Burmese Python Found Nesting Under Sidewalk With 20 Eggs

A Burmese python was discovered guarding 20 eggs beneath a sidewalk in South Florida, offering a stark reminder of how deeply the invasive species has embedded itself in the region’s landscape.

The snake was spotted by a passerby who noticed movement under the concrete. South Florida Water Management District contractor Guillermo Tapanes responded, noting that the find exemplifies the python’s remarkable adaptability. “They utilize our waterways, our canal systems,” he said. “The one I found under the sidewalk is proof of how adaptable they are.”

The discovery comes during peak nesting season. Eggs are not expected to hatch until early fall, making removal now critical to population control. Though 20 eggs is significant, it is modest by python standards. Tapanes noted that a 14-foot female was recently found with 53 eggs, and a nearly 18-foot female had an estimated 200 developing inside her.

Burmese pythons arrived in Florida largely through the pet trade and were further released into the wild when Hurricane Andrew destroyed a breeding facility in 1992. South Florida’s warm, wet climate has allowed the species to thrive. Tapanes alone has caught over 100 since becoming a contractor, including 23 in May alone.

Because they are an invasive species, captured pythons are euthanized. Residents are urged to report sightings through the IveGot1 app.