Question

Scientists are concerned about the invasion of pythons in the Florida Everglades. Pythons are from Asia and are not native to the Everglades. They eat eggs and birds, many of which are endangered. The snakes were introduced to the Everglades when people released into the wild pet snakes that had grown too large. Very few animals in the Everglades prey on the snakes.

How will scientists be most effective at controlling this invasive species?
by showing how pythons can be safely collected and removed from the Everglades
by releasing predators from Asia to control the snake population
by telling people to stop releasing snakes and waiting until the other snakes die out
by removing the species of birds that the snakes eat so the snakes do not have any more food

Answer 1

by showing how pythons can be safely collected and removed from the Everglades

Reason: active removal directly reduces the established invasive population. Releasing foreign predators risks new invasions, just telling people to stop won’t eliminate existing pythons, and removing birds would harm native species and not solve the snake problem.