Florida Python Challenge

[left-of-center2012]

The 10-day Burmese python-killing contest starts Friday in the Everglades, with an array of prizes, including ATVs and cash, for killing the most, the longest and heaviest and runs through Jan. 19, with hundreds of would-be snake killers expected to drive, creep and slog through the Everglades in search of the elusive snakes that have laid waste to South Florida’s native wildlife.

Burmese pythons arrived in the Everglades through the exotic pet trade. They quickly found the South Florida marsh to be python heaven, with abundant prey, few enemies and excellent natural cover that made it nearly impossible for them to be detected by the two-legged predators who are attempting to wipe them out.

They eat wading birds and alligators. They have taken the highest toll on small- and medium-sized mammals, such as marsh rabbits, and these impact ripple up the food chain to other Florida animals. “When they decimate the prey population, that leaves our native predators like the Florida panther, bobcats and alligators in a situation where they’re getting less food,” he said.

The contest is open to the public. Register, pay a $25 fee and score at least an 80 on an online training course ... Grand prizes, awarded in pro and rookie categories for catching the most pythons, are TRACKER Off Road 570 ATVs donated by Bass Pro Shops. Other prizes include $2,000 for catching the longest python and for catching the heaviest python. Special prizes will be awarded to veterans and active-duty military contestants.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-ne-python-challenge-preview-20200104-ax2i256owzf67fwy3hleupkp3i-story.html

[safeinOhio]

1. Taste just like chicken.

[onethatcares]

2. drive Alligator Alley

the lack of road kill is stunning. These snakes were released by accident during a hurricane and took over the River of Grass really quickly.

[Baclava]

7. Hurricane Andrew, yes, thousands escaped from exotic pet breeding facilities

That was the genesis of the invasive python invasion of the swamps.

One female can lay up to 100 eggs a year and the snakes can live for 15 years, so with no natural enemies but alligators past a few years old, theres not much else to do..

[Baitball Blogger]

3. Very worthy contest.

[Thyla]

4. Whacking Day?

[dware]

5. Holy crap!!!!

That is a BIG snake.

[dhill926]

6. they are a huge problem (no pun intended)....

normally I'm not into slaughtering animals, but in this case, it has to be done to restore balance to the Everglades.

[lostnfound]

9. Totally agree, though it seems hopeless nt

[Phoenix61]

8. I don't understand why they don't have

several of these a year. Ten days is not a lot of time. Plus, wouldn’t it make sense to have one when school is out so educators can participate? Maybe have a whole month of weekends too.

[Crunchy Frog]

10. I wonder if anyone will get eaten.

This being Florida and filled with Florida Men.

[Buckeyeblue]

11. Florida Rednecks hunting big snakes...it should be televised!

[jmowreader]

12. Here's the rulebook

https://flpythonchallenge.org/participate/competition/rules/general-rules/

Among the rules:

Explosives may not be used to capture pythons. Guns are allowed.
No capturing pythons originally kept as pets or for commercial purposes.
No ATVs.
No bringing in live pythons.
Pythons submitted to the Longest Python category may be submitted in no more than two pieces.
You must pass the online training course before entering the contest.

If I lived close to Florida and had a rifle, I would enter this.