Posted on 06/23/2022 8:02:39 AM PDT by SJackson
Starting later this summer, hundreds of hunters will disperse across Florida's Everglades.
Their target? An apex predator known to grow up to 18 feet that hunts animals as large as an alligator and sometimes as small as a woodrat.
These hunters are going after the Burmese python — one of the largest species of snakes and a major nuisance to Florida's wildlife.
Native to Southeast Asia, these snakes were first introduced to the Florida wild in the late 1970s, and they have reproduced at an astronomical level since.
Starting Aug. 5 and continuing for 10 days, those hunters (both professional and novice) will fan out in South Florida to humanely capture and kill these snakes for the state's annual Python Challenge.
Registration for the 2022 challenge opened last week. Anyone interested in competing must first register and take a required online training that covers humane killing methods and ways to identify these snakes.
It's an important program that will help restore Florida's ecosystem, according to Donna Kalil, a Florida-based python hunting professional. Last year's competitors removed 223 invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades.
"To try to keep the Everglades healthy, you have to have the animals that belong in it. And in order to do that, you have to remove the invasive predator that is the Burmese python," said Kalil.
(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...
If pythons could vote they'd receive asylum
What about other invasive snakes like the Rock Python? If they come across one of those to they take it or leave it in the wild?
No thanks...get rid of these archaic monsters
Regards,
(This professional has tips)
Hunting 18 foot snakes?
Yeah no thanks.
I got a tip. Nuke it from orbit.
It’s the only way to be sure. 🥴😜😆
Snakes? Why’d it have to be snakes?
🤣😜
There was a thread yesterday where the python was 18’ and 215 lbs.
I think she had 100+ eggs in her…most ever.
"That thar python's good eatin'!"
Can you shoot them?
Drop her off on I-75, in the center of southern FL, and tell her freedom and safety is due north…
Bring a Democrat , snakes attract snakes
What does python meat taste like? Why doesn’t Florida offer bounties for each one killed?
An apex predator known to grow up to 18 feet that hunts animals as large as an alligator and sometimes as small as a woodrat.
—
Who’s hunting who with one of these 18 foot monsters?
Humanely KILL!
Killing is killing to the animal. Except abortion, that’s just a right.
Put grandma to sleep. “See ya later gma”.
As you drive eastward on the Tamiami trail, the Everglades are on your right. There is a canal the whole or at least most of the way. Across the canal is vegetation so thick it is literally impenetrable. It is not too high but it is a congested vegetative mass. The vegetation is unbelievably dense. Pythons and small animals can pass but humans cannot.
Allowing python hunting is pssing in the ocean. The Burmese python is now a resident same as progressive vermin in Palm Beach County
And a 10 foot gator can hide in surprisingly...emphasis on surprise!...shallow water.
Big money in it. Can be dangerous work though. I beleive snakes can be dead or alive when brought in.
Like to help,
But ,,,
Some folks bring em in alive, that is way too much Hassel though, and dangerous. Pellet pistol would work- no permit needed for it. (Ifmthe pellet pistol isnt powerful enough, pellet rifles most definately will be- some can take down caped buffalo)
Watching the show about the gator hunters, they go to Florida to help thin out snakes every nkw and again, but they muck around catching them alive. I think they pay just as much dead- not sure why they catch them alive- maybe jusy to keep the show exciting.
Th3y make several hundred dollars a day, but they gotta trudge through snake infested areas to get to,them though. T hey also gotta use swamp,buggies for some areas.
There are also invasive lizards too, huge ones. I thi k there is a bounty on them too.
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