The recent discovery of a 17 foot Burmese python in the Florida swamps has again called up the problems this non-native animal is causing for the swamp ecosystems. Supposedly they allow hunting of the animal but that hasn’t dented the population much.
Would a dedicated effort to eliminate the pest via hunting be practical or effective? I know we once brought the Florida alligator to near extinction without really trying so it boggles me a little that we can’t get rid of these snakes. That’s to say nothing for countless other species we’ve managed to decimate without effort.
I know comparing the python to [other species] isn’t a direct comparison which is why I’m wondering. Is it a lack of market value for the dead animal? I can’t think of a way to enact a bounty program without someone just buying the animal from a pet store to collect on – a bounty lower than pet shop value probably wouldn’t be enough to attract hunters into the swamps.