The annual Python Challenge in Florida has opened registrations, seeking community support to control invasive python populations. This competition allows people from around the world to hunt Burmese pythons in the Everglades wetlands, with prizes exceeding $25,000. The event will take place from August 9 to August 18, featuring categories such as longest python and most pythons caught.
Burmese pythons, originally introduced to Florida as pets in the 1970s, have thrived in the state’s subtropical climate and wreaked havoc on the native ecosystem. These apex predators prey on rare wildlife like bobcats and alligators, with large females capable of carrying up to 100 eggs. The rapid multiplication of these invasive species prompted the need for their removal through initiatives like the Python Challenge.
While the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission works year-round to eliminate pythons, the annual competition allows for the mass removal of these invasive species. Participants must complete an online training course but are not required to have a hunting license. Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez emphasized the state’s commitment to protecting natural resources through initiatives like eradicating Burmese pythons.
The Python Challenge aims to address the widespread python populations in the Everglades, where some of the largest pythons have been found. In previous years, the competition has led to the capture and removal of hundreds of pythons from the area. The event serves as a community effort to combat
