Snakes play a critical role in our ecosystems, keeping rodent populations in check and supplying birds of prey with an excellent food source. But our snakes are facing a new threat, an invasive parasite, Raillietiella orientalis from Asia and Africa. This worm-like crustacean, believed to have come over with the invasive Burmese Python, is infecting the respiratory system of our native snakes. It is spreading rapidly, and ongoing research is documenting its spread and impact.  

 

Learn More:  

Invasive Snake Lungworm: Raillietiella orientalis - https://invasionscience.ufl.edu/media/invasionscienceufledu/images/docs/Disease_-FactSheet_Snake_Lung_Parasite.pdf  

Snake Lungworm Alliance and Monitoring - https://invasionscience.ufl.edu/media/invasionscienceufledu/images/docs/SLAM_Brochure.pdf  

Parasite spillover: indirect effects of invasive Burmese pythons - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5773325/  

 

How You Can Help:  

Report sightings of dead snakes, especially if pentastomes present (coming out of snake’s mouth) on Snake Lungworm Alliance and Monitoring (SLAM) website: https://invasionscience.ufl.edu/slam/  

Researchers are concerned about the possible spread of this parasite through the pet trade. Please report any sick or dying snakes purchased via the pet trade through the SLAM website.  

Think before you kill a snake in your yard. Snakes are critical in rodent control and a food source for our birds of prey. You can also consider providing an area of your yard for snake habitat. This would include an area where you let the grass grow tall, establish a brush pile, or stack firewood.  

Sources for this Episode:  

Invasive Snake Lungworm: Raillietiella orientalis - https://invasionscience.ufl.edu/media/invasionscienceufledu/images/docs/Disease_-FactSheet_Snake_Lung_Parasite.pdf  

Snake Lungworm Alliance and Monitoring - https://invasionscience.ufl.edu/media/invasionscienceufledu/images/docs/SLAM_Brochure.pdf  

Parasite spillover: indirect effects of invasive Burmese pythons - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5773325/ 

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here!

If you're active on iNaturalist, consider joining our iNaturalist project, Naturally Florida's Listener Observations, here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/naturally-florida-s-listener-observations