Published by the University of Georgia Press in 2011, this book was coauthored by John D. Willson and me, with a foreword by J. Whitfield Gibbons. It brings together the biology, ecology, invasion history, and conservation implications of the large constrictor snakes that have become established in the United States, with particular emphasis on Burmese pythons in southern Florida.

The book grew from our research on invasive Burmese pythons in and around Everglades National Park. We examined how animals possessing traits such as large body size, rapid growth, high reproductive potential, broad dietary preferences, and the ability to remain concealed for long periods could become exceptionally difficult to detect and manage after establishment. We also considered the pathways through which nonnative constrictors entered the country, the environmental conditions that allowed populations to persist, and the challenges faced by scientists and wildlife managers attempting to determine their distribution and ecological effects.

A central theme of the book is that invasive-species management becomes far more difficult once a secretive, wide-ranging predator is established across a vast and inaccessible landscape. Burmese pythons can occupy dense vegetation, wetlands, tree islands, canals, and other habitats where even large snakes may remain nearly invisible. This low detectability complicates population estimation, removal, and evaluation of management success.

The book places the Florida python invasion within the broader conservation problem of introduced species and emphasizes the importance of prevention, early detection, scientific monitoring, and rapid response. It was written to make the available science accessible not only to researchers, but also to wildlife professionals, policymakers, students, and members of the public seeking to understand how an introduced predator can alter a native ecosystem.

To learn more about the book and my conservation research, visit TantillaLLC.com.