I’m going to preface any and every derogatory comment I might make towards this event and the people that participate in it with the following: well, Indiana Jones said it best…
I hate em. The book of Genisis didn’t differentiate between “good” snake and “bad” snake. And since a serpent can be blamed for man’s biblical exile from paradise, then I will fall on the side of all snakes are bad. Which leads me to this annual, psychotic event that takes place in the Florida Everglades: The Python Challenge. And yes, registration for your participation is now open for the August 5th festivities.
Last year’s “Python Challenge” saw more than 600 people from 25 states compete for prizes like $2,500 for the most pythons captured and $1,500 for the longest snake. The first-prize winner captured 223 pythons, while the $1,500 winner bagged a snake that was more than 15 feet long. Their mothers must be so proud. <g>
The reason for this is not as savage as it appears on paper. In fact, it’s an ecological necessity. Because pythons have virtually no natural enemies in the Everglades, populations of mammals, birds, and other fellow reptiles have been severely depleted. One catch to all this tho, snakes must be killed humanely. Who and how do you judge THAT?! Anyone asking the snake?