You'll have a chance early next year to wrangle non-native Burmese pythons out of Everglades National Park/NPS, R Cammauf

Consider yourself a snake wrangler? Then you'll want to sign up for the 2016 Python Challenge™, a month-long effort to rid Everglades National Park of as many of the non-native Burmese pythons as possible.

The event is a follow-up to the 2013 Python Challenge™, which resulted in 68 of the snakes being captured, including one that measured more than 14 feet in length.

The event, which runs January 16-February 14, is sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Inc.

The Challenge will take place in a larger geographic area than the 2013 Python Challenge. The FWC is working in coordination with several state and federal land management agencies, including Everglades National Park, to provide access to additional public land areas during the competition.

“We look forward to expanding access into the Park and to providing more opportunities for members of the public to become approved authorized python agents," Everglades Superintendent Pedro Ramos said. "I hope that our increased participation this year will engage the public and highlight the scientific work that is being done to care for our public lands.”

Nearly 1,600 people from 38 states, the District of Columbia and Canada registered for the 2013 competition, which allowed hunting for the snakes on public lands in four state-designated wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the greater Everglades area: Everglades and Francis S. Taylor, Holey Land, Rotenberger and Big Cypress. The Big Cypress WMA includes much of the land within Big Cypress National Preserve.

Participants for the upcoming 2016 Challenge will be able to sign up as an individual competitor or as part of a team of up to five people.

“We’re launching the 2016 Python Challenge™ because Burmese pythons continue to be a significant issue in the Everglades,” said FWC Commissioner Ron Bergeron. “We hope these efforts will increase sightings and removal of pythons over the long-term in this valuable ecosystem.”

The aim of the 2016 Python Challenge™ is to promote Everglades conservation through invasive species removal, and the FWC and the Foundation are also increasing opportunities for the public to receive training so they can help. Training events will teach participants how to identify, report and then safely and humanely capture Burmese pythons.

“The Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida is proud to partner with the FWC and Everglades National Park on this exciting conservation program,” said Foundation Chairman Rodney Barreto. “If you are interested in learning more or want to help promote or sponsor the 2016 Python Challenge™, we encourage you to visit the Python Challenge website.”

Details about upcoming training events, competition rules, registration, prizes and events will be posted at PythonChallenge.org as they are finalized.

For more information on Burmese pythons and other nonnative species in Florida, go to MyFWC.com/nonnatives.