Latest news with #RodneyBarreto
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Woman Wins 2025 Florida Python Challenge After Removing More Invasive Snakes Than Anyone Else
A total of 934 participants from 30 states and Canada took part in the annual challenge this year NEED TO KNOW A woman has won the 2025 Florida Python Challenge's grand prize after removing 60 invasive snakes from the Everglades Taylor Stanberry came out victorious after competing with 934 participants from 30 states and Canada to see who could remove the most snakes from the Florida Everglades in 10 days "The record number of invasive pythons removed from the Everglades during this year's competition is a big win for native wildlife," FWC chairman Rodney Barreto said in a statement A woman who removed 60 invasive pythons from South Florida in just 10 days is now $10,000 richer. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced the winner of its annual Florida Python Challenge on Wednesday, Aug. 13, after the event removed a record 294 invasive Burmese pythons from the wild. According to the FWC, 934 participants from 30 states and Canada took part in the challenge this year. During the event, hunters attempted to remove the most pythons from the Florida Everglades in a 10-day period, which began on July 11. The grand-prize winner of this year's challenge — a state effort to decrease the number of Burmese pythons in the Everglades and minimize the reptile's threat to native wildlife — was Taylor Stanberry. According to her Instagram, she's a "venomous keeper" and "relocator" who has already been dubbed the "new queen of the Everglades." "The record number of invasive pythons removed from the Everglades during this year's competition is a big win for native wildlife," FWC chairman Rodney Barreto said in a statement. "With over 1,400 pythons removed during all Florida Python Challenge events to date and over 16,000 pythons removed by FWC and South Florida Water Management District contractors since 2017, collective efforts are the key to continuing to address the threats Burmese pythons pose to Florida's native wildlife and ecosystems." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. Pedro Ramos, superintendent of Everglades National Park, added that the challenge and record participation highlighted the "importance of citizen engagement as we tackle one of the toughest conservation challenges of our time, invasive exotic species of animals and plants." Other winners this year include hunters who caught dozens of pythons, and a prize for the "longest" snake captured. According to CBS News, the reptiles are native to Asia and likely entered the wild as a result of the exotic pet trade. Per the FWC, Burmese python females lay between 50 and 100 eggs at a time, which facilitates the rapid spread of the snakes. Since 2000, over 23,000 pythons have been captured and removed from the Everglades. To even take part in the challenge, participants were required to pass an online training, per the event's website, and had to kill the pythons humanely. The challenge did not permit the use of firearms, dogs, or other animals. "We could not have done this without the continued support and much-appreciated collaboration with our partners at the South Florida Water Management District and the National Park Service," Roger Young, FWC executive director, said in a statement. "This year's significant addition of Everglades National Park as one of our official Python Challenge competition locations provided an exciting new opportunity for competitors while helping to boost public awareness about invasive Burmese pythons and how people can help." Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Woman Wins 2025 Florida Python Challenge After Removing More Invasive Snakes Than Anyone Else
A total of 934 participants from 30 states and Canada took part in the annual challenge this year NEED TO KNOW A woman has won the 2025 Florida Python Challenge's grand prize after removing 60 invasive snakes from the Everglades Taylor Stanberry came out victorious after competing with 934 participants from 30 states and Canada to see who could remove the most snakes from the Florida Everglades in 10 days "The record number of invasive pythons removed from the Everglades during this year's competition is a big win for native wildlife," FWC chairman Rodney Barreto said in a statement A woman who removed 60 invasive pythons from South Florida in just 10 days is now $10,000 richer. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced the winner of its annual Florida Python Challenge on Wednesday, Aug. 13, after the event removed a record 294 invasive Burmese pythons from the wild. According to the FWC, 934 participants from 30 states and Canada took part in the challenge this year. During the event, hunters attempted to remove the most pythons from the Florida Everglades in a 10-day period, which began on July 11. The grand-prize winner of this year's challenge — a state effort to decrease the number of Burmese pythons in the Everglades and minimize the reptile's threat to native wildlife — was Taylor Stanberry. According to her Instagram, she's a "venomous keeper" and "relocator" who has already been dubbed the "new queen of the Everglades." "The record number of invasive pythons removed from the Everglades during this year's competition is a big win for native wildlife," FWC chairman Rodney Barreto said in a statement. "With over 1,400 pythons removed during all Florida Python Challenge events to date and over 16,000 pythons removed by FWC and South Florida Water Management District contractors since 2017, collective efforts are the key to continuing to address the threats Burmese pythons pose to Florida's native wildlife and ecosystems." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. Pedro Ramos, superintendent of Everglades National Park, added that the challenge and record participation highlighted the "importance of citizen engagement as we tackle one of the toughest conservation challenges of our time, invasive exotic species of animals and plants." Other winners this year include hunters who caught dozens of pythons, and a prize for the "longest" snake captured. According to CBS News, the reptiles are native to Asia and likely entered the wild as a result of the exotic pet trade. Per the FWC, Burmese python females lay between 50 and 100 eggs at a time, which facilitates the rapid spread of the snakes. Since 2000, over 23,000 pythons have been captured and removed from the Everglades. To even take part in the challenge, participants were required to pass an online training, per the event's website, and had to kill the pythons humanely. The challenge did not permit the use of firearms, dogs, or other animals. "We could not have done this without the continued support and much-appreciated collaboration with our partners at the South Florida Water Management District and the National Park Service," Roger Young, FWC executive director, said in a statement. "This year's significant addition of Everglades National Park as one of our official Python Challenge competition locations provided an exciting new opportunity for competitors while helping to boost public awareness about invasive Burmese pythons and how people can help." Read the original article on People
CBS News
5 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Florida's first black bear hunt in a decade approved despite strong opposition
The first black bear hunt in Florida in a decade will take place in December under a rule adopted Wednesday by state wildlife officials despite strong opposition to the eventual use of dogs and targeting the animals in baited locations. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted unanimously in favor of the plan during a meeting that drew 168 people for a public hearing in the Panhandle town of Havana, with both supporters and opposents present. The panel had given preliminary approval in May, citing a need to manage growing bear populations. "We make decisions based on science," said commission chair Rodney Barreto. Opponents called the hunt cruel, unnecessary and an excuse for hunters to bag a trophy animal when the real issue is the encroaching human population in bear habitat as Florida continues to grow. "Not all the hunters support this hunt. We'd like to see nature in balance," said Lauren Jorgensen, whose family owns a ranch in rural Suwannee County. There are an estimated 4,000 black bears in Florida, one of the few states with sizable populations that do not have a bear hunting season. Several pro-hunt speakers noted that bears are much more commonly seen in many areas than in the past, causing interactions with humans that provoke fear and concern. Ottice Amison, a member of the Franklin County Commission, said residents there report bears on porches, rooting through garbage cans, roaming neighborhoods and playgrounds. "The reality is that the frequency and severity of bear interactions continue to rise," Amison told the wildlife commission. "Right now, too many of our residents see bears as threats and pests." There has been only one documented fatal black bear attack in Florida, the May mauling of 89-year-old Robert Markel and his daughter's dog in a rural part of Collier County, in southwest Florida. The plan adopted Wednesday has more stringent rules than the previous Florida hunt in 2015, in which hunting permits were provided to anyone who could pay for them. That led to a chaotic event shut down days early after 300-plus bears were killed, including at least 38 females with cubs, meaning the young bears probably died too. Hunt opponents predict this year will be more of the same. "This decision reflects political pressure, not ecological necessity or public will," said Susannah Randolph, director of the Sierra Club Florida chapter. Under the new rule, there would be a random drawing of permits with a limit of 187. Hunters could kill only one bear each and only in certain parts of Florida where the bear population is large enough. There would be no killing of cubs and none of females with cubs, according to the FWC staff. A permit would cost $100 for Florida residents and $300 for nonresidents. For 2025, the plan is to hold the hunt from Dec. 6 to Dec. 28. In the future, the FWC foresees a bear hunt between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, subject to more studies about the effect of hunting and the population of the animals. In future years, hunters could use up to six dogs each to pursue bears. Private landowners with 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares) or more could hold what the FWC calls a "bear harvest program" on their property under the proposal. Bears could be hunted at bait feeding stations on private property. Also, bowhunting will be allowed under rules similar to those for deer.
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Florida's first black bear hunt in a decade approved despite strong opposition
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The first black bear hunt in Florida in a decade will take place in December under a rule adopted Wednesday by state wildlife officials despite strong opposition to the eventual use of dogs and targeting the animals in baited locations. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted unanimously in favor of the plan during a meeting that drew 168 people for a public hearing in the Panhandle town of Havana, with both supporters and opposents present. The panel had given preliminary approval in May, citing a need to manage growing bear populations. 'We make decisions based on science,' said commission chair Rodney Barreto. Opponents called the hunt cruel, unnecessary and an excuse for hunters to bag a trophy animal when the real issue is the encroaching human population in bear habitat as Florida continues to grow. 'Not all the hunters support this hunt. We'd like to see nature in balance,' said Lauren Jorgensen, whose family owns a ranch in rural Suwannee County. There are an estimated 4,000 black bears in Florida, one of the few states with sizable populations that do not have a bear hunting season. Several pro-hunt speakers noted that bears are much more commonly seen in many areas than in the past, causing interactions with humans that provoke fear and concern. Ottice Amison, a member of the Franklin County Commission, said residents there report bears on porches, rooting through garbage cans, roaming neighborhoods and playgrounds. 'The reality is that the frequency and severity of bear interactions continues to rise,' Amison told the wildlife commission. 'Right now, too many of our residents see bears as threats and pests.' There has been only one documented fatal black bear attack in Florida, the May mauling of 89-year-old Robert Markel and his daughter's dog in a rural part of Collier County, in southwest Florida. The plan adopted Wednesday has more stringent rules than the previous Florida hunt in 2015, in which hunting permits were provided to anyone who could pay for them. That led to a chaotic event shut down days early after 300-plus bears were killed, including at least 38 females with cubs, meaning the young bears probably died too. Hunt opponents predict this year will be more of the same. 'This decision reflects political pressure, not ecological necessity or public will,' said Susannah Randolph, director of the Sierra Club Florida chapter. Under the new rule , there would be a random drawing of permits with a limit of 187. Hunters could kill only one bear each and only in certain parts of Florida where the bear population is large enough. There would be no killing of cubs and none of females with cubs, according to the FWC staff. A permit would cost $100 for Florida residents and $300 for nonresidents. For 2025, the plan is to hold the hunt from Dec. 6 to Dec. 28. In the future, the FWC foresees a bear hunt between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, subject to more studies about the effect of hunting and the population of the animals. In future years, hunters could use up to six dogs each to pursue bears. Private landowners with 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares) or more could hold what the FWC calls a 'bear harvest program' on their property under the proposal. Bears could be hunted at bait feeding stations on private property. Also, bowhunting will be allowed under rules similar to those for deer.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Florida's first black bear hunt in a decade approved despite strong opposition
The first black bear hunt in Florida in a decade will take place in December under a rule adopted Wednesday by state wildlife officials despite strong opposition to the eventual use of dogs and targeting the animals in baited locations. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted unanimously in favor of the plan during a meeting that drew 168 people for a public hearing in the Panhandle town of Havana, with both supporters and opposents present. The panel had given preliminary approval in May, citing a need to manage growing bear populations. 'We make decisions based on science," said commission chair Rodney Barreto. Opponents called the hunt cruel, unnecessary and an excuse for hunters to bag a trophy animal when the real issue is the encroaching human population in bear habitat as Florida continues to grow. 'Not all the hunters support this hunt. We'd like to see nature in balance," said Lauren Jorgensen, whose family owns a ranch in rural Suwannee County. There are an estimated 4,000 black bears in Florida, one of the few states with sizable populations that do not have a bear hunting season. Several pro-hunt speakers noted that bears are much more commonly seen in many areas than in the past, causing interactions with humans that provoke fear and concern. Ottice Amison, a member of the Franklin County Commission, said residents there report bears on porches, rooting through garbage cans, roaming neighborhoods and playgrounds. 'The reality is that the frequency and severity of bear interactions continues to rise," Amison told the wildlife commission. 'Right now, too many of our residents see bears as threats and pests.' There has been only one documented fatal black bear attack in Florida, the May mauling of 89-year-old Robert Markel and his daughter's dog in a rural part of Collier County, in southwest Florida. The plan adopted Wednesday has more stringent rules than the previous Florida hunt in 2015, in which hunting permits were provided to anyone who could pay for them. That led to a chaotic event shut down days early after 300-plus bears were killed, including at least 38 females with cubs, meaning the young bears probably died too. Hunt opponents predict this year will be more of the same. 'This decision reflects political pressure, not ecological necessity or public will,' said Susannah Randolph, director of the Sierra Club Florida chapter. Under the new rule, there would be a random drawing of permits with a limit of 187. Hunters could kill only one bear each and only in certain parts of Florida where the bear population is large enough. There would be no killing of cubs and none of females with cubs, according to the FWC staff. A permit would cost $100 for Florida residents and $300 for nonresidents. For 2025, the plan is to hold the hunt from Dec. 6 to Dec. 28. In the future, the FWC foresees a bear hunt between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, subject to more studies about the effect of hunting and the population of the animals. In future years, hunters could use up to six dogs each to pursue bears. Private landowners with 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares) or more could hold what the FWC calls a 'bear harvest program' on their property under the proposal. Bears could be hunted at bait feeding stations on private property. Also, bowhunting will be allowed under rules similar to those for deer.
