The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission just wrapped up this year's Florida Python Challenge, which saw the removal of 195 Burmese pythons from the Everglades.
Florida's population of invasive pythons has increased exponentially in recent years. It's not clear exactly how many live there, but with females laying as many as 100 eggs at a time, some people estimate as many as 300,000 are living in the Everglades.
For this year's contest, more than 800 eager snake hunters traveled from across the country to compete in the annual contest.
The contest lasted 10 days, and winner Ronald Kiger bagged a total of 20 pythons!
Kiger was awarded $10,000 for his heroic efforts. Other prizes were awarded in different categories, including the longest python category which earned the winner a $1,000 prize for bringing in a 9-foot-11-inch-long python.
FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said of the contest,
Over 14,000 pythons have been successfully removed by FWC and South Florida Water Management District contractors since 2017. This collective effort continues to have a direct positive impact on the Everglades and our native wildlife through removal and awareness.
It's legal at any time of the year to remove and kill pythons and nonnative reptiles that are found on private lands.
So if you get the urge to go python hunting, you have ample opportunity to practice before next year's contest rolls around.
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