Invasive Burmese pythons, measuring up to 20 feet in length and weighing up to 200 pounds, traverse Florida's Everglades, disrupting the ecosystem. Irresponsible pet owners contributed to this issue by abandoning their pythons in the swamp when they became unmanageable.
Contrary to the theory that they were released from a lab during Hurricane Andrew in 1992, these pythons have been altering the Everglades' environment for nearly three decades.
Florida's Python Challenge
Scientists have discovered various animals in the stomachs of Burmese pythons, including nearly extinct marsh rabbits, wood storks, deer, and even alligators.
This poses a significant challenge to Florida, currently investing billions in restoring the Everglades, described as the "largest environmental restoration in the history of the world" by "Alligator" Ron Bergeron, a seasoned python hunter and member of the South Florida Water Management District board.
A decade ago, Florida initiated a unique solution: a week-long python hunt attracting participants worldwide. The original python challenge captured only 68 pythons, while this year, approximately 1,000 registrants hunted down and eliminated 209 pythons.
The top winner for the 2023 Python Challenge, Paul Hobbs, emphasized the dedication required, as it's a challenging endeavor. Finding these massive snakes in an ecosystem teeming with smaller creatures has proven exceptionally difficult. Last Friday, the state celebrated the champions of the 2023 competition, spanning from August 4th to the 13th.
Hobbs was joined by his father, Tom, who won the top prize in 2021. Also, a part of his team is his 12-year-old son Dominic as well as his brother-in-law, Austin Park. They successfully eliminated 20 snakes in one week and claimed the $10,000 grand prize. Last year, a 19-year-old Matthew Concepcion killed 28 invasive snakes and won the prize.
Did It Work? Assessing the Success of the Annual Python Challenge
Estimating the exact python population is challenging, making it difficult to assess the impact of control efforts. The United States Geological Survey suggests "tens of thousands" of pythons in South Florida, spreading widely from Naples to Lake Okeechobee and the northern Florida Keys.
These pythons are apex predators, with few natural threats once they reach adulthood, except for humans. Florida employs about a hundred contractors year-round to combat the pythons, starting in 2017. Since 2006, nearly 20,000 snakes have been removed, with 11,000 of them eliminated by paid contractors.
The absence of an accurate population count makes it unclear if these efforts are effectively reducing the python population, which can reproduce rapidly, with each female laying approximately 100 eggs annually.
Earlier this year, a USGS study confirmed a long-held belief within the snake community: Burmese pythons are firmly established in southern Florida.
The report concluded that the complete eradication of pythons in this region is likely an insurmountable challenge.
While the report suggests that future technological advancements might provide a means to locate and eliminate these elusive and resilient creatures, current efforts are primarily focused on removing as many pythons as possible. Scientists acknowledge the absence of a foolproof method for eradication, but they emphasize the progress made in recent years.
McKayla Spencer, the nonnative fish and wildlife coordinator for Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, emphasized that each python removed represents one less threat to native species.
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