Florida Python Hunters: February 2013

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Python Challenge Results

The Python Hunters came out on top today with a clean sweep for all the prizes in the permit holder devision. Here are the results:

Most Pythons

1st place: Ruben & George with 18

2nd place: Blake & Devin with 5

Longest Python

1st place: Blake & Devin with a 11'11"

2nd place: Ruben & George with a 10'6"

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Although this article does not include the Florida Python Hunters, it has some interesting thoughts on the Python Challenge. It is important that people understand that there are many invasive species in Florida causing great damage to Florida's ecosystem. We do our best to remove all invasive species in the most humane way possible. Check out the National Geographic News article here.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/22/120122-florida-python-hunt-opinion-science-invasive-species

Ruben Ramirez

His passion for snakes was love at first bite when a corn snake bit him when he was eight-years-old. A few years later he began snake hunting and has carried on for the past 27 years. Since then, he has become a licensed Florida python hunter and spends much of his free time removing the invasive pythons, tegus and other species from the region. His secret to his success? "Think like a snake if you want to find one." We have yet to find a road that he hasn't traveled or a territory that this South Florida native hasn't explored.

Brian Russ

He grew up playing barefoot in the woods of Central Florida. "I was the kid who had to touch everything," He says, "Now when I see an animal, I feel like I have to get a hold of it." He's always been fascinated with animals & preferred watching nature shows over cartoons as a kid. Catching lizards has now grown into wrestling alligators & pythons. Bryan has a deep knowledge of Florida's native and invasive wildlife. He loves it & enjoys passing that passion on to his children. Bryan lives in the Everglades east of Naples, FL with his wife & four "active" kids. Bryan & Blake are brothers.