Florida offers bounty on Burmese Pythons
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The time has come to move against the invasive Burmese Pythons. Introduced by folk who bought them as pets, only to learn they get big, fast, the reptiles taking over Florida’s wetlands. The state wildlife commission is offering $1,000 to $1500 in the fight against the Burmese pythons that have colonized the Everglades.
Hunters can compete for cash prizes for catching the most Burmese pythons and catching the longest, in the state’s new Python Challenge. ( File, Sun Sentinel / December 5, 2012 )
The 2013 Python Challenge will be held next month on South Florida’s public hunting lands, with the public invited to compete for cash prizes. Winners will receive $1,000 for catching the longest snake and $1,500 for catching the most.
The event will begin Jan. 12 at the University of Florida’s Davie campus with a daylong open house on pythons and other invasive species.
“The [Florida Wildife Commission] is encouraging the public to get involved in helping us remove Burmese pythons from public lands in south Florida,” said Kristen Sommers, head of the commission’s Exotic Species Coordination Section. “By enlisting both the public and Florida’s python permit holders in a monthlong competitive harvesting of Burmese pythons, we hope to motivate more people to find and harvest these large, invasive snakes.”
Participants must take an online training course, with additional training available at the Jan. 12 event. The python must be killed in a humane manner, using a firearm or other methods outlined in the training materials. The dead pythons must be brought within 24 hours to one of three drop-off locations in Davie, Miami and Naples. For a complete list of rules, go to http://www.pythonchallenge.org.
The competition is being sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, The Nature Conservancy, The Future of Hunting in Florida, Zoo Miami and other organizations.
Missing from the list of python-hunting areas is Everglades National Park, the area with the most severe python problem, where federal law prohibits hunting.
Prizes will be awarded Feb. 16 at Zoo Miami.
Story contributions by David Fleshler, Sun Sentinel.
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Hey James when I click on Puff the Magic Dragon I get an exercise regimen. I would have enjoyed hearing you do that song, another of my favorites.
You mean the Push ups? It works OK for me, but I am helping debug a Beta version of Photobucket, so you may have uncovered a glitch.
Here’s what they claim is a direct link: http://s1181.beta.photobucket.com/user/slrman/media/Puff-1.mp4.html
Also here’s one of me lip syncing to a recording I did almost 40 years ago. http://s1181.beta.photobucket.com/user/slrman/media/Annabel.mp4.html
“..but I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.” James this is really good. I can sing but can’t play a damn thing. Always had this curious desire to play the piano but I think I’m too old to learn now…
By the way BIG Kingston Trio fan here!
It’s never too late to learn. After I had the stroke, the thing I missed the most was not being able to sing on key. But after I took up the ax again, I found I got the ability back.
The Kingston Trio was one of my earliest musical influences. I still do a lot of their stuff. So much that I have to be careful to mix it inn with other things like Ray Charles and Jerry Le Lewis to avoid becoming a “Tribute Act.”
Do you remember “Fast Freight? That is one of my best.
On Photobucket I also have a version of “Tiajuana Jail” that I have adapted for here. I call it “Paraiba Caderia”” It’s a hit at parties here. he version on Photobucket was an early effort. I have managed to insert a lot more Portuguese since then.
“He was born and raised ’round Naples ville,
A nice young snake, not the kind to kill,
But a jealous frog and a flashin’ blade,
sent him on the run to the Everglades.”
Shit James. That’s really good. Did you just come up with that?
I wish I could say yes, but it’s a modification of an old Kingston Trio song “The Everglades” that I usually play every day.
I haven’t recorded it on video yet, but here’s one I have.
http://s1181.beta.photobucket.com/user/slrman/media/FolsomPr.mp4.html
I hadn’t played for over 20 years and just started taking it up again about 4 months ago. I know I’m a long way from where I was, obut I’m only doing it for my own entertainment, s WTF, hein?