Need a few extra bucks? Maybe you can make those extra dollars hunting pythons!
The Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission is teaming up with the Everglades National Park to expand the state’s efforts to remove Burmese pythons.
By partnering, it will allow the number of python hunters in the park to triple from 40 to 120. It will also allow FWC contractors to use firearms or other humane methods of killing pythons in the wild.
“We are excited to partner with FWC on invasive species management and are certain this partnership will increase python removals within our park,” said Everglades National Park Superintendent Pedro Ramos. “We worked hard in planning this expansion to ensure it won’t harm the park and its exceptional resources.”
Burmese pythons pose a significant threat to the Everglades ecosystem.
Orientation to the program will be provided to anyone interested.
Participants will be paid $8.25/hour for surveys conducted on Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA and Everglades National Park; $15.00/hour for surveys conducted on Holey Land, Rotenberger, Big Cypress and Picayune Strand WMAs and $15/hour for responding to survey requests). Contractors also will be paid $200 for removal of each active python nest that has been field verified by FWC. For all submitted pythons, the FWC will make an additional payment per python of $50.00 for pythons measuring up to four feet, and an extra $25.00 for every foot measured above four feet.
For more information about the FWC’s Python Removal Contractor Program or Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, visit MyFWC.com/Python.
For more information about invasive Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park: https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/burmese-python.htm
For more information about python management in the Park: https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/npspythonmanagement.htm
Photos available: https://www.flickr.com/photos/myfwcmedia/sets/72157655228279454/
