Latest news with #FloridaPythonChallenge
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Science
- Sky News AU
Florida deploys furry robot rabbits to fight invasive Burmese python overpopulation
A water management district in Florida's Everglades is using robot rabbits to help monitor and eventually eliminate its ever-growing population of invasive Burmese pythons that have wreaked havoc on native animals. The solar-powered rabbits were let loose into the Everglades shortly after the annual Florida Python Challenge, a 10-day competition that draws hundreds of eager snake wranglers to hunt the invasive reptiles. The robot bunnies, while cartoonish in appearance, are equipped with an artificial intelligence-powered camera that alerts officials with the South Florida Water Management District when they spot a python. From there, someone will be dispatched to remove the snake, according to a news release. The robots were designed to mimic real rabbits' movements and include mechanics to imitate a live one's heat signature and scent, which pythons hone in on when hunting real-life bunnies. The invasive pythons can measure as long as 18 feet in length and are capable of swallowing an entire deer whole. It's unclear how the robot rabbits may stack up against the pythons, or how many the district may lose to the reptiles' appetites. The Burmese python, a non native species to the United States, was first recorded in the Sunshine State in the 1990s. Since then, its population has skyrocketed exponentially, though officials aren't sure what the precise count is. More than 19,000 pythons have been removed from the Everglades since 2000, according to Fox Weather Service. Others have been either killed or removed during promoted events like the Florida Python Challenge. Last year's winner wiped out a staggering 20 pythons and clinched the $10,000 grand prize. The species is exempted from the state's animal protection legislation — except for the anti-cruelty law — and can be humanely killed year-round with or without a hunting permit or license, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Still, the python's domination is clear when looking at the damage other species in the Everglades have suffered. The populations of raccoons and possums, two easy prey for the gargantuan reptiles, have almost been entirely eradicated from the area, with just 1% or 2% left intact, according to a 2012 study by the United States Geological Survey. Originally published as Florida deploys furry robot rabbits to fight invasive Burmese python overpopulation
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Florida deploys furry robot rabbits to fight invasive Burmese python overpopulation
Night of the Robbits! A water management district in Florida's Everglades is using robot rabbits to help monitor and eventually eliminate its ever-growing population of invasive Burmese pythons that have wreaked havoc on native animals. The solar-powered rabbits were let loose into the Everglades shortly after the annual Florida Python Challenge, a 10-day competition that draws hundreds of eager snake wranglers to hunt the invasive reptiles. 4 The South Florida Water Management District is using robot rabbits to help stamp out the invasive Burmese python. South Florida Water Management District The robot bunnies, while cartoonish in appearance, are equipped with an artificial intelligence-powered camera that alerts officials with the South Florida Water Management District when they spot a python. From there, someone will be dispatched to remove the snake, according to a news release. The robots were designed to mimic real rabbits' movements and include mechanics to imitate a live one's heat signature and scent, which pythons hone in on when hunting real-life bunnies. 4 The robots include a replicated heat signature that matches that of a live rabbit — a common meal for pythons. South Florida Water Management District The invasive pythons can measure as long as 18 feet in length and are capable of swallowing an entire deer whole. It's unclear how the robot rabbits may stack up against the pythons, or how many the district may lose to the reptiles' appetites. The Burmese python, a non native species to the United States, was first recorded in the Sunshine State in the 1990s. Since then, its population has skyrocketed exponentially, though officials aren't sure what the precise count is. More than 19,000 pythons have been removed from the Everglades since 2000, according to Fox Weather Service. 4 The Burmese python was first recorded in Florida in the 1990s. South Florida Water Management District Others have been either killed or removed during promoted events like the Florida Python Challenge. Last year's winner wiped out a staggering 20 pythons and clinched the $10,000 grand prize. The species is exempted from the state's animal protection legislation — except for the anti-cruelty law — and can be humanely killed year-round with or without a hunting permit or license, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 4 The python has nearly eliminated the native raccoon and possum in the Everglades. South Florida Water Management District Still, the python's domination is clear when looking at the damage other species in the Everglades have suffered. The populations of raccoons and possums, two easy prey for the gargantuan reptiles, have almost been entirely eradicated from the area, with just 1% or 2% left intact, according to a 2012 study by the United States Geological Survey.
Indianapolis Star
5 days ago
- General
- Indianapolis Star
Photos show massive snakes captured in Florida Python Challenge
These hunters couldn't just slither their way out of this one! In order to win a cash prize, they had to face a snake head-on. Hailing from the U.S. and Canada, more than 900 people participated in this year's Florida Python Challenge. The annual 10-day hunt, which ran from July 11 to July 20, encouraged participants to remove invasive Burmese pythons from several locations in South Florida, according to The Palm Beach Post and Naples Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Network. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission organizes the competition targeting the invasive Burmese pythons, which pose a threat to other animals in the Florida Everglades. "The Florida Python Challenge is an exciting conservation effort which helps protect the rare Everglades habitat and the animals that live there from these invasive, nonnative snakes," according to the challenge website. The winners will receive a cash prize in the professional, novice and military categories, according to the reports. This year's winners haven't been announced yet. Contributing: The Palm Beach Post, Naples Daily News, USA TODAY Network.
USA Today
5 days ago
- General
- USA Today
Photos show massive snakes captured in Florida Python Challenge
These hunters couldn't just slither their way out of this one! In order to win a cash prize, they had to face a snake head-on. Hailing from the U.S. and Canada, more than 900 people participated in this year's Florida Python Challenge. The annual 10-day hunt, which ran from July 11 to July 20, encouraged participants to remove invasive Burmese pythons from several locations in South Florida, according to The Palm Beach Post and Naples Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Network. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission organizes the competition targeting the invasive Burmese pythons, which pose a threat to other animals in the Florida Everglades. "The Florida Python Challenge is an exciting conservation effort which helps protect the rare Everglades habitat and the animals that live there from these invasive, nonnative snakes," according to the challenge website. The winners will receive a cash prize in the professional, novice and military categories, according to the reports. This year's winners haven't been announced yet. National Parks: Yellowstone officials shut down rumors of animals leaving due to possible volcanic eruption Take a look at the Florida Python Challenge 2025 More photos from the 2025 Florida Python Challenge Contributing: The Palm Beach Post, Naples Daily News, USA TODAY Network. Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Florida Python Challenge 2025: More than 900 hunters competed for $25,000 in prizes
With Florida's annual Burmese python hunt wrapping up Sunday (July 20) at 5 p.m., the next phase of the 2025 competition will be the announcement of the winners, including the $10,000 grand prize recipient for most pythons caught. According to Lisa Thompson, spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, this year's winners will be announced "in a few weeks after all data has been processed and verified." A total of $25,000 in prize money will be distributed to winners in three categories − professional, novice and military. More: Florida python hunter describes python bite: 'Like a mouthful of hypodermic needles' How many hunters participated in the 2025 Florida Python Challenge? This year's competition started at 12:01 a.m. on July 11 at eight competition locations. Thompson said there were 933 total registered participants this year coming from two countries (U.S. and Canada). That was up from 857 participants in 2025. "And we had 30 states represented (including Florida)," Thompson said. Florida Python Challenge 2024 results. 195 pythons removed Last year, according to FWC, 195 Burmese pythons were removed. Ronald Kiger (20 Burmese pythons removed) was the 2024 Grand Prize winner. How serious is the python problem in Florida? Burmese pythons have wrought destruction in the Florida Everglades. They've contributed to the decline of small mammals including raccoons, opossums, bobcats, foxes, marsh rabbits and cottontail rabbits. A recent study revealed that Burmese pythons can eat prey much larger than previously reported. Scientists observed a Burmese python swallowing a 77-pound white-tailed deer, nearly 70 percent of the snake's mass. What is the Florida Python Challenge? The Florida Python Challenge is a ten-day competition encouraging participants to remove Burmese pythons from seven Commission-managed lands in South Florida. According to FWC, the event is held to raise public awareness about invasive species in Florida, like Burmese pythons, that are a threat to the Everglades ecosystem. Where was the 2025 Florida Python Challenge held? The Florida Python Challenge took place at these eight competition locations:Big Cypress Wildlife Management AreaEverglades National Park Florida Python Challenge 2025 prizes Along with the$10,000 top prize for the most pythons caught, this is the breakdown by category: Professional Category Most Pythons Professional Category $2,500 Most Pythons Professional Category Runner Up $1,500 Longest Python Professional Category $1,000 Novice Category Most Pythons Novice Category $2,500 Most Pythons Novice Category Runner Up $1,500 Longest Python Novice Category $1,000 Military Category Most Pythons Military Category $2,500 Most Pythons Military Category Runner Up $1,500 Longest Python Military Category $1,000 Burmese pythons in Florida must be humanely killed If you catch a Burmese python in Florida, you must humanely kill the snake where it was captured. Transporting live pythons is not allowed. Two steps must be completed to kill a python humanely: Step 1 - Target the brain: The application of the tool should immediately result in the python losing consciousness. Draw an imaginary line between each eye and opposite jawbone. The brain is located where the two lines intersect. Apply the tool to the target area (brain) to achieve an immediate loss of consciousness. Step 2- Destroy the brain: Immediately and substantially destroy the python's brain by manually 'pithing' which prevents the python from regaining consciousness. How many Burmese pythons are in Florida? "Burmese pythons are hard to find due to their cryptic coloration and secretive behaviors, and their low detection probability is a major challenge to effective python control and research," according to Florida Fish and Wildlife. However, conservative estimates by the USGS put the Burmese python population in the Florida Everglades region in the tens of thousands. Can Burmese pythons ever be removed from Florida? Because Burmese pythons are distributed across more than a thousand square miles of southern Florida, including all of Everglades National Park and across the southern coast, the chances of completely eliminating the snake from Florida is low. Controlling their numbers and preventing their spread out of the area are critical goals for conservation efforts and land managers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: How many pythons were caught in the 2025 Florida Python Challenge? Solve the daily Crossword
