68 snakes captured in python challenge
The month-long Python Challenge has come to an end, with 68 invasive pythons captured by volunteers in Florida.
The hunt was launched on 12 January by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as a measure to tackle the threats to wildlife posed by Burmese pythons. Since its introduction the Asian behemoth has reportedly thrived in Florida's swamps, to the detriment of native mammal populations. The problem, ecologists say, is particularly pronounced in the Everglades area.
The 2013 Python Challenge attracted 1,600 people, the majority of which were inexperienced hunters. Between 12 January and 10 February participants were encouraged to catch as many pythons as they could from state wildlife-management areas within the Everglades. The commission even gave cash prizes to those who caught the most and the longest snakes.
Organisers have hailed the event a success, with several experts surprised by the number of pythons that were captured, as they are notoriously difficult to catch. According to Kenneth Krysko, senior herpetologist at the Florida Museum of Natural History, the reptiles would have been staying in the brush due to the unusually warm weather in Florida. Cheryl Millet of the Nature Conservancy added that the animals lie in wait to ambush hunters, and are extremely well camouflaged.
The concept of the hunt attracted criticism from those who questioned the wisdom of encouraging amateurs to use firearms and hunt dangerous exotics. Organisers however say the necropsies on captured snakes will reveal what the pythons are eating, and location data from the hunters will provide valuable information for scientists working to stop the spread of the species into ecologically sensitive areas.
Frank Mazotti, ecologist at the University of Florida and leader of the challenge, said: "It's an unprecedented sample, and we're going to get a lot of information out of that."
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
