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Episode Show Notes
Rosie K. Moore is a scientist, author, and social media personality who has built a career studying some of the world's most dangerous animals -- including sharks, venomous snakes, and American crocodiles. In this episode, she reveals how her fieldwork in the Florida Everglades led to groundbreaking discoveries about invasive Burmese pythons, why she chose to study crocodilians instead of sharks despite her early passion for shark research, and how she's using social media to change public perception about misunderstood predators. From handling bull sharks to tracking pythons with radio transmitters, Rosie shares stories that will make you rethink everything you know about wildlife conservation.
What does Rosie K. Moore study in the Florida Everglades?
Rosie K. Moore studies invasive Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades, examining their diet, behavior, and impact on native wildlife. Her research involves catching pythons, inserting radio transmitters, and tracking their movements to understand how they're affecting the ecosystem. She's also worked extensively with American crocodiles and bull sharks throughout South Florida.
Who is Rosie K. Moore?
Rosie K. Moore is a scientist, author, and social media personality who specializes in wildlife research and conservation. She holds degrees in marine biology and has conducted fieldwork with sharks, crocodiles, venomous snakes, and invasive pythons in Florida. She's also known for her educational content on social media platforms where she shares her wildlife experiences.
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Shop Star brite →From Shark Week Dreams to Python Research Reality
Rosie Moore's journey into wildlife science didn't follow the path she originally imagined. Growing up obsessed with Shark Week and dreaming of becoming a shark researcher, she found herself making a pivotal decision that would completely redirect her career. When faced with choosing between shark research in California and crocodilian work in Florida, she chose the reptiles -- a decision that surprised even her family. What she discovered about the differences between studying sharks and crocodiles changed everything about how she approached fieldwork. The twist in her story involves why getting close to these animals became more important to her than the species itself. Her explanation of this career-defining choice starts at 15:20.
The Truth About Bull Sharks in the Everglades
Bull sharks in South Florida aren't where most people think they are. Rosie's research revealed surprising patterns about where these apex predators actually spend their time and why certain locations become hotspots for human-shark interactions. She shares a story about catching a bull shark that demonstrates just how different fieldwork is from the polished footage you see on television. The physical demands of handling these animals, the equipment failures, and the unpredictable nature of working in shallow water create scenarios that most people never imagine. Her description of what it's really like to wrangle a bull shark in murky water will change how you think about marine research. The bull shark catching story unfolds at 22:45.
Hear Rosie explain why bull sharks behave differently than you'd expect in South Florida waters
Inside the Burmese Python Invasion
The Burmese python situation in the Everglades is more complex and disturbing than most news coverage suggests. Rosie's research involves catching these massive invasive snakes, surgically implanting radio transmitters, and tracking their movements through the wilderness. What she's discovered about their diet -- including findings from necropsies that revealed unexpected prey items -- paints a stark picture of their impact on native wildlife. She explains the connection between the pet trade and how these snakes ended up dominating the Everglades, and why the problem is nearly impossible to solve. The techniques python hunters use and the challenges of finding a 15-foot snake in millions of acres of swamp demonstrate why this invasive species continues to thrive despite removal efforts. The full scope of the python research project is revealed at 35:10.
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SubscribeChanging Minds Through Social Media
Rosie's approach to social media isn't about going viral -- it's about changing how people perceive animals that are typically feared or misunderstood. She shares the strategy behind her content creation, including why she films certain interactions and how she balances entertainment with education. Her perspective on working with venomous snakes and why she believes these animals deserve protection challenges common assumptions about wildlife. The reaction she gets from different audiences, and the unexpected messages from people who've changed their views about snakes and crocodiles, reveals the real impact of her work. She also discusses the criticism she faces and how she decides which battles are worth fighting online. Her philosophy on conservation through social media starts at 52:30.
This conversation goes deep into wildlife research, conservation challenges, and the realities of fieldwork.
Don't miss Rosie's stories from the field.
Key Takeaways
- Rosie chose crocodilian research over shark work because proximity to the animals mattered more to her than the species -- and that decision opened doors she never expected
- Bull sharks in South Florida don't follow the patterns most people assume, and the locations where they're most commonly found might surprise you
- The Burmese python invasion in the Everglades is connected to the exotic pet trade in ways that reveal how quickly an ecosystem can be permanently altered
- Python research involves surgical implantation of radio transmitters and tracking methods that sound like something from a spy thriller
- Social media can be a powerful conservation tool when used to challenge people's fears and misconceptions about misunderstood predators
- Working with venomous snakes requires a mindset and preparation process that goes far beyond basic safety protocols
- The physical demands of fieldwork with dangerous animals are rarely shown accurately in nature documentaries and television programs
Final Thoughts from Tom
This conversation with Rosie Moore is exactly the kind of episode I love doing. She's out there doing the real work -- the kind of fieldwork that doesn't come with glamorous production crews or perfect lighting. She's in the Everglades wrangling pythons, tracking bull sharks in murky water, and handling venomous snakes, all while trying to change how people think about these animals.
What struck me most was her honesty about the career choices she made and why getting close to the animals mattered more than studying the most popular species. That's the kind of authenticity that makes someone's work meaningful. She's not chasing fame or trying to be the next big television personality -- she's doing research that matters and using her platform to actually educate people.
The stories she shares about python necropsies, bull shark catches that go wrong, and the realities of working with crocodiles give you a real window into what wildlife research actually looks like. If you care about conservation, invasive species, or just want to hear from someone doing legitimate field science, listen to the whole thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Burmese pythons get into the Florida Everglades?
Burmese pythons were introduced to the Florida Everglades through the exotic pet trade. People purchased these snakes as pets, and when they grew too large or became difficult to manage, owners released them into the wild. This created an invasive population that has devastated native wildlife populations throughout the ecosystem.
What do Burmese pythons eat in the Everglades?
Burmese pythons in the Everglades consume a wide variety of native wildlife including mammals, birds, and reptiles. Rosie's research involves conducting necropsies on captured pythons to examine their stomach contents and understand their impact on the food chain. The findings reveal how these apex predators are fundamentally changing the ecosystem.
Where are bull sharks found in South Florida?
Bull sharks in South Florida are found in a variety of coastal and brackish water environments. Rosie's research has tracked these sharks in locations throughout the region, revealing patterns about where they spend time and why certain areas become concentration points for these predators.
How do researchers track Burmese pythons?
Researchers track Burmese pythons by surgically implanting radio transmitters into captured snakes, then releasing them back into the wild. These transmitters allow scientists to follow the pythons' movements, study their behavior, and understand how they navigate through the Everglades ecosystem over extended periods.
What is the difference between researching sharks and crocodiles?
The primary difference Rosie identifies between shark and crocodile research is proximity to the animals. Crocodilian work allows for much closer physical interaction and hands-on study, while shark research often involves more distance. This difference in how intimately you can work with the animals was a deciding factor in her career path.
Related Episodes
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Shop Nuvio RecoveryRosie K. Moore (Scientist, Author, Social Media Personality), Tom Rowland (Host)
Rosie K. Moore
Rosie K. Moore is a scientist, author, and social media personality who specializes in wildlife research and conservation. With degrees in marine biology, she has conducted extensive fieldwork studying sharks, American crocodiles, venomous snakes, and invasive Burmese pythons throughout South Florida and the Everglades. Her research includes tracking bull sharks, examining python diet through necropsies, and working hands-on with some of the world's most dangerous animals. She uses social media to share her fieldwork experiences and educate the public about misunderstood predators, challenging common fears and misconceptions about wildlife.
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