It’s that time of year when Florida invites both amateur and professional snake hunters to venture into the Everglades in search of Burmese pythons. The annual Florida Python Challenge began last Friday and continues until 5 p.m. next Sunday.
During this event, participants are tasked with capturing and killing the nonvenomous constrictors, which pose a threat to the state’s native wildlife.
Ron Bergeron, a member of the South Florida Water Management District’s governing board, emphasized the importance of the effort, stating, “Removing invasive pythons from the Greater Everglades Ecosystem is crucial, and we must do everything possible to combat this invasive species.”
Burmese pythons, once popular pets in Florida during the late 1970s and 1980s, were first released into the wild by some owners as early as 1979. These tan and brown snakes eventually established a presence in South Florida, particularly in Miami-Dade, Collier, and Monroe Counties, where they began to disrupt the local ecosystem.
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The pythons, which typically grow to 6-9 feet in length but can reach even greater sizes, have few natural predators. They are known to prey on a wide range of animals, from alligators and deer to woodrats and spoonbills, including threatened and endangered species.
Additionally, they may carry parasites harmful to Florida’s native snakes. The species also has a high reproductive rate, with female Burmese pythons laying between 50-100 eggs each year.
This year, over 600 competitors are participating in the Florida Python Challenge, with a $10,000 grand prize awarded for capturing the most pythons during the 10-day event.
Additional cash prizes will be given for the most snakes removed and the longest python captured in three categories: novice, professional, and military.
To date, 917 Burmese pythons have been removed through this annual competition, which has been ongoing for over a decade. Last year alone, 209 snakes were captured.
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