CROW Speaker Series to host Jan. 9 presentation on Burmese pythons
Edison National Bank CEO Geoff Roepstorff (left) and South Florida Water Management District’s Michael Kirkland at the 2021 Python Challenge. PROVIDED
The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife is kicking off its 2026 Speaker Series on Jan. 9 with a presentation from South Florida Water Management District Lead Invasive Species Scientist and Python Program Manager Michael Kirkland on the impact of invasive Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades.
Kirkland has spent over a decade on the front lines of Florida’s fight against one of the world’s most destructive invasive species. As the lead scientist for the SFWMD’s Python Elimination Program, Kirkland oversees a highly skilled team of professional python hunters who have collectively removed more than 170,000 pounds (approximately 85 tons) of Burmese pythons from the Greater Everglades ecosystem.
During his presentation, Kirkland will take attendees behind the scenes of this program, sharing how his elite team of more than 50 expert contractors tracks and humanely removes thousands of pythons each year. He will also highlight groundbreaking research efforts, including the University of Florida’s “Robo-Bunny” python-attracting technology, as well as cutting-edge telemetry projects with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, University of Florida and United States Geological Survey. These initiatives use radio-tagged “scout” pythons to locate hidden breeding aggregations within the Everglades.
Additionally, Kirkland will also discuss the ecological impact of pythons on native wildlife, signs of recovery in areas where extensive python removal has occurred and what the future holds for python management in Florida. The program will conclude with a Q&A session.
Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands is once again sponsoring CROW’s annual Speaker Series, supporting educational programs that bring awareness to critical conservation efforts impacting Southwest Florida and beyond.
“As district python hunters, my wife Robbie and I have seen firsthand the great threat these apex predators pose to Florida’s native species and ecosystem, and we are most grateful to SFWMD in their historic and continuing successes in Everglades restorations,” said Geoffrey Roepstorff, CEO of Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands. “From managing the water resources for the southern half of our state to eliminating invasives from our lands, there is no other agency that is so committed and successful. We’re proud to bring expert voices like Mike Kirkland’s to our region to talk about the python situation in our state. It’s a rare opportunity to hear directly from the team who is setting the global standard for large-scale invasive snake eradication.”
The presentation will take place on Friday, Jan. 9, from 4 to 5 p.m.at the CROW Visitor Education Center, at 3883 Sanibel Captiva Road on Sanibel, and will also be held virtually via Zoom. Tickets are $10 per person. The event is family-friendly, and light refreshments will be provided.
To register, visit eventbrite.com. Season passes for CROW’s 2026 Speaker Series are also available.
About South Florida Water Management District
The South Florida Water Management District is a regional governmental agency that manages the water resources in the southern half of the state, covering 16 counties from Orlando to the Florida Keys and serving a population of 9 million residents. It is the oldest and largest of the state’s five water management districts. Created in 1949, the agency is responsible for managing and protecting water resources of South Florida by balancing and improving flood control, water supply, water quality and natural systems. A key initiative is restoration of the Everglades – the largest environmental restoration project in the nation’s history. In 2017, SFWMD established the Python Elimination Program to protect the Everglades and Southern Florida’s diverse and native wildlife.
About Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands
Edison National Bank is Lee County’s oldest locally owned and managed community bank, serving individuals and business owners with offices in Fort Myers, as well as the Bank of the Islands offices on Sanibel and Captiva. Founded in 1997, Edison National Bank is strongly rooted in the community and actively supports civic and charitable causes through both donations and volunteerism. Bank of the Islands is proud to be the winner of more than 50 “Best of the Islands” awards including “Best Island Bank” numerous times. For more information, call 239-466-1800 or visit EdisonNationalBank.com or BankoftheIslands.com.