He hasn’t said that he would go out and personally wrestle to death or shoot one of those invasive pythons that are decimating Florida’s Everglades ecosystem, but Gov. Ron DeSantis is making the effort to help eradicate the problem snakes.
These snakes are illegal alien reptiles to Florida and have no natural predators, so they are thriving in "sanctuary" swamplands they are found in.
“I’m excited to announce our efforts to more aggressively tackle the problem of this invasive species and to further protect the Greater Everglades,” said Governor DeSantis. “Pythons are a threat to native wildlife and removing them is an important component of Everglades restoration.”
Here is what DeSantis is directing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to work on together to make sure that the invasive snakes are dealt with:
- Ensure python removal training programs are interchangeable.
- Share and jointly pursue research on new technology to help detect and remove pythons from the wild.
- Jointly host a Python Challenge every year as opposed to every third year.
- Develop agreements with local governments to expand access for state python removers on lands owned by local governments.
- Engage the public through a targeted education and outreach campaign that focuses on the importance of removing pythons from the Everglades.
- Create additional incentives for veterans to remove pythons.
“The Governor’s administration is actively working with the Department of Interior to increase the federal lands accessible for python removal, particularly within the Big Cypress National Preserve, which is largely inaccessible,” noted the DeSantis’ office.
