There are so many factors to consider. The people that were releasing snakes very well could be releasing several snakes at a time in the same area. The main reason I believe these snakes were being let go is due to the fact as they were getting to big for the owner meaning most the snakes released were probably adults or sub-adults released in the everglades ready to breed. If a average female lays 15-40 eggs that's a lot of snakes. With all the canal water ways and swamp im pretty sure that a snake could travel at least a couple miles in a single day. I also believe that when the R.O.C permit came into effect a lot of breeders and wholesaler became very concerned with keeping these snakes illegally and didn't want to to go threw the process of requesting the permit, micro chipping all their snakes, and being monitored closely by Fish and Wildlife who do periodic checks. The R.O.C. permit also states that the snakes need to be kept in "proper caging" with locks meaning anyone with these snakes that had improper caging were going to be forced to get all new caging. I heard of a well known breeder/wholesaler in South Florida that was raided shortly after the permits came into effect and was fined over $40,000 for snakes and illegal turtles they had and all those animals were ceased. Before the R.O.C. came into effect almost every pet store had burmese pythons of all sizes available and they would sell to most anyone, any age, no questions asked.. These are some of the factors that have caused the issues in the Everglades.

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