2013 Python Challenge

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's 2013 Python Challenge™ invites the public to register for and compete in a month-long harvest of Burmese pythons. The public also can attend two south Florida events to see and learn about these large constrictors and their threat to the Everglades.

www.pythonchallenge.org

• Category

  Education

[Lee Owen]

I can't wait for the next Burmese Python hunt!!

[Sky Button]

but hunting it isn't going to solve anything for the reasons I already explained. There's a reason such a low number have pythons have been found anyways. The fact is, there are pythons in places in the everglades where humans have never set foot. You'll never find those. This python hunt has literally solved nothing and is an unsuccessful act of desperation to control an invasive species. The hunt hasn't worked and is only perpetuating the ophidiophobic ideologies that already permeate Florida.

[Eric Davis]

No these snakes are killing small and medium sized mammals and are going to push some animals to extinction.

[Eric Davis]

The Burmese Python has decimated small mammal populations in the everglades where for instance raccoon populations have dropped around 90%, and other small endangered birds and mammals are now on the brink of extinction due to this snake. It is an invasive species that must be eradicated.

[Sky Button]

It's an awful idea... people are going to end up killing native snakes and inflicting a lot of pain on these Burms. Also teaches people that killing snakes in general is okay and perpetuates ophidiophobia. I don't hunting, especially not by the public and in this manner will solve the problem. Unfortunate practice they've set up here. Also, don't blame responsible keepers of pythons for this. It was as others have said, due almost entirely to Hurricane Andrew that this happened.

[TheVanguard55]

You have no idea how Nature works

[sarahxboston]

this is sickening. genetic testing has proven almost ALL of the pythons are there because hurricane andrew demolished a building where people were studying them. media has blown up the number of pythons to strike fear in the hearts of florida's citizens. there are REALLY an estimated 5,000-10,000. they arent there because people let their pets go. it was an accident and the snakes shouldnt be killed for it. unfortunately for the snakes there are too many blood thirsty idiots in this world.

[Michael Jordan]

Kill them all!!!

[shoo doo]

Python Owners are RESPONSIBLE for what has happened they need to clean it up. they should be out there catching pythons. cats and dogs should not be allowed to run loose. they need to be indoors or on a leash. and spade and neutered. the pythons should be killed.

[shoo doo]

this is RIDICULOUS! 1000 dollars? 1500 hundred dollars prizes????? for a month of hunting pythons? considering the amount of damage it is doing, millions, maybe billions of dollars, wiping out wildlife, why dont they offer serious cash like a million, five million dollars in prize catches.