The Florida Python Challenge, a competition aimed at hunting invasive Burmese pythons, kicked off on August 9, attracting hunters to the Everglades wetlands.
With a prize pool of up to $25,000, this annual event organized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission lasts for 10 days, according to Popular Science.
Over the next week, hunters will operate in designated areas stretching from Broward County in the west to the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area. Other locations include Southern Glades, Holey Land, and Rotenberger.
Burmese pythons are decimating native wildlife in Florida. (Photo: Kevin Enge).
The top prize of $10,000 will be awarded to the individual who captures the most pythons. The competition is divided into three categories: Amateur, Professional, and Military. The hunter who catches the most pythons in each category will receive $2,500, while the second-place winner will get $1,500. Additionally, the hunter who captures the longest python will be awarded $1,000.
“Removing invasive pythons from the Everglades ecosystem is crucial, and we must do everything we can to combat this invasive species,” emphasized Alligator Ron Bergeron, a member of the South Florida Water Management District Board.
The python hunt will conclude at 5 PM on August 18. The goal is to humanely eliminate as many Burmese pythons as possible. They are not protected in Florida, but anti-cruelty laws still apply in this situation. Hunters are prohibited from using handguns during the competition. The Florida Python Challenge has established a two-step process for killing pythons, which includes using a stun gun to ensure the python is incapacitated throughout the process.
Burmese pythons were first identified in Everglades National Park in 2000. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), they escaped or were intentionally released into the wild by pet owners.
Since then, this giant reptile has rapidly become one of the most destructive invasive species in the history of the national park. Their population has continuously increased, and they now dominate much of southern Florida. Burmese pythons can reach lengths of over 18 feet (5.5 meters) and weigh more than 200 pounds (90.7 kilograms). A female Burmese python can lay 50 to 100 eggs at a time, thriving in the humid subtropical and tropical climate of the Everglades.
By preying on a wide variety of animals, Burmese pythons have altered the food web and ecosystem across the Everglades. A 2023 assessment from the USGS indicates that they have contributed to the decline of populations of opossums, bobcats, foxes, cotton rabbits, and raccoons. The chances of eradicating pythons once they have spread widely are very low.
The South Florida Water Management District began hiring contractors to address the issue around 2017. Since then, more than 11,000 pythons have been removed, with 2,200 pythons killed in 2023 alone. The heaviest python captured by a contractor was a female weighing 215 pounds (97.5 kilograms) and measuring nearly 18 feet (5.5 meters) in length. It was caught by biologists in the Southwest Florida Conservation Area in 2022. Python hunter Amy Siewe caught the longest python, measuring 10.8 feet (3.3 meters).
