The snakes prey on native wildlife such as the endangered Key
Largo wood rat and the endangered wood stork. The largest prey,
Friar told CNN, was a 76-pound deer that was found in the
stomach of a 16-foot python a few months ago. Earlier this year,
researchers at Virginia Tech University, Davidson College and
the U.S. Geological Survey reported that populations of rabbits
and foxes have disappeared and numbers of raccoons, opossums and
bobcats have dropped as much as 99%. Last January, the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service instituted a ban on the importation of
Burmese pythons -- along with three other species of exotic
snake -- and their eggs. The Python Challenge has laid out four
specific areas where the snakes can be harvested, and the park
is off-limits to the general public. "The park is very
restricted on what it can do as far as animal captures and
removal," Friar said. The python problem has spread to other
wildlife management areas in the state besides the Everglades.
"We're supportive of the state exp