Actions

Florida python hunters have caught 10 tons of snakes

That's enough to stretch 2 miles
Posted at 4:01 PM, Oct 05, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-05 16:13:00-04

Hunters have captured more than two miles worth of pythons as part of the state's Python Elimination Program in the Everglades.

The South Florida Water Management District says that trappers have caught enough snakes to stretch more than two miles in length and weigh more than 10 tons. 

An average of three pythons have been caught per day since the program began in March 2017.

Related
Record 17-foot python captured in Everglades
VIDEO: Everglades alligator rescued from a python
Python hunters celebrate 1,000th catch

So far, 1,711 snakes have been captured. Python hunter Brian Hargrove leads the catch with 235 snakes alone.

Eliminating invasive species such as Burmese pythons is critical to preserving the Everglades ecosystem.

"This program continues to be proven successful over time because of each and every dedicated member of the team, from the Governing Board members who continue to fund it to the staff and the python hunters who work long nights to rid the Everglades of this snake," said SFWMD scientist Mike Kirkland, project manager for the Python Elimination Program.