FL Python Challenge Underway To Save Wildlife From Invasive Species

FLORIDA — Registration is underway for the Florida Python Challenge, a contest that seeks to protect the Everglades' native wildlife by removing Burmese pythons.

Starting Friday, residents can remove Burmese pythons from a participating location until 5 p.m., Aug. 18. Participants must be registered, and online training is required, according to competition rules.

"The Florida Everglades is an extraordinary ecosystem unlike any other in the world! It is home to a variety of rare and unique wildlife including a diversity of native birds, mammals, fish and reptiles. However, some reptiles, like the invasive Burmese python, do not belong in this ecosystem and pose a threat to native wildlife," read the challenge website.

Competition sites are as follows:

• Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area
• Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area
• Frog Pond Public Small Game Hunting Area
• Holey Land Wildlife Management Area
• Rocky Glades Public Small Game Hunting Area
• Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area
• Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area

The mandated online training instructs participants on ways to safely handle snakes and conveys humane killing methods, according to the competition website. It also shows people how to identify Burmese pythons from native snakes.

Prizes range from $1,000-$10,000, with the latter being awarded to the person who removes the most pythons.

Burmese pythons are nonvenomous and are considered an invasive species, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

These pythons are primarily located in and around the Everglades, the commission.

For a full list of competition rules, see here.