Help Protect Florida’s Wildlife from Invasive Burmese Pythons, Join the Florida Fish and Wildlife Python Patrol
By Space Coast Daily // January 7, 2025
next virtual training event is scheduled Jan. 16
BREVARD COUNTY • FLORIDA — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has established the Python Patrol program, a free training initiative designed to combat the spread of invasive Burmese pythons in South Florida.
The next virtual training event is scheduled for January 16 and can be accessed HERE.
These large, nonvenomous constrictors pose a significant threat to native wildlife, particularly within the Everglades ecosystem. Python Patrol aims to create a network of individuals proficient in identifying, reporting, searching for, safely capturing, and humanely euthanizing Burmese pythons.
The program offers training workshops open to the public, requiring no prior snake-handling experience. Participants in the training learn methods to safely capture pythons, contributing to the broader effort of managing this invasive species.
The FWC encourages public involvement in python management through various initiatives, including the Python Patrol program and the Florida Python Challenge™, an annual event aimed at increasing awareness about invasive species and their threats.
In-person training opportunities are currently scheduled only as needed for groups of natural resource professionals, utility workers and law enforcement.
Groups of 12-25 participants that meet the requirement above may request an in-person training presentation, which includes hands-on safe capture opportunities. These training are offered upon request throughout south and southwest Florida.
The trainings are limited to 25 participants and last between two and three hours. Live pythons will be used to provide participants experience in handling pythons and participants will receive the opportunity to practice safe capture techniques.
Training covers information on Burmese pythons in Florida, species identification, how to search for pythons, safe capture techniques, how to humanely kill a python, reporting pythons to the FWC, live instruction on capture techniques from a biologist, hands-on practice with safe capture of live pythons
Email Pythons@MyFWC.com to schedule a training.
Closed-toed shoes and long pants are required for participants to handle live pythons. Anyone under 18 must have a parent or guardian present to participate. Anyone under the age of 12 may not participate. All trainings are free of charge, although there may be parking or access fees at certain locations.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will consider requests for training from interested groups of 12 or more people.
The public may access the Virtual Thursday option via a virtual PowerPoint presentation with an FWC biologist who will demonstrate specific search and capture techniques, with a real-time Q&A for the audience. These are offered every third Thursday of each month from 7-8 p.m. Spaces are unlimited, no registration required.
In addition to attending training workshops, individuals can report sightings of nonnative species using the free IveGot1 app, developed by The University of Georgia’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. The app is available for iPhone and Android devices and provides a quick and easy way to report sightings.
By participating in Python Patrol and utilizing reporting tools like the IveGot1 app, residents and visitors of South Florida can play a crucial role in controlling the Burmese python population and protecting the region’s native wildlife.
The next virtual training event is scheduled for January 16 and can be accessed HERE.
