Florida makes it easier, adds prizes to remove pythons
By Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Two new programs have been created to encourage people to remove nonnative Burmese pythons from the Everglades ecosystem and surrounding area.
The Python Pickup Program encourages the public to remove and report wild Burmese pythons, and rewards participants with valuable prizes. Anyone can participate in the new program.
People who remove pythons need to submit photographic evidence of the snake as well as the location where it was removed. Anyone who submits this information will receive a free Python Pickup T-shirt for submitting their first entry.
For every submission received, participants are entered into a monthly prize drawing as well as a grand prize drawing to be held in 2018. Monthly prizes include snake hooks, custom engraved Yeti tumblers, Plano sportsman’s trunks, GoPro cameras and Badlands backpacks. The grand prize is a Florida Lifetime Sportsman’s License. The first drawing will take place in May 2017.
As part of the Python Pickup, people can submit pythons removed from any property in Florida where they have authorization to do so from the property owner or land manager. For details click here.
A recent executive order allows people to remove pythons year-round from 22 public lands with no hunting license or wildlife management area permit required.
"We know many Florida residents and visitors want to help tackle this tough conservation challenge by going after pythons in the wild and removing any they find," said, Nick Wiley, FWC executive director "We want to encourage and support this important citizen conservation effort. This executive order clarifies regulatory questions, and makes it easier for people to remove Burmese pythons from the wild."
In early April, the FWC also launched a Python Contractor Program which pays participants to remove Burmese pythons from the wild. FWC selected 22 contractors experienced with capturing wild Burmese pythons. They are paid an hourly wage and paid for each snake removed. The program is similar to one recently implemented by the South Florida Water Management District.
Those interested in training on how to identify and safely remove pythons can take part in a Python Patrol Training. For more information, click here.