The story of 68 pythons found by hunters in the Florida Everglades is making headline news in San Francisco.
Monday’s SFGate.com is reporting the names of the winners in Florida’s 2013 “Python Challenge.”
2013 Python Challenge winners
Of the amateur competitors without the python permits, Paul Shannon of Lehigh Acres, Florida, won $1,000 for a 14-foot-3-inch snake, according to the SFGate.com story.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission named the winners over the weekend.
Of the permitted python hunters, Blake Russ of Fruitland Park, Florida, and Ruben Ramirez of Miami each won the $1,000 prize money for catching the longest Burmese python. The snakes they caught were more between 10 and 12 feet long.
The Burmese pythons can reach lengths of 18 feet and although their numbers are estimated to be in the tens of thousands, the snakes aren't easy to find even for experienced python hunters.
"It's an amazing challenge to try to come out and hunt these big snakes," hunter Dennis Jordan told CNN Miami, Florida, affiliate WSVN.
The so-called 2013 Python Challenge ran from Jan. 12 to Feb 10. The 1,600 contestants were drawn to prize money of up to $1,500.
Previous story that includes 20 slideshow photos, video of the hunt: 68 pythons found, 1,600 snake hunters in Everglades after prize money (Video) (Photos)
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