EVERGLADES, Fla. -- A Florida senator called for a ban on python imports as the snakes continue to overpopulate the Everglades.

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The Burmese python threatens to not only overrun the Everglades, but perhaps all of South Florida, as well.

Experts said the snakes likely came from pet owners whose small pythons turned into unmanageable giants and were set free in the swamps.

"They were released in what generally people thought of as wild places to give their animal a place to call home," said National Park Biologist Skip Snow.

However, pythons haven't done well sharing their new home with alligators and other creatures native to the Everglades.

"Right now, I think our No. 1 concern at Everglades National Park is the Burmese python," said Everglades Park representative Dan Kimball.

Kimball's park scientists go out into the Everglades and try to round up pythons, but they're hard to find so the number of pythons found in the park is quickly increasing.

"It's time to get moving on this, get something done," Sen. Bill Nelson said.

Small, endangered animals have already been found inside pythons' stomachs.

"Sooner or later, we've got the threat that they get hold of a panther, one of the most endangered animals in the world," Nelson said.

Federal and state governments are spending billions restoring the Everglades ecosystem. Nelson said that if pythons alter the ecosystem, it won't be money well-spent.

So, scientists are beginning to work on better python traps.

"These can work 24/7 and be everywhere," Snow said.

Nelson said he wants a ban on python imports and interstate sales, but Fish and Wildlife regulations take years to go through.

"It could be as long as seven (years), so you've got a problem completely out of control," Snow said.

"Realistically, a couple of years is about the minimum, assuming you could grease the skids and move the process forward as fast as possible," said Paul Souza of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Nelson produced a video about python overpopulation and made a map of states threatened by the snakes.

"I've been taking this map to all those senators from those other states trying to get them educated," he said.

Nelson and park rangers said they also want to educate pet owners not to set their animals loose in the Everglades. They should contact their local pet store or park service, Nelson said.

Anyone with an unwanted python has a place to take it. Click here to find out where to take nuisance and unwanted pets.