Python Power person
A Florida woman has been crowned the winner of the state’s annual python challenge after raking in dozens of the invasive species in this year’s competition. Taylor Stanberry 29, who stands at 4 feet, 11 inches tall, won the grand prize placed first after wrangling 60 of the snakes during the 10-day competition in the Everglades, raking in a whopping $10,000 prize. “I hunted every day from sundown to sunup looking for pythons,” Stanberry told Fox News Digital. “It was tiring, but so worth it to save the native species here in Florida and to take home the title of first female Ultimate Grand Prize Winner.” This year’s competition wrangled in a record 294 invasive Burmese pythons, with over 900 participants from throughout the United States and Canada accepting the challenge in south Florida’s swamps.
Taylor is the first woman to earn first place in the competition, while also breaking the previous record for most snakes caught since it began in 2013, FWC confirmed to Fox News Digital. She also works as a contract hunter for the state. “I am honored for that title,” Taylor said. “Not only because I work hard daily to save the Everglades and the native species that call the Everglades home, but also because there are tons of other hard-working hunters out there – many of them being amazing female contractors.” Florida pays snake catchers to the Everglades in an attempt to cut down on the invasive species harming the state’s wildlife. Participants are required to trap and humanely kill each snake.
According to palm beach post, 934 people participated in this year’s 10-day hunt in South Florida where they caught 294 pythons, which is the most total snakes since the competition began in 2013. “Every invasive python removed is a win,” said Sarah Funk, non-native fish and wildlife program coordinator. One participant said that the July hunt dates coincided with new python hatchlings swarming the southern wetlands, which explains the large numbers of snakes caught by contest participants. Donna Kalil, a contract hunter for the South Florida Water Management District, caught 56 snakes during this year’s Python Challenge, which was held between July 11 and July 20. She caught 19 snakes during the 2024 contest, which was held Aug. 9 through Aug. 18. Florida hosts the annual event to rid the state of the invasive species, which has resulted in a severe decline of some of the state’s native wildlife populations. It’s estimated that the state is home to tens of thousands of Burmese pythons.
Hunting success
Two fellows were walking through the woods carrying their rifles and the game warden came up to them and asked for their hunting licenses. One fellow broke for the woods and the game warden took off after him. After a short flight the runner stopped and waited for the game warden to catch up. When he did the hunter presented his license and all was in order. The game warden asked him if he had a license, why he ran away. The hunter explained his buddy was the one that did not have a license.
I went turkey hunting recently with my new shotgun…
scared the hell out of everyone in the frozen foods section.
Gus, said Bill as he ran up to them on the way back to the camp. “Are all the rest of the boys out of the woods yet?’ “Yes, said Gus. “All six of them?” “Yes, all six of them.” “And they are all safe?” asked Bill. “They are all safe.” “Then,” said Bill, his chest swelling, “I think I shot a deer.”
On the first day of the deer hunting season, a hunter fell out of a deer stand and broke both his legs. “Why couldn’t this happen on my last day of hunting?!” the hunter cried to the doctor. “It did,” the doctor replied.
January 20th Birthdays
1991 – Ciara Hanna, 1972 – Nikki Haley, 1967 – Kellyanne Conway, 1989 – Dena Kaplan
1987 – Evan Peters, 1930 – Buzz Aldrin, 1896 – George Burns, 1956 – Bill Maher