Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of nearly 20 feet and weigh more than 200 pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida. These giant snakes feed on everything from rats, to birds, to alligators, to white-tailed deer and have been implicated in severe declines of once-common mammals in Everglades National Park. Dr. Michael Dorcas has published numerous papers and a book on this topic and will discuss the major issues surrounding this invasive predator. 

About our Speaker

Dr. Mike Dorcas is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Davidson, NC.  Mike is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and has received numerous awards, including the Senior Research Award from the Association of Southeastern Biologists and the Meritorious Teaching Award at the World Congress of Herpetology Biologists in 2012. Mike’s research program focuses on the physiology, ecology and conservation of amphibians and reptiles.  He has published seven books, including Invasive Pythons in the United States with JD Willson and Snakes of the Southeast with Whit Gibbons.

RSVP to katey.ahmann@naturalsciences.org [2]

Science Cafés [3] happen every Thursday night at the Museum!