COLLIER CO, Fla.-- Starting in July, python hunters will be able to search for invasive Burmese Pythons in Everglades National Park.
Previously, hunters were limited to state property. Some estimates suggest there are tens of thousands of the pythons are in the Everglades. It's believed the snakes have eliminated 99% of the native mammals in the Everglades.
The National Park Service made the change to allow hunters into the everglades. Now the number of hunters, will triple from 40 to 120. Hunters will also be able to use firearms to eliminate pythons.
Python hunters are paid an hourly rate by the state of Florida, plus $50 for pythons measuring up to 4 feet.
For each additional foot, the hunters can get $25.
Over 1,000 snakes have been caught as a result of the python elimination program.
