A recent sighting in the Florida Everglades captured a 14.8-foot Burmese python consuming a 77-pound deer, highlighting the significant threat these invasive predators pose to local ecosystems. The python's ability to swallow prey nearly 67% of its body mass challenges previous gape size models, suggesting they can eat larger animals than anticipated. This event underscores the ecological impact of Burmese pythons, which have decimated native wildlife since their introduction in the late 20th century. Biologists, including Ian Bartoszek, emphasize the need for further study to understand the full extent of these predators' impacts. The findings were part of a study published in the journal Reptiles & Amphibians, revealing that the gape of pythons is larger than previously measured, potentially allowing them to consume even bigger prey. Efforts to control the python population are ongoing, but their presence continues to threaten the biodiversity of the Everglades.