Friday marked the beginning of the annual Florida Python Problem, throughout which hunters head into the Everglades to trace down invasive Burmese pythons in hopes of grabbing a share of $30,000 in prizes.
The annual 10-day hunt, which began greater than a decade in the past, promotes public consciousness of points with invasive species in Florida whereas partaking the general public in Everglades dialog, mentioned Sarah Funck, the wildlife influence administration part chief with Florida’s fish and wildlife conservation fee.
“They’re a well-established invasive species throughout a lot of south Florida, sadly, in our pure areas,” Funck mentioned of Burmese pythons. “An enormous a part of this problem is to be sure that folks perceive about this difficulty and perceive that basically, when you may have a non-native species current within the state for no matter objective, don’t let it free – that may be actually detrimental to the environment.”
Over the previous decade, the python problem has grabbed headlines for its incentive-based, only-in-Florida fashion of looking in addition to celeb participation. This 12 months, greater than 600 folks registered for the occasion, with two coming from Canada and 108 from different states.
In the course of the problem, hunters will linger round designated areas spanning by means of western Broward county to the Tamiami Path within the Huge Cypress wildlife administration space, together with different administration areas like Southern Glades, Holey Land and Rotenberger.
The purpose for the competitors is to convey an incentive for hunters to take away Burmese pythons from the atmosphere, particularly within the late summer time when python eggs hatch. The competitors can be meant to coach the general public about pythons and their hazard to Florida’s ecosystem, as a result of they have an effect on native snakes, can unfold ailments amongst native animals and have excessive mercury ranges that might be harmful for native animals and for human consumption, mentioned Zachary Chejanovski, an interagency python administration coordinator with the Florida wildlife fee.
“The python drawback, it’s an enormous drawback,” Chejanovski mentioned. “We wish to be certain that to get the phrase out as a lot as attainable, as a result of we are able to’t do that alone.”
Every class has its personal prizes, with $2,500 going to the particular person or workforce that kills probably the most pythons, $1,500 going to the runner-up for many kills and $1,000 going to whoever kills the longest python. The grand prize for probably the most kills in all classes will get a $10,000 prize.
Every particular person can solely win one prize, so if somebody is tops in two classes, they may find yourself with the highest-valued prize and the subsequent qualifying hunter will get the remaining prize.
In the course of the competitors, individuals should flip in humanely killed Burmese pythons to any of the competitors’s three stations in south Florida. Hunters also can select in the event that they wish to get the snake carcass again after the competition to make use of the pores and skin to make wallets, belts or baggage.
Michael Huckabee and Jay Kattalikis attended the security coaching on Friday morning, after driving in from Mississippi to take part within the Florida Python Problem. Kattalikis mentioned that is his first time taking part within the state’s python problem, however added that he’s not apprehensive since he and Huckabee are used to “wrangling gators” and dealing with copperheads and rattlesnakes.
Kattalikis mentioned he and Huckabee got here right here on a whim after one other good friend informed him about it, and he gave Huckabee solely quarter-hour to prepare earlier than driving right down to south Florida.
“All I may suppose was, ‘Holy crap, that is what I’ve lived doing my total life, and there’s a event doing it. I wish to do that,’” Kattalikis mentioned.
In 2017, the south Florida water administration district and the state started hiring contractors to deal with its invasive python drawback year-round. Based on the wildlife company’s web site, by means of 2023, greater than 11,000 pythons have been eliminated by these contractors.
Final 12 months’s problem introduced in 209 pythons and the grand prize winner was Paul Hobbs, who bagged 20 pythons. Additionally throughout 2023, Florida wildlife company and district contractors eliminated about 2,200 pythons.
Amy Siewe, the self-styled Python Huntress, gained a prize final 12 months for catching a Burmese python measuring 10ft 9in (327cm). This 12 months, she gained’t be taking part within the problem on account of a knee surgical procedure however mentioned she’s not a fan of the annual problem.
Siewe, who used to work as a state contractor catching invasive pythons, mentioned she believed the preliminary intent of the problem was to convey consciousness to the problem. Now it’s drawing massive crowds of hunters, probably scaring off pythons and probably killing native snakes they mistake as pythons, like corn snakes, brown water snakes or cottonmouths.
“Pythons don’t tackle their regular behavioral sample as a result of there’s a lot visitors they usually’ll come up after which they’ll return into the swamp,” Siewe mentioned. “I really feel, for myself, it’s counterproductive.”
Members are required to bear on-line coaching, together with info on tips on how to determine Burmese pythons versus different snakes, Funck mentioned. She mentioned there’s additionally a further non-compulsory in-person coaching individuals can attend to correctly determine Burmese pythons.
“That’s an enormous a part of what we do, is attempt to get the phrase out on tips on how to determine these pythons, tips on how to safely and humanely seize it,” Funck mentioned.
Supply hyperlink
