July 2009. Armed with snake hooks and nets, a group of reptile experts selected by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to participate in the state's python permit program captured a 9-foot, 8-inch Burmese python. The volunteer permit holders spotted the python in water underneath a boardwalk. It was later ‘euthanized‘.
"Honestly, I was surprised. I did not expect to see a Burmese python on the first day," said Shawn Heflick, one of the permit holders. "We hope our success helps us establish connections with airboat operators and sportsmen out here in the 'Glades. They can tell us where these snakes are, so we can go out and find them."
The FWC's Burmese python permit program allows permit holders to search for pythons on several FWC wildlife management areas and lands managed by the South Florida Water Management District.
"This outcome shows that we do have a serious Burmese python problem, and this program is a good first step in helping to stop the spread of this exotic species." said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto.
The python permit program runs from July 17 to Oct. 31, at which time the FWC will evaluate the data collected and determine if it should extend or expand the program.
Shawn Heflick measures the 9-foot, 8-inch python with the help of FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. Credit FWC
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That is stupid and ridiculous. You expect to eradicate a species by introducing a management program? To completely exterminate a species you must kill them ALL. You enlist the help of a few folks and then go on to introduce a program which requires a permit to hunt or trap pythons in wildlife management areas. How does this help?
ReplyDeleteTake a lesson from Louisiana and our problem with the invasive Nutria Rat. We have millions of them, and they contribute to our wetland loss which is something like an acre a day, 20 miles a year. Instead of letting people kill them on sight, they want them to get a permit, go through a hunting course, and then they only allow them to be hunted or trapped in certain areas. Ridiculous. I understand the safety issue, but you cannot get rid of a species by attempting to manage the population. It must be a state-wide effort to eradicate them.
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