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BIZARRE: Everglades - You Need To See This

In Florida’s Everglades, Burmese pythons are helping scientists track pollution

In Florida's Everglades, Burmese pythons are unexpectedly aiding scientists in pollution research. By accumulating harmful substances like PFAS and mercury, these invasive snakes provide a unique opportunity for study. Researchers can examine the tissues of pythons, allowing for insights into environmental health without endangering native wildlife, making these snakes an…

The Economic Times

Florida Wants $250 Million More to Settle Alligator Alcatraz Bills: The Detention Center Is Gone, but the Costs Keep Growing

Florida is seeking another $250 million to pay immigration-related bills, including debts to companies that built and serviced Alligator Alcatraz, turning the controversial Everglades detention center into an expensive political aftershock for taxpayers.

Latin Times

In 2017, Florida scientists tested mosquitoes around Burmese pythons; three mosquito species contained python DNA in their blood meals, suggesting insects could help locate hidden giant snakes

Soon a mosquito may be assigned the job of hunting one of the Everglades’ most elusive predators. For the uninitiated, Burmese pythons are one of the most concerning invasive species in South Florida, as they can hide in dense vegetation, wetlands, and remote areas, making them notoriously difficult to find.…

The Times of India

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Burmese pythons invaded Florida’s Everglades in the 1980s; decades later, the decline in raccoon, opossum and bobcat population number is staggering

Burmese pythons, an invasive species in Florida's Everglades, have caused severe declines in native wildlife over the past several decades. Field surveys found raccoon sightings fell by 99.3%, opossums by 98.9% and bobcats by 87.5% in areas where the snakes became established. Scientists say the geographic pattern and timing of…

The Economic Times

In 1997, Florida released Australian insects to fight an invasive tree. Nearly three decades later, its invaded range has fallen by about 75%

For decades, a tree from Australia spread across South Florida’s wetlands with little to hold it back. Melaleuca quinquenervia, often called paperbark, had been introduced to Florida for practical reasons, including landscaping and efforts to alter wet ground. It eventually escaped those uses and established dense stands across parts of…

The Times of India

In 1914, USDA researchers imported Australian melaleuca seeds into the United States. 100 years later, the fast-growing tree had conquered 500,000 acres of South Florida after being planted to help dry the Everglades

Australian melaleuca seeds were imported to the United States in 1914 for agricultural purposes. Later, the Army Corps of Engineers planted melaleuca groves to stabilize Everglades levees. A pilot also scattered seeds from the air to help dry the wetlands. This fast-growing tree eventually spread across half a million acres…

The Economic Times

In the 1980s, Burmese pythons invaded Florida’s Everglades, and decades later raccoons fell 99.3%, opossums 98.9% and bobcats 87.5%

For years, the Everglades was known for its tangled wetlands, alligators and an abundance of smaller mammals moving through the vegetation. Then an animal from south-east Asia began spreading through the marshes. Burmese pythons, most likely introduced through the pet trade, have established a breeding population in southern Florida and…

The Times of India

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The Best Things to Do in Miami

Looking for the best things to do in Miami? Explore boat rentals, South Beach, Wynwood Walls, Little Havana, the Everglades, and more.

Latin Times

In 1992, Congress backed a plan to dechannelize Florida's Kissimmee River and restore its watershed. 28 years later, the project had restored 19 of 44 river miles and 6,500 acres of floodplain wetlands, with wildlife returning

Florida's Kissimmee River underwent a significant restoration after decades of channelization. This project aimed to revive its natural floodplain and wetland ecosystems. The restoration efforts successfully brought back several bird species to the area. It also served as a model for the larger Everglades restoration initiative.

The Economic Times

Florida completed a 2,560-acre stormwater treatment landscape with 4,750 acre-feet of storage to help protect the Indian River Lagoon

A groundbreaking environmental restoration initiative in South Florida has marked a pivotal achievement with the completion of the Indian River Lagoon-South C-23/C-24 Stormwater Treatment Area. Designed to effectively capture and purify contaminated runoff before it can harm coastal ecosystems, this facility represents a crucial advancement in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration…

The Times of India

Miami-Dade Regains Control of 'Alligator Alcatraz' Site, Opening Door to Everglades Restoration

Miami-Dade County has officially regained control of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, ending the state of Florida's temporary use of the remote Everglades property as the immigration detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz."

Latin Times

In the 1960s, Florida drained land for a giant subdivision; in 2026, restoration finished after removing 260 miles of roads and plugging 48 miles of canals across 55,000 acres

The Picayune Strand Restoration Project in Southwest Florida has been completed after years of work to restore the natural flow of water across 55,000 acres of wetlands. The project removed more than 260 miles of roads and plugged almost 50 miles of canals. The work is expected to improve wetlands,…

The Times of India

Florida Python Challenge 2026: How one hunter removed 96 Burmese pythons from the Everglades in 10 days

In a recent 10-day event in Florida, an impressive total of 280 invasive Burmese pythons were captured and removed. Tom Rahill led the charge by personally securing 96 of these snakes, earning him the competition's top honors. While efforts to curb their population are evident, these large predators continue to…

The Times of India

Florida Highway Patrol Quietly Shops for a New Generation of Detention Sites

Weeks after closing its costly Everglades detention camp, Florida's Highway Patrol is quietly asking builders to help plan a scattered network of smaller detention sites — a request that surfaced the same week Haitian TPS protections officially expired.

Latin Times

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The Guardian - US

Winner of Florida python hunting contest nabs 96 snakes: ‘I was on a mission’

Burmese pythons are an invasive species in the Everglades, and the challenge is part of initiative to remove them

The Times of India

In 1969, a 79-year-old writer took on plans for the world's largest jetport in the Everglades; construction stopped after just one runway was built

Plans for a massive Everglades Jetport faced strong public opposition in the late 1960s. Marjory Stoneman Douglas led a campaign highlighting ecological damage to the wetlands. Scientific reviews confirmed severe environmental impacts, leading to federal withdrawal of support. President Richard Nixon's administration halted construction after only one runway was built.…

The Economic Times

In 1970s, Burmese pythons arrived in Florida as pets. Then a hurricane helped turn them into the Everglades' top predator—now robot rabbits are fighting back

Florida is deploying solar-powered robot rabbits to lure invasive Burmese pythons. These AI-powered decoys imitate prey, using heat and scent to attract the giant snakes. Robotic rabbits will alert officials when a python approaches for easier capture and removal. This innovative project aims to strengthen ongoing efforts to control the…

The Times of India

The Australian tree dropped from aeroplanes over Florida's Everglades that spread across nearly 500,000 acres

In 1936, a Florida landowner scattered melaleuca seeds from an aeroplane over the eastern edge of the Everglades, part of a deliberate, decades-long effort to dry out what was then widely viewed as unusable swampland and turn it into farmable ground. The tree, a fast-growing Australian species known as the…

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The Times of India

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew may have helped giant Burmese pythons spread across Florida's Everglades, creating one of America's worst invasive species crises

For decades, Florida’s Everglades have faced a silent invasion unfolding beneath the dense vegetation and winding waterways. What began with the arrival of Burmese pythons through the exotic pet trade has become one of the most significant wildlife challenges in the United States. The turning point came around 1992, when…

The Times of India

Florida scientists used female Burmese pythons as live lures to find invasive males in the Everglades, but 3 million camera-trap photos produced only four python detections

In Florida, scientists discovered that captive female pythons failed to attract wild males. Utilizing artificial intelligence, researchers sifted through millions of camera images, revealing few python sightings. Additionally, attempts to use mammalian scent lures for detecting the invasive Burmese pythons proved futile. However, there is optimism as removal strategies in…

The Times of India

Florida confirms Burmese python breeding hotspot outside the Everglades, and wildlife experts fear it could be the start of a bigger spread

For years, efforts to track invasive Burmese pythons in Florida have centred on the Everglades, where the giant snakes have become one of the state's most persistent wildlife problems. That picture is beginning to change. Wildlife officials now say a separate breeding population has become established farther north along Florida's…

Latin Times

Federal Judge Tells Florida State and Trump Administration Officials To Prove "Alligator Alcatraz" Is Closed

A federal judge won't drop the Alligator Alcatraz case on DeSantis's word alone, demanding real proof the facility is closed for good.

The Economic Times

Catch a giant snake, get a free pizza: Florida restaurant is handing out free python pizza during the state's $10,000 snake hunt

A Florida restaurant is offering free python pizza for participants capturing invasive Burmese pythons. This promotion supports efforts to remove these reptiles from the Everglades ecosystem. The 2026 Florida Python Challenge runs from July 10 to July 19. Participants must register and complete training for snake capture. This initiative aims…

The Times of India

A Florida alligator has been filmed eating an invasive Burmese python in the Everglades, a rare glimpse of a native predator turning the tables

A remarkable video captured an alligator devouring a Burmese python in the Everglades of Florida, highlighting the ability of native predators to combat invasive species. Burmese pythons have caused a drastic decline in mammal populations within this unique ecosystem. Florida has implemented various removal programs and ongoing research to tackle…

The Independent UK

Florida is sending people in the Everglades to hunt for giant snakes — and it could net one person $10,000

The invasive species is one of the largest snakes in the world

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