Large Python Swallows 77-Pound Deer, Stunning Researchers with the Size of Its Mouth

When researchers Ian Bartoszek and Ian Easterling set out to track a male python equipped with a radio transmitter, they sought to locate a large female Burmese python. To their surprise, they stumbled upon an astonishing and alarming sight: a massive 14.8-foot, 115-pound python actively consuming a 77-pound white-tailed deer.

“In the 12 years of doing this tracking effort, this is the most intense thing I’ve ever seen in the field, by far,” Bartoszek remarked. “Watching an invasive apex predator swallow a full-sized deer in front of you is something that you will never forget. The impact the Burmese python is having on native wildlife cannot be denied.”

This unprecedented encounter occurred on private land near Naples, Florida, and revealed the dire ecological consequences of this invasive species. Bartoszek and Easterling’s work with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida aims to understand precisely how these pythons disrupt native wildlife populations.

The remarkable size of Burmese pythons is changing the ecological landscape in Florida.

Upon arrival, the researchers witnessed the snake halfway through its meal, and it took an additional 30 minutes for the python to fully ingest the deer. Bartoszek documented the event with videos and photos that illustrate the python’s surprisingly small head positioned on the deer’s backside, its massive mouth enveloping the deer like a tightly sealed sack. In other angles, the snake appeared like a camouflaged body bag, demonstrating the python’s incredible capacity for consumption.

Following this astonishing observation, the team decided to humanely euthanize the snake, collaborating with Bruce Jayne from the University of Cincinnati to study the anatomy of Burmese pythons, particularly their ability to open their mouths remarkably wide. This anatomical feature, known as the “gape,” determines the size of prey they can consume. Pythons are known to suffocate a variety of animals before swallowing them whole, including rabbits, bobcats, and even alligators.

The study also included two additional snakes, including a record-breaking 19-foot Burmese python that was captured in the Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida. The results indicated that larger snakes can adapt to consume much larger prey. Researchers discovered that these ferocious predators can achieve a maximum gape of 10.2 inches, equating to a circumference of 32 inches—about the same diameter as the chest of a border collie or a Dalmatian.

Understanding these limits on prey size allows scientists to better predict the ecological implications of Burmese pythons as they continue to invade new territories. While female deer in Florida typically weigh around 90 pounds, this particular deer was nearing the upper limit of what the python could swallow.

“Hence, these snakes resemble overachievers by sometimes testing the limits of what their anatomy allows rather than being slackers that eat only ‘snack-size’ prey,” Jayne explained.

Burmese pythons have created a significant imbalance within the ecosystem since their introduction to Florida via the exotic pet trade in the 1970s and 1980s. Their rapid proliferation has led to a 98% decline in sightings of native mammals such as raccoons, opossums, and marsh rabbits in areas where these snakes thrive, particularly within Everglades National Park. Bartoszek and Easterling’s observations emphasize how larger snakes can adapt to consuming very large prey, underscoring the alarming impact these invasive snakes wield on the local fauna.

The invasion of Burmese pythons poses serious threats to Florida’s native wildlife.

It remains unclear just how frequently these formidable pythons take down deer, but recent studies show biologists are gaining insight into their true capabilities. A 77-pound deer is not only ideal prey for invasive pythons but also serves as a potential target for the endangered Florida panther and human hunters alike.

Notably, Bartoszek has conducted over 500 necropsies on invasive pythons, revealing that most snakes exceeding 100 pounds often have deer hooves in their stomachs. This growing body of evidence reflects the unsettling truth about the ecological havoc these invaders wreak.

Launched in 2013, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida initiated a research and removal program targeting the Burmese python. Their unique “scout snake” program uses radio tracking on 120 male pythons during the breeding season to pinpoint large, fertile females. The removal of these larger females can have a significantly greater effect on curbing the invasive population. Through this research, the team also gathers critical data on python behavior and habitat usage, which they hope will inform future strategies to mitigate the python invasion.

The expanding range of the Burmese python now stretches from the southern Everglades to areas around Lake Okeechobee and Fort Myers, highlighting the urgent need for ongoing research and management efforts. In light of these developments, it is clear that more effective actions must be taken to understand and address the ecological threats posed by these incredible yet destructive serpents.

Research efforts continue to monitor and mitigate the impact of Burmese pythons in Florida.