Notes on encountering a snake on a rainy evening

I was making a graphic for a talk on the invasion of Burmese pythons in South Florida, using data from a citizen science database called EDDMapS (Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System). I downloaded the 3200+ detection records (as of March 2018) to make a yearly time lapse of all the Burmese python encounters, with the help of arcMap and Adobe Premiere. As I was curating the spreadsheet, I came across the following description of one reported detection:

"beautiful snake, calm, happy, healthy, out and about on a warm damp evening after lots of rain.9:30 pm. found in road."

I treasured this note, because it touched on a truth that, to me, is important to remember when talking about an invasive species. Burmese pythons are negatively impacting multiple trophic levels in the Everglades AND they are undeniably beautiful, fascinating animals, living in an ecosystem far from their native range purely because of egregiously irresponsible human action. This particular observer simply watched the snake cross the road that night. Although as a biologist, I would have brought the snake to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, I loved the feeling of namaste for a wild creature living its wild life, unaware that one species calls it "invader."

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Python detections in South Florida 1979-2018 (EDDMapS). Detections biased to roads and canals because pythons are so cryptic.