Florida deputies helping in Hurricane Ian recovery efforts nab invasive 14-foot Burmese Python
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), headquartered in Naples, Florida, an area hard hit and still recovering from Hurricane Ian, reported that that their deputy brethren from Jacksonville, “have been assisting us with hurricane recovery efforts and they have been a tremendous help to our deputies and the community.” And three of those Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office deputies will be returning to Northeastern Florida with a story of “hisssstoric” proportions to share with their friends.
Shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, deputies with CCSO and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to an East Naples neighborhood after a resident reported seeing a 14-foot-long invasive Burmese python in the bushes between two homes. One of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office deputies humanely euthanized the snake.
Non-native Burmese pythons have established a breeding population in South Florida. They are known to eat imperiled species such as wood storks, Key Largo woodrats, and limpkins, as well as large animals such as alligators, white-tailed deer, and bobcats. They also compete with native predators for food, habitat, and space.
The Jacksonville deputies won’t be going home with new snakeskin bands for their western-style hats. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) removed the carcass for disposal.
Earlier in October, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced that hundreds upon hundreds of the Burmese pythons have were removed from the state removed during Florida’s 2022 Florida Python Challenge.
Nearly 1,000 participants from 32 states, Canada and Latvia came together to remove hundreds of Burmese pythons from south Florida as part of the 2022 Florida Python Challenge®. Participants removed 231 invasive Burmese pythons during the 10-day competition created to increase awareness about invasive species and the threats they pose to Florida’s ecology. ~ FWC
Matthew Concepcion removed 28 Burmese pythons, winning the $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize courtesy of the Bergeron Everglades Foundation. Winning the $1,500 grand prize for the longest python removed in the competition, at a length of 11 feet, 0.24 inches, is Dustin Crum.
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(Source: CCSO and FWC)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
