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The Advertiser
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Bounties back in vogue to cull feral goats, cats, pigs
Bounty hunters may be unleashed on feral cats and goats for the first time in years as a state government looks to "novel" ways to deal with pests. NSW Premier Chris Minns on Tuesday threw his weight behind bounties, saying the state has to do better to control feral pest populations. It comes after Victoria's fox bounties wiped out more than 80,000 of the species in 2022 after hunters were rewarded between $10 to $14 per scalp. "It's about time we start thinking about novel ways of reducing the feral goat, the feral pig, the feral cat population, which has really taken over a lot of parks," Mr Minns told Triple M Coffs Coast radio. "We should be open to bounties and other things, because we've got a lot of recreational shooters out there that are actually getting rid of a lot of the pests roaming across our native vegetation. "We can be doing far better on it." Nearly $1 billion is also being spent on prevention and protection against biosecurity threats in NSW. Invasive species are the highest impact contributors of extinctions, directly endangering 70 per cent of threatened wildlife and ecosystems in the state. Cats alone have played a major role in 25 mammal extinctions, including the lesser bilby, the Invasive Species Council says. The premier highlighted the success of brumby culls in the Kosciuszko National Park, bringing the population down up to 80 per cent. NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party leader Robert Borsak in January pressed for a $2 million bounty scheme, even backing novel approaches like Florida's famed Python Challenge. The annual 10-day competition - which even spawned a TV comedy, Killing It - draws hundreds of people to the Florida Everglades to exterminate invasive Burmese pythons. Mr Borsak's proposal involves a bounty of $10 or $20 per head being set on feral animals. The CSIRO's most recent best practice advice on pest management however says bounties rarely work. Animal welfare groups oppose the practice while the Invasive Species Council compares it to "jailing the occasional dealer" in a drug epidemic. Bounty hunters may be unleashed on feral cats and goats for the first time in years as a state government looks to "novel" ways to deal with pests. NSW Premier Chris Minns on Tuesday threw his weight behind bounties, saying the state has to do better to control feral pest populations. It comes after Victoria's fox bounties wiped out more than 80,000 of the species in 2022 after hunters were rewarded between $10 to $14 per scalp. "It's about time we start thinking about novel ways of reducing the feral goat, the feral pig, the feral cat population, which has really taken over a lot of parks," Mr Minns told Triple M Coffs Coast radio. "We should be open to bounties and other things, because we've got a lot of recreational shooters out there that are actually getting rid of a lot of the pests roaming across our native vegetation. "We can be doing far better on it." Nearly $1 billion is also being spent on prevention and protection against biosecurity threats in NSW. Invasive species are the highest impact contributors of extinctions, directly endangering 70 per cent of threatened wildlife and ecosystems in the state. Cats alone have played a major role in 25 mammal extinctions, including the lesser bilby, the Invasive Species Council says. The premier highlighted the success of brumby culls in the Kosciuszko National Park, bringing the population down up to 80 per cent. NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party leader Robert Borsak in January pressed for a $2 million bounty scheme, even backing novel approaches like Florida's famed Python Challenge. The annual 10-day competition - which even spawned a TV comedy, Killing It - draws hundreds of people to the Florida Everglades to exterminate invasive Burmese pythons. Mr Borsak's proposal involves a bounty of $10 or $20 per head being set on feral animals. The CSIRO's most recent best practice advice on pest management however says bounties rarely work. Animal welfare groups oppose the practice while the Invasive Species Council compares it to "jailing the occasional dealer" in a drug epidemic. Bounty hunters may be unleashed on feral cats and goats for the first time in years as a state government looks to "novel" ways to deal with pests. NSW Premier Chris Minns on Tuesday threw his weight behind bounties, saying the state has to do better to control feral pest populations. It comes after Victoria's fox bounties wiped out more than 80,000 of the species in 2022 after hunters were rewarded between $10 to $14 per scalp. "It's about time we start thinking about novel ways of reducing the feral goat, the feral pig, the feral cat population, which has really taken over a lot of parks," Mr Minns told Triple M Coffs Coast radio. "We should be open to bounties and other things, because we've got a lot of recreational shooters out there that are actually getting rid of a lot of the pests roaming across our native vegetation. "We can be doing far better on it." Nearly $1 billion is also being spent on prevention and protection against biosecurity threats in NSW. Invasive species are the highest impact contributors of extinctions, directly endangering 70 per cent of threatened wildlife and ecosystems in the state. Cats alone have played a major role in 25 mammal extinctions, including the lesser bilby, the Invasive Species Council says. The premier highlighted the success of brumby culls in the Kosciuszko National Park, bringing the population down up to 80 per cent. NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party leader Robert Borsak in January pressed for a $2 million bounty scheme, even backing novel approaches like Florida's famed Python Challenge. The annual 10-day competition - which even spawned a TV comedy, Killing It - draws hundreds of people to the Florida Everglades to exterminate invasive Burmese pythons. Mr Borsak's proposal involves a bounty of $10 or $20 per head being set on feral animals. The CSIRO's most recent best practice advice on pest management however says bounties rarely work. Animal welfare groups oppose the practice while the Invasive Species Council compares it to "jailing the occasional dealer" in a drug epidemic. Bounty hunters may be unleashed on feral cats and goats for the first time in years as a state government looks to "novel" ways to deal with pests. NSW Premier Chris Minns on Tuesday threw his weight behind bounties, saying the state has to do better to control feral pest populations. It comes after Victoria's fox bounties wiped out more than 80,000 of the species in 2022 after hunters were rewarded between $10 to $14 per scalp. "It's about time we start thinking about novel ways of reducing the feral goat, the feral pig, the feral cat population, which has really taken over a lot of parks," Mr Minns told Triple M Coffs Coast radio. "We should be open to bounties and other things, because we've got a lot of recreational shooters out there that are actually getting rid of a lot of the pests roaming across our native vegetation. "We can be doing far better on it." Nearly $1 billion is also being spent on prevention and protection against biosecurity threats in NSW. Invasive species are the highest impact contributors of extinctions, directly endangering 70 per cent of threatened wildlife and ecosystems in the state. Cats alone have played a major role in 25 mammal extinctions, including the lesser bilby, the Invasive Species Council says. The premier highlighted the success of brumby culls in the Kosciuszko National Park, bringing the population down up to 80 per cent. NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party leader Robert Borsak in January pressed for a $2 million bounty scheme, even backing novel approaches like Florida's famed Python Challenge. The annual 10-day competition - which even spawned a TV comedy, Killing It - draws hundreds of people to the Florida Everglades to exterminate invasive Burmese pythons. Mr Borsak's proposal involves a bounty of $10 or $20 per head being set on feral animals. The CSIRO's most recent best practice advice on pest management however says bounties rarely work. Animal welfare groups oppose the practice while the Invasive Species Council compares it to "jailing the occasional dealer" in a drug epidemic.
West Australian
27-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Bounties back in vogue to cull feral goats, cats, pigs
Bounty hunters may be unleashed on feral cats and goats for the first time in years as a state government looks to "novel" ways to deal with pests. NSW Premier Chris Minns on Tuesday threw his weight behind bounties, saying the state has to do better to control feral pest populations. It comes after Victoria's fox bounties wiped out more than 80,000 of the species in 2022 after hunters were rewarded between $10 to $14 per scalp. "It's about time we start thinking about novel ways of reducing the feral goat, the feral pig, the feral cat population, which has really taken over a lot of parks," Mr Minns told Triple M Coffs Coast radio. "We should be open to bounties and other things, because we've got a lot of recreational shooters out there that are actually getting rid of a lot of the pests roaming across our native vegetation. "We can be doing far better on it." Nearly $1 billion is also being spent on prevention and protection against biosecurity threats in NSW. Invasive species are the highest impact contributors of extinctions, directly endangering 70 per cent of threatened wildlife and ecosystems in the state. Cats alone have played a major role in 25 mammal extinctions, including the lesser bilby, the Invasive Species Council says. The premier highlighted the success of brumby culls in the Kosciuszko National Park, bringing the population down up to 80 per cent. NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party leader Robert Borsak in January pressed for a $2 million bounty scheme, even backing novel approaches like Florida's famed Python Challenge. The annual 10-day competition - which even spawned a TV comedy, Killing It - draws hundreds of people to the Florida Everglades to exterminate invasive Burmese pythons. Mr Borsak's proposal involves a bounty of $10 or $20 per head being set on feral animals. The CSIRO's most recent best practice advice on pest management however says bounties rarely work. Animal welfare groups oppose the practice while the Invasive Species Council compares it to "jailing the occasional dealer" in a drug epidemic.
Perth Now
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Bounties back in vogue to cull feral goats, cats, pigs
Bounty hunters may be unleashed on feral cats and goats for the first time in years as a state government looks to "novel" ways to deal with pests. NSW Premier Chris Minns on Tuesday threw his weight behind bounties, saying the state has to do better to control feral pest populations. It comes after Victoria's fox bounties wiped out more than 80,000 of the species in 2022 after hunters were rewarded between $10 to $14 per scalp. "It's about time we start thinking about novel ways of reducing the feral goat, the feral pig, the feral cat population, which has really taken over a lot of parks," Mr Minns told Triple M Coffs Coast radio. "We should be open to bounties and other things, because we've got a lot of recreational shooters out there that are actually getting rid of a lot of the pests roaming across our native vegetation. "We can be doing far better on it." Nearly $1 billion is also being spent on prevention and protection against biosecurity threats in NSW. Invasive species are the highest impact contributors of extinctions, directly endangering 70 per cent of threatened wildlife and ecosystems in the state. Cats alone have played a major role in 25 mammal extinctions, including the lesser bilby, the Invasive Species Council says. The premier highlighted the success of brumby culls in the Kosciuszko National Park, bringing the population down up to 80 per cent. NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party leader Robert Borsak in January pressed for a $2 million bounty scheme, even backing novel approaches like Florida's famed Python Challenge. The annual 10-day competition - which even spawned a TV comedy, Killing It - draws hundreds of people to the Florida Everglades to exterminate invasive Burmese pythons. Mr Borsak's proposal involves a bounty of $10 or $20 per head being set on feral animals. The CSIRO's most recent best practice advice on pest management however says bounties rarely work. Animal welfare groups oppose the practice while the Invasive Species Council compares it to "jailing the occasional dealer" in a drug epidemic.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Florida's 2025 Python Challenge dates are set. Why the event could be key to saving the Everglades.
Florida wildlife officials are unveiling this Thursday the dates for the 2025 Florida Python Challenge, as part of a broader conservation effort to protect the Everglades from invasive Burmese pythons. The announcement, hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), was set to take place at 10 a.m. at the S-356 Pump Station off U.S. Highway 41, just west of Krome Avenue near Homestead. The event includes interviews with state experts on nonnative fish and wildlife, and a live demonstration by a biologist showcasing the safe capture of a Burmese python — the large, invasive constrictors that have caused significant ecological damage across South Florida. 2025 Florida Python Challenge kicks off in July This year, the 10-day python removal competition begins at 12:01 a.m. on July 11 and ends at 5 p.m. on July 20. Those interested in taking part can register here. Participants must follow the competition rules and specific area regulations of the eight competition locations. Python Challenge aims to raise awareness, remove invasive snakes The Florida Python Challenge, now a yearly event, includes public education and a 10-day competition in which participants attempt to capture and remove Burmese pythons from public lands. The goal is twofold: reduce the impact of the invasive species and raise public awareness about the threat these animals pose to native wildlife in the Greater Everglades ecosystem, state officials said. Florida authorities said the competition plays a crucial role in preserving Florida's natural biodiversity and gives residents an active role in environmental protection.
CBS News
04-04-2025
- General
- CBS News
Inside the hunt: How a pro has caught over 1,000 Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades
Every year, Florida hosts the " Python Challenge ." The 10-day event attracts hunters to the Everglades to help remove the invasive Burmese pythons from the local ecosystem. It is organized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in partnership with the South Florida Water Management District and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. Participants, ranging from professional snake hunters to novices, register for the event and undergo required online training to ensure safe and humane removal practices. The competition offers various prizes, including significant monetary awards, for categories such as the most pythons removed and the longest python captured. In the 2024 challenge , the person or team that killed the most pythons got $2,500, and $1,000 went to the person or team that killed the longest python. But some hunters capture the snakes year-round. Donna Kalil said she has caught over 1,000 Burmese pythons, and said she can recall exactly where she's caught each of them. "All these little blue maps are where I caught. Gives you the date, the time, the size," Kalil said as she pointed to a map on her phone with markings of where she caught pythons. And she knows how many she's missed. "I wanna say five total. Three that maybe I should have been able to catch. I had my hands on them," Kalil said. Kalil is one of a hundred python hunters contracted for the state. Year-round, she hops in her truck and combs the creeks for them. CBS News Miami and Kalil posted up on what she calls the python perch to try and find one. "I know I'm making a difference. I know every single python that's removed is making a positive difference," she said. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates there are likely tens of thousands of pythons in South Florida. Michael Kirkland of the South Florida Water Management District oversees the python elimination program, and he said he doesn't have an estimate on the population. "It's such a cryptic species and they're so well camouflaged and hard to find. Coupled with the fact that the Everglades is a very vast and relatively inaccessible area, we can't do a conventional population estimate on these species," Kirkland said. Kirkland said that because of that, he isn't certain if the program is making a dent in the population. But he said there are other ways to measure it. He said hunters are catching fewer large pythons lately, and he said the native animal populations that pythons prey on are increasing. "In some of the advanced natural areas to the park we are starting to see more marsh rabbits. Before it was zero. I'm cautiously optimistic," Kirkland said. CBS News Miami was unsuccessful in our hunt, and Kalil said she didn't catch one at all in March. She said the best thing hunters can do is try and stop the population growth at the source. "When you catch a big female full of eggs, you didn't catch one python you caught maybe 47," Kalil said. Kalil said another way that she measures the python population out here is by concluding that if she can't find one after searching out here for hours, that may mean there aren't many of them out here.
