Florida sanctions "Python Challenge" hunt

FLORIDA EVERGLADES- If you aren't afraid of snakes and have $25 to spare, you too can participate in the 2016 Python Challenge.

FLORIDA EVERGLADES- If you aren't afraid of snakes and have $25 to spare, you too can participate in the 2016 Python Challenge.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has sponsored the python removal competition since 2013 in an effort to reduce the population of invasive Burmese Pythons in the Florida Everglades.

The competition's website says the goal is "empowering people to take an active role in conserving the Florida Everglades through invasive species removal."

In order to compete, you must register, take an online class (including a mandatory quiz where you must score 80% or higher), and follow the rules which include where you can take pythons, how to claim their skin, and even what kinds of bags to transport live pythons in (they recommend a "closely woven, double-seamed bag that is sealed and place into a second closely woven, double-seamed bag that is sealed and then placed into a contained labeled "dangerous reptiles" at the time of capture".)

Captured pythons (dead or alive) are transported to an official Python Challenge drop-off location for weight and size.

The competition goes from January 16, 2016 to February 14th,  2016 and takes place in certain parts of the Florida Everglades.

Individual registration is $25 with a team competition carrying a $75 price tag (teams of 2-5 people). There's even an "Invasive Species Awareness Festival" that helps kick off the event.

Prizes range from $1000 for the individual capturing the longest python to $5,000 for the team that snags the most.

If you are not creeped out yet...or even if you are....take a look at the photos of pythons and previous challenge events.