Python Publicity

Well, we are a few weeks into the Python Hunt and the first thing that comes to my mind is, WOW. Over a 1000 people registered for this event and let me just say they are a special breed of individuals. During the Kick Off to this event  I got to see first hand many of the people who signed up. I don't think 99% of them have ever seen a python let alone grabbed one. There were people there with large knifes strapped to their belts; a woman in short camouflage shorts and camo rain boots; 15 year olds talking about shooting snakes with their shot guns; and some of the most backwoods people you would ever see. During the first weekend I witnessed several hunters walking along different areas armed as if WWIII was about to begin. I also saw about 200 people driving around each other to find snakes. Hey morons if one person doesn't see a snake its most likely you wont either.

These aren't even the ones that scared me the most. The worst of the bunch is the media.

The media has portrayed the pythons like they are these monsters laying on top of each other waiting to kill anyone that comes near them.This is simply not the case. The pythons do lay out in the sun to warm up but they typically only expose a small potion of their body. The rest is usually tucked into vegetation. I  say usually because there is always the case when you come across them fully exposed. Most of the time the snakes will just lay there and you can walk up and grab them. When i was still euthanizing the snakes I often thought that this is what clubbing a baby seal must be like. I have since graduated to catching them alive. Anywho. The snakes will also try to get back into the canals or burrows when approached. They will not attach unless they feel threatened. There you have it, the TRUTH.

People often question if the python is really a problem out here in the Everglades. Let me tell you that we were out hunting for several nights and only saw one opossum . No rabbits, no racoons, nothing. Very few mammals can be found out here anymore.

I have taken out a few media outlets/journalists since the hunt began. I was briefly interviewed on the Today show, I spent a few days filming with the crew from the Bass Pro Shops (cool guys), a freelance journalist for a magazine, and a freelancer from Wisconsin. The journalist spent some "quality" time with other hunters and told me some of their outlandish stories; killing pythons with bull whips, making their kids hunt pythons all night, etc, etc, etc. I have also been contact by Al Jezeera TV and a German Newspaper. I missed the boat on National Geographic though. While with these different media outlets I tried to bring a more scientific/conservation message to their stories. If that makes it in, I doubt it. I think that is why i only got about 10 seconds on the Today show. I can only try.

To date 37 pythons have been captured/euthanized. This number actually surprises me. I thought it would have been a lot less. The weather has been unseasonably warm. Even after a few "cold" snaps I didnt see any snakes. I did finally get one snake though - a 9 footer. Not a record breaker, or my longest, but it will do

Hopefully the rest of the competition continues without any incidents. With people driving around ontop of vehicles and standing on top of truck while they are moving, it is most unlikely. Im gonna keep doing my thing and add in a few chameleons along the way. 




But for right now smile pretty for the cameras.

New Year More Pythons

The new year is here and pythons still thrive in the Glades. SO as many people know the Python Challenge has been issued by the FWC. A few pythons hunters have opted out of participating in it finding it a slap in the face due to a monetary reward being granted for the person who catches the most and the longest. A few us python hunters still removed pythons to help control the population size. Others see it more as a bragging rights activity and either dont report the snakes they catch as required by their permits or lie about where they are catching snakes. We few who follow the proper procedures and actually care about the real reason we are doing this find it a bit unsafe to have 300+ people run around the Everglades for a month with guns. Besides the safety issues  there is also the concern that native snakes are going to be slaughtered.

That being said I am going to participate. I have had a few media outlets contact me and asked if i would mind having a camera follow me around and do a short interview about conservation. I also am taking with another media company that wants to do a reality show.

 I hope, if it all pans out, that i can bring  a scientific and environmental aspect to the hunt instead of showing a bunch of people acting like idiots.

Following the Crowd

My name is Nick and I am a python addict. After my fist catch (more of an assist to my python catching mentor, Bob) i was hooked. Hooked on the adrenalin. There is nothing like that initial rush of coming across a large reptile that can bite ferociously knowing you have to grab that thing. That rush has not gone away even after 20 catches.

A few of the other python hunters have created blogs and have been contacted by media so i thought i would give it try as well. To be frank (wait Im Nick) i dont catch pythons for recognition (even though it is nice). I do it to help control the population size of this top predator. I also do it to help advance science. All my catches have gone to either the Everglades National Park (ENP) or to the Florida Institute of Technology. The ENP performs necropsies and DNA analysis on the animals and the FIT was using them for their heat signature research. I am somewhat of scientist myself. Well i will be after finishing my Masters of Marine Biology.

I personally believe the pythons are here to stay in the Everglades. I think that we should just call them the Everglades Python, a subspecies of the Burmese Python.

These are beautiful creatures that got dealt a bad hand. People caused this problem and now we need to fix it or at this time control it.

In an effort to control the population size a month long Python rounded up competition was created. Beginning mid January 100+ people will be running around killing pythons ( and probably anything else they find) for cash prizes. Even though i am going to win Ill let everyone else think they have a chance. A few media outlets will be covering this event. I was asked to be followed around and I hope they do pick me. I can bring the science and love for the Everglades to the screen while still being able to provide light hearted fun at the smell of the snake musk and all the idiots that will be running around.

So I guess i am bit of a sheep trying to be like the herd when it comes to the media. But i dont think you will find any large lettering on my truck indicating I am a python hunter.