Latest news with #MyFWC
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Florida woman captures 60 pythons to win $10,000 in record-breaking challenge
Source: X/@MyFWC In this year's Florida Python Challenge, one woman reigned supreme, snaring 60 invasive Burmese pythons and walking away with the $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize, the largest haul ever recorded in the competition. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed that the 10-day event capped off a record-breaking removal of 294 pythons, thanks to the hard work of 934 participants from 30 states and Canada. This marks the first year that Everglades National Park was listed among the eight official competition locations, expanding both the reach and visibility of the challenge. A victory for conservation and public awareness Source: X/@MyFWC Taylor Stanberry, a resident of Naples, Florida, overcame immense odds to become the top participant of the 2025 Python Challenge. The FWC announced that Stanberry removed 60 pythons, earning her the Ultimate Grand Prize of $10,000. A Naples local, Stanberry describes herself online as a 'venomous keeper' and 'venomous relocator'. FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto emphasized the impact of this year's results: 'The record number of invasive pythons removed from the Everglades during this year's competition is a big win for native wildlife.' He added that since 2017, more than 16,000 pythons have been removed by FWC and South Florida Water Management District contractors. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The Florida Python Challenge isn't just about prizes—it's also a tool for public education and habitat protection. South Florida Water Management District board member 'Alligator Ron' Bergeron shared: 'Under the leadership of the FWC, we started the Python Challenge' to combat the threat of pythons, which 'can get 20 feet long and weigh 200 pounds' and are 'destroying the natural food chain.' He also noted, 'The Python Challenge is not just catching pythons ... it's educating the public so that when you're in the Everglades ... learn how to remove a python safely year-round' According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), female Burmese pythons can lay between 50 and 100 eggs at a time, allowing them to spread rapidly. The reptiles, native to Asia, are believed to have entered the wild largely through the exotic pet trade. CBS News reports that more pythons were released into the Everglades in 1992, when Hurricane Andrew allegedly destroyed a facility holding captive pythons. FWC data shows that since 2000, more than 23,000 pythons have been captured and removed from the Everglades.
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
CCTV captures shocking Florida ferry crash which left one dead and at least 12 injured
WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT Officials say they located the driver of the private boat, which alegedly fled the scene, three hours after the collision on Sunday night Police have released dramatic CCTV footage showing the moment a boat crashed into a ferry in Florida killing at least one person and injuring dozens more in what officials called a 'mass casualty' accident. One person has died and multiple people have been injured following the catastrophic collision on Sunday evening. The boats collided in Clearwater, Florida, near the city's Memorial Causeway Bridge on Sunday April 27, the last night of the 17-day Sugar Sand Festival, when people were traveling back and forth by ferry. Local officials confirmed the ferry would have been carrying over 40 passengers and crew at the time it was struck. The boat involved quickly fled the scene after hitting the ferry, according to the Clearwater Police Department. Yesterday in a statement on X The Clearwater Police Department shared: "Along with @clearwaterfire, we're working a boat crash off the Memorial Causeway bridge that has resulted in multiple injuries. It's been declared a mass casualty incident by the fire department due to the number of injuries. All local hospitals have been notified. Multiple trauma alerts have been called with helicopters transporting two of the more seriously injured. Drivers should avoid Memorial Causeway. "The crash involved the Clearwater Ferry, which had more than 40 people on board. All of the injuries are from the ferry. The boat that struck the ferry fled the scene. The @USCG and @MyFWC will be handling the crash investigation. The ferry came to rest on a sandbar just south of the Memorial Causeway bridge. All patients and passengers have been removed from the boat." Just a few hours later they added: "One person has died from injuries in tonight's boat crash. @MyFWC will be handing the crash investigation." The latest update from Clearwater Police Department on he boat collision has included some dramatic footage. The force shared: "This video was released by the Clearwater Police Department at a news conference this afternoon related to Sunday night's boat crash that left one person dead and 10 injured on the Clearwater Ferry. The view is from a live web cam at Coachman Park that shows the park and the marina/waterfront area. @MyFWC is investigating the crash, along with the @USCG." At a Monday afternoon news conference officials said they located the driver of the private boat, which allegedly fled the scene, three hours after the collision on Sunday night. The driver was found by a partnering law enforcement agency, Clearwater police said. The driver's identity has not been released, reports MailOnline. Distressing new audio has revealed the mayday call made by crew on the Clearwater Ferry moments after the boat crash. "Mayday, mayday, mayday, there's been a boat collision! The Clearwater ferry, underneath the Clearwater Memorial Causeway. The Clearwater ferry is adrift," the controller was heard shouting as the two vessels collided. The US Coast Guard said that on-scene reports indicated that all 45 people on the ferry and all six people on the boat were accounted for. All of those injured were aboard the ferry, according to Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The person who died has not been formally identified. Clearwater Ferry said in a statement: "We are heartbroken for the person who lost their life, everyone who was hurt, and their families. We deeply appreciate the dedication of the first responders and others who rushed to help Sunday night. We are cooperating with the investigation. Safety is the top priority for PSTA and the Clearwater Ferry."
Daily Record
28-04-2025
- Daily Record
Boat crashes into ferry in Florida leaving one dead and multiple injured
One person has died and multiple others have been left injured after a ferry and a boat were involved in a catastrophic crash in Florida. The boats collided in Clearwater, near the city's Memorial Causeway Bridge, on Sunday. As reported by the Mirror , the incident happened on the last night of the 17-day Sugar Sand Festival, when many people were traveling back and forth by ferry. Local officials confirmed that, at the time it was struck, the ferry would have been carrying over 40 people. According to the Clearwater Police Department the boat involved quickly fled the scene after hitting the ferry. Videos of the response circulating on X shows a long convoy of both police and EMS officials rushing to the scene. Red and blue lights fill the sky and multiple helicopters have been seen airlifting victims to nearby hospitals. Clearwater Police Department confirmed on social media that nearby hospitals were notified and "multiple trauma alerts" were issued. Local officials have urged residents to avoid the area to allow emergency crews to operate efficiently. In a statement on X The Clearwater Police Department shared: "Along with @clearwaterfire, we're working a boat crash off the Memorial Causeway bridge that has resulted in multiple injuries. It's been declared a mass casualty incident by the fire department due to the number of injuries. "All local hospitals have been notified. Multiple trauma alerts have been called with helicopters transporting two of the more seriously injured. Drivers should avoid Memorial Causeway. " The crash involved the Clearwater Ferry, which had more than 40 people on board. All of the injuries are from the ferry. The boat that struck the ferry fled the scene."The @USCG and @MyFWC will be handling the crash investigation. The ferry came to rest on a sandbar just south of the Memorial Causeway bridge. All patients and passengers have been removed from the boat." In the latest update from police they have confirmed one person has died, writing on X: "One person has died from injuries in tonight's boat crash. @MyFWC will be handing the crash investigation." According to maritime officials speaking over a police scanner, there were "multiple red tag victims" among the injured. The term denotes a victim that has endured severe injuries but who also has a high chance for survival, according to the National Institute of Health. The City of Clearwater said police and fire services remain a the scene. The cause of the crash and the exact number of injured persons has not been confirmed by authorities.
