Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to Hold 'Python Challenge': Brilliant or Bad Idea?
SodaHead News
2013/01/12 19:45:23
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission has come up with a unique contest to say the least. The Commission is sponsoring the 2013 "Python Challenge," which allows hunters to compete again each other to see who can capture the most Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades. The event is also open to non-hunters.
Contestants must pay a $25 entry fee and undergo an online training regimen, where they learn the differences between protected snake species and the actual Burmese pythons they are hunting for. The winner of the "Python Challenge" receives $1,500. Whoever catches the longest python receives $1,000. The contest has about 500 people from as many as 32 states traveling to Florida.
While the contestants bring in money to the economy and also take out the rather large snakes that are said to be the size of minivans and weigh as much as grown men, there are some against the "Python Challenge." There are those that don't support hunting and others who think non-hunters in the contest might not be able to deal with the heat and mosquitoes. One thing is for sure: it's a unique way to eliminate a potential wildlife danger.
Contestants must pay a $25 entry fee and undergo an online training regimen, where they learn the differences between protected snake species and the actual Burmese pythons they are hunting for. The winner of the "Python Challenge" receives $1,500. Whoever catches the longest python receives $1,000. The contest has about 500 people from as many as 32 states traveling to Florida.
While the contestants bring in money to the economy and also take out the rather large snakes that are said to be the size of minivans and weigh as much as grown men, there are some against the "Python Challenge." There are those that don't support hunting and others who think non-hunters in the contest might not be able to deal with the heat and mosquitoes. One thing is for sure: it's a unique way to eliminate a potential wildlife danger.
Read More: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/09/us-usa-p...
Top Opinion
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abubincrazy 2013/01/13 03:31:29
There has been and still is much abuse.
In Jefferson Parish (county) which is adjacent west of New Orleans, the sheriff department has regular night hunts for the critters in the drainage canals. It has been very effective.
Supposedly the McIlheney's (of tobasco sauce fame) brought them in from South America for their fur.
Essentially you can hunt or trap them. There's a $5 bounty per head. But first you have to get a permit. The legal region is anything south of I-10 / I-12.
Come on down for some good hunting and fishing. It's got to be warmer than where you are. lol
While in the Amazons in the 1970's I witnessed an anaconda being removed from the river and killed, it took a child from the village and took it under water drowning it and then consuming it. Your everglades are next for their habitat
The point is that the pythons are not native to the Everglades. Someone turned some pet pythons loose and they have run wild just like nutria here in Louisiana. Alligators were here for centuries before Louisiana was founded.
But it took man to bring the pythons to the Everglades.
These are the ferel hogs that tear up our fences
I don't have a snake problem that would be the everglades in Florida, I have hog and coyote problems. Hogs eat snakes and so do road runners. I like the road runners and have several on my ranch. I hope you don't have the wrong impression, we like native animals but recognize when the become too populated they need to be controlled for their own good.
It cost a fortune to feed right now because every thing cost so much more, Fuel is up as is hay and corn due to the shortages from the drought. And now that these politicians want corn converted into fuel it makes it even harder for us cattle raisers to get corn at a decent price. That's why you see higher cost on beef in the store.
Thank you again for the info!