Palm Beach Florida Weekly

Move over, Puppy Bowl, there’s a new show in town



Gov. Ron Desantis held a python-skin football while announcing the Python Bowl. FWC COURTESY PHOTO

Gov. Ron Desantis held a python-skin football while announcing the Python Bowl. FWC COURTESY PHOTO

The 2020 Super Bowl has a new sideshow.

In very Florida fashion, Miami-Dade County will host a Python Bowl, in conjunction with the Super Bowl, to hunt the invasive snakes in the Everglades.

Competing in the Python Bowl will be all about who can track down the longest, heaviest and most Burmese pythons. The event will start Jan. 10, when the public will be able to sign up, get training and start hunting. Miami-Dade’s Hard Rock Stadium will host the Super Bowl on Feb. 2.

“I don’t think the Miami Dolphins are going to be in this year’s Super Bowl, but hopefully the Miami Dolphins python team wins the Python Bowl and we get as many pythons out of Miami-Dade as possible,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said at a news conference with Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Clad in a suit and tie by a swamp in a Miami wildlife management area, Gov. DeSantis announced that the Python Bowl is being planned with the help of the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee.

FWC Commissioner Rodney Barreto said, “We now have a broader audience ready to learn more about the unique ecosystem of South Florida and how they can help conserve it.” COURTESY PHOTO

FWC Commissioner Rodney Barreto said, “We now have a broader audience ready to learn more about the unique ecosystem of South Florida and how they can help conserve it.” COURTESY PHOTO

Holding a python-skin football, he said the competition is intended to be a fun, competitive event to protect the Everglades from the dangerous snakes. It won’t be quite as warm and fuzzy, though, as the Puppy Bowl, which is held each year by the Animal Planet television channel to help find homes for puppies and kittens.

“The protection of our environment and natural resources is critical,” said Gov. DeSantis. “Invasive Burmese pythons have decimated local wildlife and pose a massive threat to natural food chains and flora and fauna. The 2020 Python Bowl is sure to be a great success, and I look forward to the positive effects it will have on preserving and protecting the Everglades ecosystem.

“These pythons can grow up to 20 feet in length, weigh 200 pounds, and the problem is they are not native to this area and they decimate the natural food chains and they really wreak havoc on a lot of the indigenous species,” the governor said.

“We know Gov. DeSantis and many partners have long been committed to environmental initiatives like this,” said FWC Commissioner Rodney Barreto. “With the support of the Miami Super Bowl Committee, we now have a broader audience ready to learn more about the unique ecosystem of South Florida and how they can help conserve it.”

In addition to announcing the Python Bowl, the governor also announced that python contractors would have access to 150 more miles of trails within Big Cypress National Park.

To register for the Florida Python Challenge, members of the public must first complete an online training. There are also opportunities for optional in-person trainings that include a hands-on component where the public can learn to identify pythons and practice safe handling and capturing techniques.

Anyone can sign up for in-person trainings even if they are not participating in Python Challenge. Competitors can work in teams, but all participants must register. Pythons can only be turned in under one participant’s name.

To register for the competition, sign up for training, learn more about Burmese pythons and the unique Everglades ecosystem, and find resources for planning your trip to South Florida to participate in the Python Challenge, see www.myfwc.com.

Register and compete to win one of two TRACKER Off Road 570 ATVs, which will be awarded for the most pythons. The award for the longest python is $2,000. Bass Pro Shops is providing the prizes.

Every person who turns in a python as part of the Python Challenge will be eligible for a random drawing for additional money and prizes. Active duty military personnel and veterans who register for the competition will be eligible for additional prizes.

Both pro and rookie python hunters have an opportunity to win. Prizewinners will be announced at the public awards ceremony on Jan. 25 at the Superbowl LIV event. You must be present to win.

Burmese pythons are not native to Florida and negatively impact native species. They are found primarily in and around the Everglades ecosystem in South Florida, where they prey on birds, mammals and other reptiles. A female Burmese python may lay 50 to 100 eggs at a time. As of Nov.14, there have been a total of 9,305 Burmese pythons removed from the state of Florida.

“Gov. Ron DeSantis is making a difference in restoring the Everglades and tackling Florida’s python problem,” said South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Drew Bartlett. “Along with record-setting recommendations for Everglades restoration funding, the Governor is directing more resources and putting new energy into removing these harmful pythons from the Greater Everglades Ecosystem.”

Said SFWMD Governing Board Member “Alligator Ron” Bergeron, “Gov. DeSantis’ strong commitment to Everglades restoration is remarkable. Harmful pythons disrupt the natural food chain and prey on native wildlife that depend on the Everglades. With his leadership, Florida is doing more than it ever has to remove pythons from the Everglades and protect this ecosystem for generations to come.” ¦

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