An annual Burmese python hunt may seem cruel to the species, but in fact, it is an annual event by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that aims to raise public awareness of the invasive species while removing the snakes from the ecosystem.
Burmese Pythons: a Problematic Invasive Species
MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 29: Edward Mercer, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission non-native Wildlife Technician, holds a Burmese Python during a press conference in the Florida Everglades about the non-native species on January 29, 2015 in Miami, Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission along with the Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (ECISMA), Miami-Dade County, National Park Service, South Florida Water Management District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Geological Survey, University of Florida were surveying an area for the Northern African pythons (also called African rock pythons) and the Burmese Python in western Miami-Dade County. The teams of snake hunters were checking the levees, canals and marsh on foot for the invasive species of reptile. Many of the non-native snakes have been introduced in to the wild when people release pet snakes after they grow to large to keep.
Infamous for their unbelievably flexible jaws and razor-sharp teeth, the Burmese pythons are one of the most formidable predators. The Python bivitattus are carnivorous reptiles that can grow up to 23 feet and weighs up to 200 pounds, living up to 25 years, according to National Geographic.
These snakes are endemic to parts of Southeast Asia but now have become established in South Florida, specifically in the Everglades, as an invasive species.
The non-venomous constrictor was introduced to the state in the early 1970s to 1980s when thousands of snakes were imported to be sold as the exotic pet of choice.
Some snakes eventually found their way into the Floridian ecosystem - either unintentionally released or accidentally freed by owners. Soon, these invasive snakes began to breed, establishing a population in the state's southern local environment.
Today, the pythons pose a significant threat to the endemic wildlife ecosystem in Florida because they prey on various bird and mammal species, including some listed under the US Endangered Species Act. Truthfully, severe declines in the small mammal population in the state have been correlated to the invasion of the Burmese Pythons.
Although it's almost impossible to estimate the actual population size of the Burmese python in Florida, experts believe they are likely in the tens of thousands, perhaps up to 100,000, reports Newsweek.
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Annual Florida Burmese Python Challenge
Aiming to significantly reduce the invasive species, the Florida Python Challenge, a 10-day competition, is set to begin next week.
The event, managed by the FWC, engages registered participants to remove as many Burmese pythons from public lands in Florida, especially in the Everglades.
Lisa Thompson, a spokesperson for FWC, says that every python removed from the state helps protect its local wildlife and habitats.
The first ever challenge was held back in 2013 when roughly a thousand participants managed to kill or capture 68 snakes. Throughout the challenge's 2021 edition, more than 600 participants successfully removed 223 Burmese pythons, double the 2020 record.
For its 2022 edition, the competition will begin on August 5th at 8:00 in the morning to August 15 at 5:00 in the afternoon. Anyone can register for the competition and will need to pay a small fee of $25 and pass the online training.
Participants are challenged to capture and kill Burmese pythons, which will be dropped off at an official event check station. The FWC says that there are ethical and legal obligations to ensure that pythons are killed with minimal suffering.
Several prizes for the "Novice" and "Professional" categories will be awarded. These include awards for participants who catch the most pythons, with $2,500 for first place, and the longest python, with a $ 1,500 award.
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