After slightly more than a week, people have captured dozens of invasive pythons in Florida as part of the second Python Challenge.
The challenge, which started Jan. 16 and ends Feb. 14, was organized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. It promotes the conservation of the Everglades and encourages the removal of invasive species, FWC spokeswoman Lisa Thompson wrote in an email.
During the commission’s first challenge, which took place in 2013, people removed 68 pythons in and around the Everglades. As of press time, 61 pythons have been turned in to drop-off locations for the 2016 challenge. In 2012, UF researchers curated a python from Everglades National Park that was more than 17 feet long and weighed almost 165 pounds, according to a press release.
Steve Johnson, an associate professor in UF’s Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, said the issue of invasive species in Florida is partly caused by the pet trade.
“Sometimes animals are released on purpose by unscrupulous people in hopes of establishing a population that they can pull from to sell,” he said.
Johnson said invasive species are growing throughout Florida and, although Burmese pythons have spread throughout the state, their populations are primarily found in South Florida. There have been many cases of people purchasing exotic pets and releasing them into the wild, he said.
“It’s not just pythons that is an important part of this issue,” Johnson said. “They are one of many introduced species that are causing major problems for us.”
