By Capt. Neal Stark
South Florida has become home to many invasive and non native species over the years and nowhere is it more evident than in the Florida Everglades. One species, the Burmese python has thrived in the environment provided by the Everglades and is wreaking havoc on the ecosystem. Once very popular as pets, these snakes made their way into Everglades National Park after being released into the wild by their owners when they became too large to keep. Some actually escaped their confines after the destruction of Hurricane Andrew. These pythons have become an apex predator and kill and eat just about anything, including deer and alligators. They also pose a threat to humans and are robbing native species of their natural food sources. In April of 2017, the South Florida Water Management District implemented a pilot program in Miami Dade county to help eliminate these snakes. In just under two months, 158 snakes were captured and killed. In June of 2017, the program was expanded to Broward and Collier counties and as of this writing, nearly 800 snakes have been eliminated.
Recently, I had the opportunity to join my friend Barry Offenburger on a snake hunt. Barry started hunting pythons as a volunteer for Everglades National Park in 2011 and is now one of the 25 professional hunters selected from 1000 applicants to participate in the South Florida Water Management District’s Python Elimination Program. Our trip began with a thirty mile drive, deep into the Everglades. As we drove, I noticed what I would call normal wildlife sightings. There were alligators, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, birds and other native species. After a while, we came to a gate that Barry had to unlock for us to gain access into the managed area where we planned to hunt. Now on dirt trails, we were getting deeper and deeper into the wilderness when Barry told me to keep my eyes open as we were getting close to an area where the pythons have made their home. Suddenly, I realized that I was seeing fewer native animals and birds. We continued heading down the trail where we came across another vehicle. It’s the Miccosukee Police, dressed in hunting attire. After checking us out, they tell us that they are also hunting the invasive species.
We continued on and came across another professional hunter who had already bagged an eight foot python. He has it in a snake bag which is basically a giant pillow case that is tied at the top and helps to keep the snake calm during transport. A short time later, Barry spots one. Though some hunters choose to kill on sight, he takes a different approach. First, he evaluated the area and planned how to catch the snake safely and humanely. He strikes forward like a snake would and grabs the python’s head to gain control and prevent it from biting him. It’s a nice 8 footer. As we moved on, I had many false sightings. You start to question what you’re seeing as they blend in so well, even to the trained eye. I was looking in dry foliage, swamps, and trees. The eye strain was unreal. Suddenly, I did a double take and there it was! A giant snake that is so big it looks like a downed tree. I called out my spotting and Barry heads over. As he approaches, I draw my “Judge”, a handgun that holds six 410 shotgun shells. It makes a great snake gun because of the pattern it creates. Barry yells out “don’t shoot it!”. I tell him it’s a giant. He identifies where the head is and grabs it. As the snake unfolds, I grab it too and it was on! It was a twelve foot Python and it was as thick as a man’s leg. It was like wrestling a large man as it pulled and thrusted its body trying to escape. It took everything we had to get control of this almost 200 pound snake, but we managed to get it in the bag!
Though there are numerous other non native and invasive species including fish, plants and other reptiles present in the Everglades, the elimination of the Burmese python should be at the top of the list as they multiply very quickly and have no natural predators to control their increasing numbers. How long before these creatures take over and start to really impact us here closer to home?
To learn more about the SFWMD’s Python Elimination Program, go to www.sfwmd.gov/our-work/python-program.