Annual Python Hunt Raises Awareness on Invasive Species in Florida

The annual 10-day Burmese python hunt in Florida, now in its second decade, aims to raise public awareness about the challenges posed by invasive species in the Everglades. Sarah Funck, the wildlife impact management section leader with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, emphasized the importance of educating the public on the detrimental effects of releasing non-native species into the environment. This year, over 600 participants registered for the event, including hunters from Canada and various states across the U.S. Participants will hunt in designated areas from western Broward County to the Tamiami Trail in the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area, with the goal of humanely eliminating as many pythons as possible. The competition features three categories: professional hunters, military veterans, and novice hunters, with a grand prize of $10,000 awarded to the individual with the most kills. Last year, the event resulted in the capture of 209 pythons, with Paul Hobbs taking home the grand prize for bagging 20. Despite the event's popularity, some, like Amy Siewe, a former state contractor and last year's prizewinner, express concerns about its effectiveness. Siewe, who will not participate this year due to knee surgery, believes the challenge may be counterproductive to its original intent of raising awareness. Funck noted that participants must complete online training to properly identify and safely capture Burmese pythons, underscoring the event's educational component.