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There are between 100,000 and 300,000 invasive Burmese pythons (Python Bivittatus) that is currently gliding through the Florida Everglades. However, you would be forgiven for thinking that far fewer destructive predators are wreaking havoc. The snakes, often 13 feet long, blend seamlessly into the ecosystem’s subtropical rivers and foliage. Conservationists estimate that less than five percent of them are visible to the average passerby. That means for every 20 pythons, only one is captured during Florida’s annual summer cull season.
To help boost those numbers, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) recently released a short public service announcement video advising on the best ways to locate and dispatch current troublemakers.
Looking for Burmese pythons
It’s also not as simple as grabbing a pair of binoculars. Any python trapping excursion requires proper prep work to ensure everyone is safe and actually hunting the right animals. That said, the CMCA makes it clear that the task may not be for everyone.
“Prepare by imagining large snakes over six feet long spread out or coiled,” the video’s narrator suggests at the beginning of the segment.
Burmese pythons are recognizable by more than just their size. Hunters should look out for a telltale arrow-shaped marking on the snake’s head, along with giraffe-like spots all over its body and dark spots around the eyes. During the summer months, they are more likely to be found sunbathing on seawalls or near trees.
It is important to note that snake seekers should ignore any snakes they may see swimming in canals. That’s their territory, which puts humans at greater risk of losing the fight.
Speaking of safety, proper clothing and equipment are vital when hunting pythons. Despite Florida’s brutally humid heat, snake finders should wear long pants, closed-toe shoes and gloves, and always carry a long snake-handling tool. Any successful capture must be humanely euthanized following strict state guidelines, as well as accurately documented. Record the latitude and longitude where pythons were found and be sure to take plenty of photos to provide to conservationists.
Do you think you have what it takes to combat one of the most invasive animals in the region? Aspiring snake wrestlers have a few more days to prepare for the Florida Python Challenge, the state’s annual competition that draws participants from across the United States. If the idea of caring for snakes yourself doesn’t appeal, you can still report sightings to the Exotic Species Hotline by phone at 888-IveGot1 (888-4681), online at www.IVEGOT1.org, or through IVEGOT. smartphone app.
But before you begin, remember the PSA’s advice to first imagine those giant snakes and then ask yourself, “Do I really want to do this or should I leave it to the professionals?”
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