The immensity of the Florida Everglades contains an abundance of
habitats and wildlife. Participants in the 2013 Python
Challenge™ are reminded to tread lightly and disturb as
little as possible in order to conserve the beauty and biological
diversity of this massive watershed. The Everglades is home to
Florida panthers, black bears, white-tailed deer, alligators,
roseate spoonbills, wood storks and many other native species.
When you are harvesting Burmese pythons, please take special
care when visiting tree islands in the Everglades. Tree
islands are tear-shaped jewels hidden in a sea of sawgrass. Each
one sits on a limestone outcrop only inches to several feet higher
than the surrounding landscape - a dry oasis canopied by cabbage
palm, red maple, sweet bay, cypress and tropical hammock species.
While tree islands comprise less than 2 percent of the Everglades
landscape, they provide refuge for wildlife during rainy seasons
and act as a nursery for a number of species. Tree islands are a
vital component of the ecosystem.
In order to conserve these valuable resources, it is prohibited
to park or drive airboats or other vehicles on tree islands or the
surrounding fringe vegetation. Cutting, damaging or removing any
natural, manmade, or cultural resources is also not allowed. This
includes cutting down understory vegetation on tree islands. In
short, do not remove anything from the Wildlife Management Areas,
other than Burmese pythons.
