Small animal populations are dwindling in the Everglades National Park as they are being eaten in large numbers by an invasive species of Burmese pythons.

In 2013, researchers proved there was evidence of a population increase among pythons living in the Everglades. The population of the small mammals decreased at the same time, however. Researchers, however, couldn't conclusively link the two trends that showed pythons were indeed causing small mammals to disappear.

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This new study revealed the connection between the two trends. Researchers placed tracking devices on 26 rabbits, which were then released into the Everglades in September 2012.

The 26 marsh rabbits were trapped outside the Everglades in order for researchers to attach the trackers on them. Researchers checked the animals every two days. If the sensors didn't sense any movement from the rabbits for more than six hours, scientists were then alerted.

Over the past decade, rabbits native to the Everglades almost vanished but were able to maintain their population as they settled into their environment and began breeding, said Robert McCleery of the University of Florida.

As temperatures began to rise, however, the rabbits began disappearing and became easy prey for pythons. Researchers were alarmed at how fast the pythons consumed the rabbits before the rabbits could even reproduce again and replenish their population.

McCleery revealed they weren't expecting that 77 percent of the native marsh rabbits would be eaten by pythons. Among the 17 rabbit deaths involved in the study, 16 of them were directly caused by pythons. In the 17th case, the rabbit was found regurgitated and covered with traces of DNA from a python.

McCleery didn't claim pythons are the main cause of the small animals' declining populations in the Everglades but proved a point. The report did shed light on the issue that is a problem in the ecosystem.

Rabbits were chosen by the researchers since they are the most resilient against predators among the small animal populations. Since pythons can consume almost anything, this could also mean that eating rabbits can also be applied to other small animals, as well.

TagsPythons are Invading and Devouring the Everglades; Small Animal Populations Disappearing, Florida, US, Everglades, Burmese python, python everglades eating small animals, everglades national park