It’s open season on Burmese Pythons. Starting this week anyone with a Florida hunting license and 26 dollars can register with the state to kill the snakes. The war to rid the state of non-native reptiles is being fought on two fronts: in the wild, and at the state capitol.

Since last August a team of about a dozen hunters began tracking down Burmese pythons, recording their age, size and location… then killing the reptiles. Now, anyone with a hunting license, a management land permit and a gun can join the fight.

Tony Young expressed the hopes of many.

“We hope they can bag as many as they can see.”

Florida Fish and Wildlife is opening up three state managed lands in South Florida to eager hunters. So far more than 60 have shown interest. The snake meat is too toxic to eat, but FWC Spokesman Tony Young says the hunters can cash in on their kill.

“Just like alligator and crocodile products, python skin and hide makes very good products like that; boots, belts, wallets, shoes.

The hunt began Monday. And this might be the best time to hunt snakes because the cooler weather is bringing the pythons out of hiding and into the open to warm their bodies in the sun.

The hunt lasts until April 17th but state senator Eleanor Sobel says with thousands of snakes threatening the ecosystem more needs to be done.

“Hunting is one tool in the tool box, but we really need to turn off the spicket.”

Sobel is sponsoring legislation to ban buying selling or owning Burmese pythons and five other reptiles the state has identified as reptiles of concern.

If the legislation passes the ban would go into effect July 1st. People who bought and registered one of the reptiles of concern before then would be allowed to keep their pets. For more information on the hunt go to www.myfwc.com/roc or call 866-392-4286.