Sixty-eight giant snakes. That’s how many hunters caught and killed during the Florida Python Challenge, which ended Feb. 10. A mix-up led to two hunters being awarded prize money for the longest snake.
Nearly 1,600 people from 38 states and Canada signed up for the Python Challenge. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission held the competition to help rid the Florida Everglades of invasive Burmese Pythons, a product of the exotic pet trade.
The Everglades Python Challenge is slithering to a close this weekend. And while all the attention over the past month focused on the hunt, the challenge was also a learning experience.
The official tally of Burmese pythons harvested won’t be announced until the big closing event Saturday. But counting python skins wasn’t the only purpose of the contest.
