Burmese Pythons Boost Cotton Rat Population in Florida Everglades.

Burmese pythons, an invasive species in Florida, are not preying on cotton rats, allowing the rodent population to thrive and dominate parts of the Florida Everglades. The decline of predators like foxes, due to python invasions, has led to an increase in cotton rats and other rodents. However, this could pose a danger to humans as cotton rats carry diseases that can infect humans. The python infestation has thrown Florida's delicate ecosystems off balance and led to severe declines in mammalian populations.