Burmese pythons, an invasive species in Florida's Everglades, have caused severe declines in native wildlife over the past several decades. Field surveys found raccoon sightings fell by 99.3%, opossums by 98.9% and bobcats by 87.5% in areas where the snakes became established. Scientists say the geographic pattern and timing of the declines strongly link the loss of mammals to python predation, making the invasion one of the most significant ecological disruptions in the Everglades.