Annual Florida Python Challenge wraps up

THE 20-24 FLORIDA PYTHON CHALLENGE IS OFFICIALLY IN THE BOOKS.

THE ANNUAL 10-DAY EVENT LOOKS TO CUT DOWN THE POPULATION OF INVASIVE BURMESE PYTHONS IN FLORIDA’S EVERGLADES. 

THIS YEAR, MORE THAN 600 PEOPLE REGISTERED FOR THE CHALLENGE – INCLUDING 108 FROM PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES AND TWO FROM CANADA – ALL HOPING TO WIN A SHARE OF THE MORE THAN 30-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN PRIZES.

THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION SAYS THE COMPETITION NOT ONLY HELPS GET RID OF THE INVASIVE SNAKES – BUT ALSO EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT PYTHONS AND THEIR DANGER TO FLORIDA’S ECOSYSTEM.

PYTHONS AFFECT FLORIDA’S NATIVE SNAKES… CAN SPREAD DISEASES AMONG NATIVE ANIMALS… AND HAVE HIGH MERCURY LEVELS THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS FOR NATIVE ANIMALS AND FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, AND YES – SOME PEOPLE DO EAT PYTHON, DESPITE HEALTH OFFICIALS ADVISING AGAINST IT. 

IT’S ESTIMATED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE SNAKES SLITHER FREELY THROUGHOUT FLORIDA BECAUSE PEOPLE BUY THEM AS PETS OR BREED THEM ILLEGALLY – THEN RELEASE THEM INTO THE WILD WHEN THEY GET TOO BIG OR THEY JUST DON’T WANT TO CARE FOR THEM ANYMORE. 

THIS YEAR’S CHALLENGE JUST WRAPPED UP AT 5 P-M SUNDAY – SO WE DON’T KNOW YET WHO WON OR HOW MANY PYTHONS WERE REMOVED. 

LAST YEAR – MORE THAN 200 PYTHONS WERE REMOVED OVER THE COURSE OF THE CHALLENGE… 20 OF THE MASSIVE INVASIVE SNAKES BAGGED BY THE ULTIMATE GRAND PRIZE WINNING HUNTER. 

THERE ARE THREE CATEGORIES OF THE COMPETITION: PROFESSIONAL, NOVICE, AND MILITARY.

A WINNER AND RUNNER UP ARE CROWNED IN EACH CATEGORY FOR WHO CATCHES THE MOST PYTHONS… THERE’S ALSO A PRIZE FOR WHOEVER BAGS THE *LONGEST* PYTHON IN EACH CATEGORY.