian peppertrees ( Schinus terebinthifolia ) and live oaks ( Quercus virginiana ) supported heavier pythons. Information on the seasonal use of arboreal habitats by Burmese Pythons could improve the effectiveness of removal efforts by management agencies and enhance our understanding of the threats these snakes pose to vulnerable species, particularly arboreal-nesting birds.