Assessing risks to humans from invasive Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA

Invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) in Everglades National Park, Florida, pose minimal risk to humans despite their established presence. Over a decade-long study (2003–2012), only five unprovoked strikes were reported—all involving biologists moving through flooded wetlands, with no injuries requiring medical attention and none resulting from constriction. These incidents were likely cases of mistaken identity, where pythons initiated strikes but aborted predatory behavior before ingestion. Notably, no strikes were directed at park visitors, despite annual visitation rates exceeding one million during the study period. The research concludes that while human risk cannot be entirely dismissed, the likelihood of a fatal python attack in Everglades NP remains extremely low.

Reed, R. N., & Snow, R. W. (2014). Assessing risks to humans from invasive Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 38(2), 366–369. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.413