Invasive Burmese pythons have slithered to a new location in South Florida, establishing a colony outside the previously established core range, according to wildlife officials. Historically, Burmese python populations in South Florida were centered in Everglades National Park in Miami-Dade County,

On July 10, hundreds of professional and amateur snake hunters entered the annual Florida Python Challenge, a 10-day race to remove as many of the invasive animals as possible from the Everglades. The person who bags the most snakes will earn a $10,

Florida’s fight against invasive Burmese pythons has increasingly relied on an unusual tool: cash incentives large enough to draw hunters, hobbyists and out-of-state competitors into the swamps for a shot at a payout.

"I wouldn’t suggest it because the meat has a lot of mercury."

Burmese pythons are recognizable by more than their size. Hunters should be on the lookout for a telltale, arrow-shaped marking on the snake’s head, along with giraffe-like spots across its body and dark spots around its eyes. During the summer months, they’re most likely to be found sunning on levee banks or near trees.

Researchers captured 177 invasive Burmese pythons and removed more than 4,100 eggs during a single breeding season in Southwest Florida.