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[Vanillalite]

NPR

And hunters are descending on the Everglades this month for a competition — the Python Challenge.

Several hundred people have signed up to take part in the month-long python hunt. This weekend, Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission held a kickoff event where they showed prospective hunters how best to corral a 10-foot long snake.

In the last python challenge, three years ago, 1,600 people took part, but they caught just 68 snakes. Researchers say there are tens of thousands of Burmese pythons in the Everglades. Catching them isn't easy. Finding them is even harder.

 

[xxracerxx]

Eagerly awaiting the first injury to come out of this, will it be snake related or gun related?

 

[Union Carbine]

Now this would be a reality show I could get behind.

 

[Pai Pai Master]

There's a Simpsons pic for this

 

[Dubbedinenglish]

Joking aside, this is a very serious environmental issue in the Everglades. These snakes are killing basically everything and starving the natural apex predators.

 

[akira28]

Eagerly awaiting the first injury to come out of this, will it be snake related or gun related?

"damn snake snuck up on me, got my gun...shot me, my partner, stole our boat...left us in the swamp."

 

[FunkyPajamas]

Now this would be a reality show I could get behind.

Sounds like a porn parody.

 

[Orbis Tabula]

This makes a lot more sense. I was wondering how programming would clear out the Everglades.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

And I personally know one idiot who tossed his in the glades back in the day. Should have just let me keep her..

 

[DBT85]

Eagerly awaiting the first injury to come out of this, will it be snake related or gun related?

We all know it will be gun.

 

[DrForester]

There's a Simpsons pic for this

There's a Simpsons episode for this.

 

[PeskyToaster]

This makes a lot more sense. I was wondering how programming would clear out the Everglades.

Thought exactly the same

 

[LifEndz]

Leave all the snakes....alone

BarryWhiteSimpsons.gif

 

[SliceSabre]

I don't like the idea of wonton killing of animals, but considering what I've read about this invasive species I understand why they're doing it cause ain't nothing else don't there going to eat them.

Kinda like deer in Midwest states that breed like crazy and there are no animals around to eat them.

 

[Leynos]

Will Florida Man get eaten by a 'gator again?

 

[Einchy]

New York needs to do this with their sewers, it's amazing how long they've let all of those crocodiles and mutant turtles run around completely unchecked.

 

[GoldenEye 007]

Eagerly awaiting the first injury to come out of this, will it be snake related or gun related?

Why would you eagerly await someone getting hurt?

It is a big environmental problem that has to be solved. So it isn't like it's some useless macho thing going on. It serves a very important purpose.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

New York needs to do this with their sewers, it's amazing how long they've let all of those crocodiles and mutant turtles run around completely unchecked.

lol..

 

[Thelonelykoopa]

From the OP description it doesn't seem they are using guns they are literally just trying to catch Pythons by hand.

 

[ascii42]

Just need to give some steroids and growth hormones to some alligators, then you can have the plot of this wonderful movie.

 

[BattleMonkey]

From the OP description it doesn't seem they are using guns they are literally just trying to catch Pythons by hand.

Yea they catch them, not shoot at them. You don't hunt snakes with guns, it doesn't really work

 

[Smiles and Cries]

wait 3 years ago they had 1600 hunters with just 68 snakes found lol

so this is just a get together beer fest?

 

[Tyrant Rave]

I remember the last time they did this. Hope they can catch more, it's a real problem. Lots of people unfortunately release their snakes like this.

 

[internetwolf]

at least they're keeping this event in Florida

 

[HStallion]

What would be the name of the sci fi channel original based on this story?

Florida Man Vs. Invasive Megasnake?

 

[Jag]

 

[YourMaster]

wait 3 years ago they had 1600 hunters with just 68 snakes found lol

so this is just a get together beer fest?

Hunters like to park their truck somewhere, get out, wait a moment, and shoot at a creature to kill it.
Pythons are hidden underwater, under leaves, in wet leech and mosquito invested areas. It is difficult to find one if you know exactly where it is, the everglades are massive.

 

[darkwing]

there are thousands of snakes but the last time they only caught 68?

yikes

 

[Stormhammer]

Eagerly awaiting the first injury to come out of this, will it be snake related or gun related?

snake snatches gun from person, eats gun, barrel pointed out of snake's mouth and now combines with snake body so when the snake opens its mouth for a bite it also shoots at you

 

[neurosyphilis]

Shit I wish I lived in South Florida, we don't have em up in North FLA. Ya'll are lucky.

 

[xxracerxx]

Shit I wish I lived in South Florida, we don't have em up in North FLA. Ya'll are lucky.

Cars don't exist in N Florida?

 

[AliasGreed]

They do this every year, i think not a big deal. Its an invasive species good thing there doing something about it.

 

[neurosyphilis]

Cars don't exist in N Florida?

They do, but FL is a big ass state, and that's a long drive to South FL. I've been there once and it's like a completely different state down there and a different culture to me.

 

[adj_noun]

There's a Simpsons pic for this

 

[Jack The Nipper]

So what do they do with the ones they catch?.aren't there crocodiles everywhere?

 

[xxracerxx]

So what do they do with the ones they catch?.aren't there crocodiles everywhere?

Kill them.

 

[mclem]

Burmese pythons? Just say they're illegal immigrants, they'll get an army of people willing to deport them.

 

[bengraven]

Why they hell would they do this in the winter?

And why limit it? Make this a yearly thing: the goal isn't to maintain their population, the goal is to ERASE them. They're destroying the ecosystem for Christ's sakes and no one truly wants them there. It's a win/win for them to be gone.

So what do they do with the ones they catch?.aren't there crocodiles everywhere?

 

[Netherscourge]

You called?

 

[TheSeks]

So what do they do with the ones they catch?.aren't there crocodiles everywhere?

Kill the Pythons. They're an invasive species and why they're doing this. Have you seen that infamous alligator ate by a Python that then ruptured the snake picture? That's why. The snakes are literally unbalancing the Everglades ecosystem.

Edit: DAMN IT BEN!

 

[bengraven]

And there are crocs here, but they're incredibly rare and snakes are helping destroy their nests and clutches.

Kill the Pythons. They're an invasive species and why they're doing this. Have you seen that infamous alligator ate by a Python that then ruptured the snake picture? That's why. The snakes are literally unbalancing the Everglades ecosystem.

Edit: DAMN IT BEN!

Too slow.

 

[TheSeks]

And why limit it? Make this a yearly thing: the goal isn't to maintain their population, the goal is to ERASE them. They're destroying the ecosystem for Christ's sakes and no one truly wants them there. It's a win/win for them to be gone.

Agreed. Problems gonna be even worse once the flooding in South Florida starts to push them up the state.

Spoiler

Oh god, how I wish I could leave before then.

 

[bengraven]

Agreed. Problems gonna be even worse once the flooding in South Florida starts to push them up the state.

Spoiler

Oh god, how I wish I could leave before then.

I hope to be gone before that as well.

I've been pretty lucky to have few encounters with snakes so far in my 8 years. And by few I mean "three times as many in 8 years than the 28 years before that".

 

[HylianTom]