Pet-store sales of pythons were “through the roof” back then, adds Jeff Lester, a 49-year-old restaurant owner who worked as a stocker at a Miami Petland in the 1980s. If you catch a snake during the hunt, the Wildlife Commission is happy to take it from you, dead or alive, she said. Starting on April 1st, 25 people will be picked to work with the South Florida Water Management District, to go out looking for Burmese Pythons. They never chase after their targets and instead simply opt to catch them off-guard. They have poor eyesight, and stalk prey using chemical receptors in their tongues and heat-sensors along the jaws. A Hunter Shows Us How Estimates are inconclusive: There could be tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of pythons in the Everglades When the animal breathes out, the python's grip gets more and more severe. If you catch a python after the commission closes at 7 p.m., you're on your own. They lurk in a clandestine manner and when ready, swoop in on the unsuspecting prey. Burmese python hatchlings are 18” long and the longest one captured in south Florida was 18 feet 8 inches long. Tune in to learn how YOU can get … If you catch a snake during the hunt, the Wildlife Commission is happy to take it from you, dead or alive, she said. Catch a Burmese python Watch us LIVE from a Python Patrol training session with staff from our nonnative species team. Any signs of lethargy, redness around the mouth or signs of respiratory infection are indications of a snake that has not been well cared for. It’s all part of the 2016 Python Challenge announced by the Florida Wildlife Commission. To Catch A Burmese Python: A Fine Art In Florida Burmese pythons are spreading from the Everglades National Park to the Florida Keys, threatening wildlife. Burmese pythons are carnivores, surviving primarily on small mammals and birds. Any signs of lethargy, redness around the mouth or signs of respiratory infection are indications of a snake that has not been well cared for. When a Florida water agency announced a plan to hire 25 people to catch Burmese pythons last week, I immediately thought of two of the wildest guys I’ve ever met. Pythons possess a convenient adaptation that enables them to detect the body heat of nearby prey, too -- pits that are situated around their jaws. The squeezing action doesn't shatter the bones -- it just stops the breathing. Once the python no longer notices the prey animal's heartbeat, he finally removes his intense grasp -- time to eat. But the commission accepts only same-day snake delivery. A healthy Burmese python hatchling will have its unique coloring as soon as it comes out of the shell, so don't accept any snake that doesn't "look" like a Burmese. It … If you catch a python after the commission closes at 7 p.m., you're on your own.