Everglades' "Python Challenge" Reaches Halfway Point
MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – More than three dozen pythons have been killed so far as hunters reach the halfway mark of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's "Python Challenge".
The FWC said Tuesday that 37 Burmese pythons have been killed in the Everglades since the competition began Jan. 12. University of Florida researchers examine each snake, hoping to learn more about the elusive species that's considered a menace to the fragile Everglades ecosystem.
No one knows for sure how many pythons live in South Florida. A tally of 37 may seem low, but researchers say that number reflects how hard it is to spot pythons in the swamps.
More than 1,000 people signed up to hunt pythons through Feb. 10 in the hopes of winning cash prizes.
(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News Service of Florida and the Associated Press contributed to this report.)
