FOSTER FOLLY NEWS (Florida) 08 October 09 As I See It: Hunters Help Florida Get A Grip On Python Problem (Rodney Barreto Chairman, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)
There is a growing concern in South Florida regarding how we should help control a particular nonnative reptile that has been receiving a lot of media attention lately. I’m talking about the Burmese python problem we are experiencing.
Most experts believe pet owners are at least partly responsible for the situation we are in because they released their pet pythons into the wild illegally when the snakes had grown too large to care for. Over time, these invasive snakes have spread throughout the Everglades. Since the Burmese python has few natural predators in Florida, its numbers have grown into the thousands in South Florida, and it has been preying on native wildlife, including the federally endangered Key Largo woodrat.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) manages four wildlife management areas (WMAs) on the python’s northern-most range: Everglades and Francis S. Taylor, Holey Land, Rotenberger and Big Cypress. Because hunters have always played a key role with conservation in this state, it only makes sense to enlist their assistance once again to help eradicate these invasive reptiles from Florida and prevent their northward movement.
And so, the FWC established an executive order giving licensed hunters and those with a statewide alligator harvest permit the opportunity, if they wish, to harvest Burmese pythons, should they come across any during their normal pursuit of deer, wild hogs, furbearers, alligators or other game on these four WMAs. This is, of course, during established hunting seasons when these species are legal to take.
What this means is, any licensed hunter who also has the necessary permits (i.e., management area permit, archery or muzzleloading gun permit, quota permit) to hunt on any of these four WMAs is eligible to participate. In addition, those with a statewide alligator harvest permit can participate if that permit enables them to hunt alligators on any of those WMAs.
To be even more specific, properly licensed and permitted hunters can harvest Burmese pythons during specified hunting seasons and during legal shooting hours on these four WMAs. And those who have a statewide alligator harvest permit allowing them to hunt alligators in the counties where these WMAs lie can harvest Burmese pythons through Nov. 1, during legal hunting hours.
Besides Burmese pythons, all reptiles of concern may be harvested, including the Indian python, reticulated python, African rock python, amethystine or scrub python, green anaconda and Nile monitor lizard. However, there is a slim chance of encountering any of these other reptiles of concern in the wild in South Florida other than the Burmese python.
There are some method-of-take stipulations, though, that participating hunters must follow. Hunters may use nets and snares to capture reptiles of concern, but they must euthanize them on site. Hunters also can use guns and firearms in taking these reptiles during hunting periods when their specific use is allowed (i.e., bows during archery season, muzzleloaders during muzzleloading gun season, etc.). When alligator hunting, people may use all legal methods for taking alligators, including bang sticks, harpoons and spear guns, to take reptiles of concern.
Any harvested reptile of concern may not be taken out of the areas alive and must be reported to the FWC within 36 hours by calling, toll-free, 866-392-4286 or going to MyFWC.com and choosing Burmese pythons from the “Quick Clicks” section. However, any reptile of concern taken from Big Cypress must be checked in at one of the area’s six check stations.
You can even have some fancy cowboy boots made from python, but I don’t recommend eating the meat because, according to the National Park Service, testing done on two dozen captured Burmese pythons in the Everglades revealed high levels of mercury in the meat – levels well above that considered safe to eat.
If you do not feel safe or comfortable approaching and harvesting a reptile of concern, that’s understandable, but the FWC would still like you to report any such sightings by calling the toll-free number or going online.
If you’d like more information on Burmese pythons or the current situation, visit MyFWC.com/Nonnatives.
Hunters historically have played critical roles in conservation in this state, and I’d like to thank them once again for their contributions in helping us eradicate these invasive, nonnative reptiles from South Florida – thereby preserving native wildlife for the future of hunting in Florida.
Hunters Help Florida Get A Grip On Python Problem