Florida officials are once again asking the public for help in addressing one of the state's most serious invasive species problems: Burmese pythons in the Everglades.
The Florida Python Trapping Contest, a 10-day competition, returns on July 10, with a $10,000 grand prize going to whoever catches the most snakes.
Everglades National Park has announced a partnership with local organizations to revive its annual contest to slow the spread of Burmese pythons across South Florida, Popular Science reports.
From July 10th to 19th, registered participants can capture and humanely kill as many pythons as possible in permitted areas.
Captured snakes must be delivered to official inspection points within 24 hours to be measured and counted toward the total number of snakes captured. Prizes are awarded for both the largest number of pythons captured and the longest snake.
The issue has become a key part of Florida's response to its worsening environmental situation.
Last year, 934 people from the United States and Canada took part in the competition, catching a record 294 pythons. The first-place winner caught 60 snakes in 10 days, and the python caught measured 15 feet 11 inches.
Burmese pythons are not native to Florida. They arrived in the United States through the pet trade in the 1970s, and some owners later released them into the wild after realizing how large these snakes can grow. Adult Burmese pythons often reach approximately 4 meters in length.
Once established in the Everglades, the species' favorable conditions and lack of pressure from local predators allowed it to quickly spread and rise to the top of the food chain.
Researchers estimate the python population in the Everglades and surrounding regions to be between 100,000 and 300,000 individuals. This has caused significant damage to local wildlife and the ecosystem's balance.
The Everglades supports a diverse range of flora and fauna and plays a vital role in the ecological health of South Florida. When invasive species disrupt this system, the consequences extend beyond the park.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission calls pythons a potential "threat to human safety" and warns that they "may also attack domestic animals such as cats and dogs.".
Before entering the designated hunting grounds, participants must complete an online safety course and strictly adhere to the event rules. The use of firearms and specially trained game animals is prohibited. Organizers recommend using methods such as airguns or target shooting techniques to quickly kill snakes.
The competition alone isn't enough to solve Florida's python problem, but officials see it as one tool in a management strategy already underway in the region.
«"Protecting Everglades National Park, one of the most significant ecosystems in the world, requires ongoing partnership and community engagement," Everglades National Park Superintendent Pedro Ramos said in a statement. "By engaging the public in science-based invasive species management practices, we can increase awareness and build support for conservation efforts in South Florida.".
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