Researchers in Naples caught a Burmese python eating a 77-pound deer

Researchers in Naples encountered an unusual scene featuring a Burmese python and another creature.

A group of snake hunters anticipated witnessing an interaction between two pythons. They were in for a significant surprise.

The researchers documented the instance when the 115-pound reptile consumed a 77-pound white-tailed deer.

Ian Bartoszek manages a python research and removal initiative for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, according to a recent article by Joe Roetz of 7 News Miami.

“I had never encountered anything like this before,” he remarked. “We anticipated this moment eventually, yet after pursuing this creature for more than ten years, it still caused us to stop and contemplate what we were witnessing and the reasons behind our efforts.”

Bartoszek mentioned that he and two partners were monitoring a male scout snake using a radio transmitter, believing it was guiding them to a female Burmese python.

Instead, they uncovered a haunting revelation.

“This is not the first instance we’ve noted of deer within pythons.” Bartoszek remarked, “This was the first time we actually witnessed one in action.”

The snake was in the process of consuming the deer when they arrived, taking 30 minutes to completely swallow it.

The trio then euthanized the snake to examine the diameter of its mouth, known as a gape.

We hold this animal in high regard. Bartoszek stated, “They’re not here through any fault of their own. In their native range of Southeast Asia, these animals face vulnerabilities, yet we strive to extract as much scientific knowledge from them as we can.”

The researchers found that the python had a gape measuring 10.2 inches, equating to approximately 32 inches in diameter. This indicates that it has the capability to consume prey that is six times larger than that of other snake species.

The team hopes that this discovery will improve their comprehension of how invasive species affect local animals.

“If this were in a courtroom, addressing the jury, I would present Exhibit B, this image, and conclude my argument regarding the effect these animals are having on our native wildlife,” stated Bartoszek.

Burmese pythons are found ranging from the southern Everglades to Lake Okeechobee and near Fort Myers.

This article originally appeared on 7 News Miami