“You want to take this one?”
“Sure,” I whispered back to her as we slowly approached the large Burmese Python which almost
appeared to be dozing off, just enjoying the beautiful night in the middle of the southern Everglades.
This was my first encounter with a python, but just one of 600+ for my hunting partner Donna Kalil, who
graciously allowed me and my 78-year-young mom to participate in her hunt.
There was some rustling in the dense bushes – mostly native cocoplum – where the bulk of this python’s
body remained hidden. Without moving her head, Donna raised a hand behind her hip and pointed.
“There’s something moving way up there in those bushes. Do you want to go in and see if there are any
male snakes? Maybe this was a mating ball.”
“Sure,” I said again, mostly unafraid. I had already rationalized through scenarios like this before we
started: Kalil is employed full-time with South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and knows
exactly what she’s doing. She’s not going to send me to my death or leave me out here to get squished
and eaten. At least, that is what I told myself over and over.
But as soon as we both moved our faces away from the python’s head to glance back at the sound that
got louder for a second, the beast made a dash for the bush line, turning her head 90 degrees to the left
and getting about 2 feet along before Donna pounced on her neck just behind the skull, dropping a knee
over the body and casually saying “go ahead and check for males, I’ve got her under control here.”
Turns out, the movement in the bushes – some 14 feet behind the head – was the python’s tail.
Distracting us so she could make her break? Maybe, but for sure she tried to take advantage of our split-
second mental diversion. I saw no other pythons in the bushes and after a few minutes Donna said, “Ok I
could use a hand here, she’s trying to find my neck.”
Kalil sometimes hunts alone, and I am very certain she could have handled this creature on her own, but
the sight of a thick section of python body slowly sliding up Kalil’s back – presumably in an attempt to
slip over her head and indeed settle around her neck – will stay with my mind’s eye for a while.
Another thing that will stick with me is that we saw not a single raccoon, opossum, rabbit, fox, or many
of the other critters I remember seeing when I used to camp down here decades ago. “Last month, I saw
an opossum for the first time in an area I hunt just south of here. Made my night, I think we might finally
be making a difference. At least I hope,” Donna told me.
Clearly, no matter how you feel about snakes, these pythons need to go.
Here’s where it gets interesting, and fun for those who are looking for a new adventure. Florida not only
wants them gone, but encourages us sportsmen and women to help. There is no season or bag limit for
Burmese Pythons, and you should kill them when encountered, so long as you are not breaking any local
laws regarding fire arms, etc. (Keep in mind, Florida has a state law that bans cruelty to animals, and
that includes invasives – so ‘humane’ dispatch techniques are important.)
These snakes are here because of the pet trade – there have been many releases of individual unwanted
snakes by pet owners over the years, but there was one particularly large influx when Hurricane Andrew
dumped a breeding facility into the wild. Bang – instant infestation.
Since then, the numbers have exploded, current estimates range from 30,000 to over 150,000 pythons.
Truth is, nobody knows.
Other types of snakes and critters have been released, but the Burmese is the number one threat mostly
because of their size. “Ball Pythons and other sub-species are released here a lot, but they just don’t
grow big enough to become fully established,” Kalil says. “Burmese are an apex, generalist predator,
meaning they will eat just about everything small enough for them to take down,” according to Kalil.
Once they get to about six feet, only a big gator can take one out, which does happen. “Basically,
whichever is bigger will win, and eat the other. This snake [the 14-footer] could take a four-foot alligator
no problem, as well as a small deer, moderate sized boar, or a full-grown bobcat.” Wading birds are
particularly vulnerable as well.
One of the more successful removal programs in Florida has been the Florida Python Challenge. FWC
hosts an excellent website that is easy to navigate and comprehensive (flpythonchallenge.org).
Originally the challenge lasted ten days in the middle of the summer - $10,000 in prize money helped
draw more than 600 hunters who removed 223 Burmese Pythons. Not to brag up my new python
hunting friend, but Kalil won the professional division with 19 pythons.
One great thing about the challenge is, anyone skilled enough to know which end of a fishing rod to hold
can hunt for pythons. The challenge website will walk you through any requirements (there is a required
training with a test, a $25 fee, and a lot of recommended education to dig through first). Now that
hunting pythons in the Everglades has become somewhat sensationalized by TV and online video
programming, there are some practical tips worth sharing so you can have a more successful and safer
trip.
“Hunter safety and respect for the wildlife are two key points to consider,” says Kalil. Interestingly, she
feels that safety has more to do with the native critters than pythons. “There are four venomous snakes
down here, if you don’t know which snake is which and you get bit by a rattler or cottonmouth, things
can go bad very fast.” If y ou are hunting during the summer, this is particularly important because you’ll
be hunting hatchlings, which could be as small as two and a half feet. Just as important, we do not want
to harm any of our native snakes. They belong here.
Should you encounter a very large Burmese, the initial moment of contact is critical for safety. “Many
people think they should drag the snake to a clearing by the tail or using a stick or something. This can
increase the chances of getting bit, or the snake escaping.” Pythons are not venomous, and they have
tiny teeth. A bite would hurt, but not kill you. However, if the snake is big, constriction is a
consideration. Kalil says this is important to be aware of, but there is a solution. “Just let it go. They
don’t recognize you as food, and they just want to get away. You might get a bite on the way out, but
they will likely leave as soon as you let go of them.”
That said, the best and most efficient way to subdue a python of any size is to approach it from behind,
move towards the head then quickly and firmly grab it right behind the head. “Too far back and they can
turn and bite your wrist. Too far forward and they can slip out and escape.” They can move surprisingly
fast when startled or angered, but if they are on the ground and you can get up on them without scaring
them first, you have a great shot at subduing even the largest python without much drama.
Not a lot of equipment is required. “A partner should be considered your number-one safety equipment.
Should a snake start wrapping itself around you, a partner can usually unwrap it without any problem.”
This time of year, hunting is done primarily at night (day hunts are more common during the winter
months) so bring your fully charged spotlights. Close toed shoes, bug spray and water are strongly
recommended. Gloves are optional, as are ‘snake sticks’ – which can be particularly helpful when trying
to look through tall grass. Kalil uses a long, sturdy broom handle and secured to the end is a curved hook that looks like what I use to hang my bicycle in the garage.
The hunting areas for the challenge are clearly marked on the website. Participants can carefully hunt
along the roads in within the boundaries (“Watch out for traffic – an oncoming semi is far more
dangerous than any python you’ll see out here,” Kalil points out), or any levy or trail that is open to the
public. If you can bring a skiff, airboat, kayak or canoe, great. “The islands along the roads and levys are
areas we contracted hunters can’t get to, so by all means use a boat.”
Python hunting is not for everyone. “I don’t think I’d mess with one of those things, but I guess I am glad
you are doing it,” one friend told me when I shared a photo. My daughter Ava, however, had the
opposite response. “I need to go.” So, a couple months after taking my mom, I once again went along
with Kalil, this time with Ava. Fashion model by day, she’s been my number one fishing buddy since she
said her first word (‘fish’). Not 30 minutes into our hunt, we spotted one from the top of the truck. Kalil
walked up on it first and gave Ava an out. “Ummm, this one is a lot bigger than I thought, you might not
want this to be your first-ever python. She knows we’re here; this might not be easy.”
“I’ll be all right,” Ava replied as she eased around to the tail end. I watched from a few feet away as she
steadily crept forward, crouching closer to the ground as she moved along, until she was just a couple
feet from the head. Suddenly her right arm stabbed down at the snake’s neck and for an instant she
looked as graceful and confident as a great white heron casually snatching a mullet. In the blink of an
eye, she was standing straight and moving a very large python to the top of the levy as though it was an
everyday occurrence, Kalil swooped up the tail and beamed “That was perfect,” and the beast was in the
truck within minutes. Turns out she was over 11 feet and carried 31 eggs.
Kalil was very excited – not for Ava’s python, but because we saw a raccoon AND an opossum (and a cat,
and a bunch of other things you just can’t see, hear or smell sitting at home). “It really gives me hope.
We might be turning the tide, but we can’t let up.”
Kalil is a fan of all snakes, including pythons. She just understands just how devastating they have been
to our precious Everglades and knows they just can’t be here. She supports the idea of the public
intruding on her hunting grounds, so long as we are respectful to all of the wildlife. “We humans created
this mistake. It seems fitting that we get out here and fix it.”
Although not in the midst of Florida Python Challenge season at the moment, you can find out more information about what it entails in the link below. As of late, it has run for a 10 day window sometime late July- early August. If you participate, you're doing the ecosystem and all who enjoy it a great service down in the Everglades. Happy Hunting!
Florida Python Challenge - Python Challenge
