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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced this week that the state is ridding the Everglades of invasive pythons by partnering with a company that turns the reptiles into accessories, including fashionable handbags. DeSantis said that the state's partnership with Inversa, a company that makes leather products from invasive species, has 'supercharged' the removal of Burmese pythons from the Everglades. The governor added that the program, spearheaded by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Python Action Team, removed more pythons in July than in the entirety of 2024. The removal program received $2 million from the state's budget. DeSantis called for continued funding to eventually rid the area of the invasive species. Burmese pythons aren't native to the Everglades, so their presence threatens the balance of the ecosystem. They prey on birds, mammals, and other reptiles in the area, and can lay up to 100 eggs at a time. Non-native pythons can disrupt the environment and cause a significant decline in the animal populations they prey on. The partnership with Inversa has ramped up efforts to rid the species from the Everglades. Inversa's mission statement is: 'Something positive from something negative. 'As a humane byproduct of ecosystem restoration that addresses the harm caused by non-native species, INVERSA™ ethical exotics restore balance to nature.' The company turns the python into belts, handbags, wallets, jewelry, and even sneakers. Inversa products are sold through brand partners like Rex Shoes and w.kleinberg. The Inversa Dragonfin Belt with Brushed Nickel Buckle is on sale for $295. The company also sells products made from invasive species around the world, including Silverfin fish in the Mississippi River Basin and Lionfish infesting the Caribbean Reefs. FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said the Inversa partnership marks a milestone in the fight against the Burmese python, which will benefit future generations. The FWC is already a year and a half ahead of schedule in eliminating the invasive species from the Everglades. Over the summer, the initiative removed 1,022 pythons, compared to just 343 during the summer of 2024. Burmese pythons have threatened the Florida ecosystem since they were brought to the state in the 1970s during the illegal pet trade. Since then, the monstrous reptiles have thrived and assumed a top position in the food chain. They even prey on the Key Largo wood rat, which is an invasive species. Burmese pythons invade the food sources of other predators, like panthers, bobcats, and alligators. The state also sponsored the Florida Python Challenge in July to encourage the removal of pythons. Participants from Canada and 30 states traveled to the Everglades and helped remove almost 300 invasive Burmese pythons from South Florida.
