Koehler and Van Gorders love affair with Burmese pythons began in 2016, when the FWC held its second python challenge. It was the first of many black rat snakes . All rights reserved. But the possession of an exotic species in Florida is illegal without proper authorizations. Pythons have been found to feed on at least 43 species of bird, too, including the magnificent frigatebird, which is an alarming achievement. "Bites by venomous snakes can cause severe paralysis that may prevent breathing; bleeding disorders that can lead to fatal haemorrhage; irreversible kidney failure; and severe local tissue destruction that can cause permanent disability and may result . The correct way to kill a python, the letter pointed out, is with a single shot to the brain. Heres what we know, West Tampa plumber was able to achieve a lot by being kind, 3rd teen arrested in St. Petersburg death of 15-year-old boy, police say, Tampa man arrested in death of person found in apartment with unharmed infant, deputies say, Tampas St. Josephs Childrens Hospital holds prom for pediatric patients. Burmese pythons have been know to prey on alligators in the area. So when these slithery monsters get released into the wild, they wreak havoc on the indigenous wildlife in the state's Everglades National Park. Though they have lost track of exactly how many pythons theyve caught in the last few years about 70, perhaps this June the women became responsible for bagging the 500th python for the Python Action Team. Might be better to kill and then skin immediately, I dont know. N ow, please don't think me impolite with what I'm about to say, but it may be easier if we just face the facts head-on. Its estimated that there are tens of thousands of pythons now living in the Florida wild. For a moment its tail coils around Detres calf. Python eggs have been found in the Florida Keys. So the next time you see a snake making its way through your yard or swimming downstream near you, know that theyre just as much a part of the natural world as a squirrel or a rabbit and like any fluffier animal, they have no interest in interacting with, let alone harming people. (The first was held in 2013; there have been none since.) Heck, even Florida Senator Bill Nelson is getting in on the snake-bashing action, standing in for Mayor Quimbyin this real-life rendition of "Whacking Day.". The Python Challenge had a category for armed service members and veterans this year for the first time, with different prizes for professional hunters and rookies.