Marsh rabbit mortalities tie pythons to the precipitous decline of mammals in the Everglades

Invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) are directly linked to the dramatic decline of mammals, including marsh rabbits, in Everglades National Park (ENP). A large-scale experiment revealed that pythons accounted for 77% of rabbit mortalities within 11 months, suggesting they could preclude the persistence of rabbit populations. Control sites outside ENP showed no python-caused mortalities, with 71% of deaths attributed to other mammalian predators. The study provides strong evidence that pythons pose a significant threat to the faunal communities and ecological functioning of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, potentially worsening as their range expands.

McCleery, R. A., Sovie, A., Reed, R. N., Cunningham, M. W., Hunter, M. E., & Hart, K. M. (2015). Marsh rabbit mortalities tie pythons to the precipitous decline of mammals in the Everglades. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 282(1805), 20150120. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2015.0120