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Florida's 'Python Challenge' draws hundreds

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    Hunters scour Everglades for invasive snakes

  • Duration 3:48
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Grids are heading down to the Florida Everglades this week with a python hunting challenge -- sounds interesting right -- it's -- competition.

Launched by the Florida fish and wildlife conservation commission to cut down on the number of Burmese python's overwhelming the ecosystem there.

-- owner of alligator associates and professional python hunter.

Rodney air and good morning yet another is such a profession but apparently they need to down in Florida what's going on down there.

Well -- Our native animals that are kinda have -- -- tough time even before the python the encroachment of -- Pushed him back and now we of a new apex predator in the mix and there -- just taking out a lot of our native wildlife.

Yeah absolutely in fact in some spots dinner on the other blades are no rabbits no -- their very few raccoon and bobcats.

And and -- they think they can kind of Trace it back to hurricane Andrew right.

Because now these these python are out of control and you need to harvest -- but what happened fifteen years ago or so.

Well I was in homestead for hurricane Andrew and basically it was of the end of the World -- Because of the climate we have breeding operations that -- not only.

Snakes but birds a lot of other things.

When hurricane Andrew struck.

All of that was just blown way and there was pretty big -- house released.

Of python and the at bat to the people that bought a python -- a pat.

And two years later that -- bites them and they don't want to kill pets so they release him in the Everglades.

And that's real big problem.

Wow so now here's a thing this weekend you're you know you're going to be hunting these python.

You don't decapitate them what's the best way to try and catch them and actually get rid of them.

Well it's kind of a touchy point.

It must be done humanely.

It can be done with a weapon.

Quick blasted ahead with a weapon.

If you -- take it to a veterinarian has is an option he will most likely take a high speed drill and drill right -- -- and scrambled right.

Sure and the whole idea is to thin the herd python -- it kicked off over the weekend.

And I understand that Rodney that one of the things that you've got to be really careful when you're out there.

Is to make sure that you don't get bitten by -- like a rattlesnake or some like that we are looking for python.

Exactly correct.

The last summer.

I was just chasing a python it's really easy when you see a python there's a lot of things that have to go through your mind wants.

Make sure that you're -- on the line to intercept him.

Just get yourself mentally prepared and it's easy to.

Not be paying attention you should too what's happening right at your feet pasture I was chasing python and on the way back -- -- -- the same track -- Walt -- rattlesnake that.

-- really ruin my day.

-- and I guess -- the understanding is what we should be important -- mention is that there's no natural predator for these python and that's why they need folks like you to go.

And do some.

Indeed -- and -- our native wildlife evolved with out large instructors and the ecosystem so.

They're really don't have a natural fear of -- thoughts on the the learning curve is pretty -- usually their first encounter with a python is their last ten.

I can understand that well there's so they're having this python challenge of folks -- like more information.

I -- -- dot org there are prizes I think ranging up to 15100 bucks so who knows.

Not only would wind up with a python but maybe some jacket as well all right right here when -- The -- alligator associates down in the Miami area sir thank you very much for joining us early this.

Monday FOX & Friends.

My pleasure aren't great.

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