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Florida is a hotspot for invasive species, most of which were brought from their native regions to our environment through human intervention. Burmese pythons have records of being found in our backyards, green iguanas are around every corner, and the lionfish’s population is out of control with no natural predators. These species are not friendly towards our home, they disrupt the natural order of our environment to the point we need to step in. Donna Kalil, Amy Siewe, Jessica Kilgore, and Alastair Harborne all speak about the ways these animals are being combated by residents of Florida.
Donna Kalil is a python elimination specialist who has been hunting for most of her life and even became the leader of a special python removal team, The Everglades Avengers Team.
Amy Siewe, dubbed “The Python Huntress”, worries about the scale of damage pythons are doing to the Everglades.
Jessica Kilgore works alongside Iguana Solutions, but the removal efforts take a toll on her humanity towards the creatures. Alastair Harborne is an ecologist who believes that lionfish can be managed, and that’s what we should hope for all invasive species.
“We can make a difference, we are making a difference, and we will make a difference,” said Kalil.
Her statement is a shared statement of hope with anyone who calls Florida home. The difference we make today is the difference between being overrun by invasive species or having a thriving environment.
I’m Daniel Rossi-Montero, a second-year student at Florida International University (FIU) with a deep passion for media and storytelling. Straight out of high school, I was fortunate enough to be hired by Channel 7, where I spent a year working as a sports producer on weekends and a journalist during the week. That experience gave me invaluable insights into the fast-paced world of broadcast journalism and solidified my commitment to pursuing a career in media.
At 18, I took a leap of faith and co-founded a media company with my partner. Building something from the ground up was both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Within just a year, we achieved significant growth, which has motivated me to continue exploring innovative ways to create, share, and inspire through media.
Balancing my academic studies, professional work, and entrepreneurial endeavors has taught me the importance of perseverance, time management, and vision. These experiences have shaped who I am today, and I’m excited to see where this journey will take me next.
Milana Stryhun is a junior at Florida International University who hopes to work in the entertainment industry. Stryhun is originally from Ukraine and has traveled to 36 countries. She hopes to start her own travel blog to are her love for exploring new cultures and places. She has experience in movie production and hopes to become a movie producer in Los Angeles. Milana will graduate from the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media with a bachelor's degree in digital communication and media in 2026.
