Booklist Review for Florida's Burmese Pythons

Burmese pythons aren’t native to Florida, yet their numbers are rapidly increasing in the Everglades. This installment in the They Don’t Belong: Tracking Invasive Species series uses a narrow focus on the Burmese python to illuminate concerns about invasive species in general. After discussing the origin of the slithery creatures—likely pet owners overwhelmed by the snakes’ size—Aronin covers researchers’ attempts to locate and study the pythons, threats to native species, and contemporary efforts to curb the population of this top predator. Lots of photos of snakes (including one in the process of being dissected, which may alarm sensitive readers) cover each page, and matter-of-fact sentences clearly convey the information. A glossary, further reading and web resources, and a list of other invasive reptiles found in Florida close out the volume.