In Florida, it’s not rabbit or duck season — it’s snake season. The annual “Burmese Python Challenge,” a 10-day annual competition to kill as many invasive Burmese pythons as possible, begins Friday.
The killer of the most pythons wins $2,500, and the killer of the longest python wins $1,500. The runners-up for both of those categories win $750.
Participation in the challenge costs competitors $25 and 30 minutes of time to take a mandatory online training program.
Professional snake hunters bring a bevy of equipment to help them win the challenge, from hooks to carrying bags to lights that help hunters find the nocturnal Burmese pythons in the dark of night.