Burmese pythons are known in Florida for preying on native wildlife, but scientists are now using the invasive snakes for a very different purpose. Researchers have found that chemicals stored in their bodies can provide clues about pollution moving through the Greater Everglades ecosystem.
A 2026 study found PFAS in the livers of 67 Burmese pythons collected in and around the Everglades. Earlier research has also shown that the snakes accumulate mercury.
