Python purge: Everything to know about Florida’s Python Challenge
The annual Florida Python Challenge kicks off on Friday at 12:01 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m. on August 18. Competitors stand a chance to win over $25,000 in rewards by helping to eliminate invasive Burmese pythons from South Florida.
Burmese pythons, which are not native to Florida, pose a threat to local wildlife. These invasive snakes are mainly found in and around the Everglades, where they feed on birds, mammals, and reptiles. The Florida Python Challenge is a 10-day contest organized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, aiming to protect the unique Everglades ecosystem by reducing the population of invasive Burmese pythons. Competitors have nine days to capture as many of these snakes as possible.
In the previous year’s event, 209 Burmese pythons were captured in the Everglades. Since the challenge began, a total of 917 pythons have been removed. In 2023, 1,050 participants from 35 states, plus Belgium, registered for the event.
Where will the python challenge happen?
The Florida Python Challenge will be held across seven areas managed by the commission in South Florida.
What are the guidelines for the Florida Python Challenge?
â—¾ Participants must have a printed or digital version of their registration email with them while hunting.
â—¾ Competitors are required to complete online training and obtain a unique completion code.
â—¾ Only Burmese pythons caught in designated competition areas will be counted.
â—¾ The use of firearms is not allowed during the contest.
â—¾ The use of dogs or any other animals for tracking, capturing, or killing pythons is prohibited.
â—¾ Air guns and captive bolts are permitted.
â—¾ Captured python carcasses must be either chilled or frozen and taken to the nearest Florida Python Challenge check station within 24 hours of capture.
Awards for the Florida Python Challenge
The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida will distribute prizes. The top prize is an Ultimate Grand Prize of $10,000 for the participant who captures the most pythons. There are three categories in the competition: Professional, Novice, and Military, each offering the following awards:
â—¾ Most pythons captured in the category: $2,500.
â—¾ Runner-up in the category for most pythons: $1,500.
â—¾ Longest python in the category: $1,000.
Where are Burmese pythons found?
The Burmese python is originally from Southeast Asia and was introduced to southern Florida either accidentally or intentionally by human activities.
The first sighting of a Burmese python in the wild in South Florida was recorded in 1979 in Everglades National Park. The largest python captured in Florida weighed 215 pounds and measured 18 feet long. It was caught in Naples in 2021 by a biologist from the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.
Size of the Burmese python
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission monitors the size of Burmese pythons reported by the public. The longest Burmese python recorded in Florida was captured in July 2023 and measured over 19 feet long.
What should you do if you see a Burmese python?
The summer months provide the best opportunity to spot a Burmese python. During the day, they tend to remain inactive but may be more visible at night as they cross roads or levees.
A report from the U.S. Geological Survey last year indicates that Burmese pythons are spreading rapidly, with their range expanding significantly each year.
If you encounter a Burmese python, take a photograph, note your location, and report it to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 888-483-4681. You are allowed to humanely kill Burmese pythons on private property at any time, provided you have permission from the landowner and do not need a permit for it. However, transporting live pythons is not permitted.
There are various methods to humanely euthanize a python. Below are the basic steps outlined by the fish and wildlife commission:
â—¾ Step 1: Ensure immediate loss of consciousness.
â—¾ Utilize a captive bolt, firearm, or air gun to deliver a shot directly to the brain.
â—¾ Step 2: Destroy the brain.
â—¾ Verify that the python is unconscious.
â—¾ Use a thin rod, like a screwdriver, spike, or pick, to penetrate the skull and twist it to ensure comprehensive destruction.
The brain is severely damaged.
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