For years, many people have asked why hunting invasive Burmese pythons in the Everglades isn't, for the most part, allowed. Well, now your chance is coming.</p><p>The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has organized what it calls the Python Challenge, with the goal of increasing public awareness about Burmese pythons and how they're a threat to the Everglades, including native wildlife.</p><p>For the Python Challenge, both the general public and Florida's python permit holders -- those allowed by the FWC to remove pythons from state lands -- can compete to see who can harvest the longest and most Burmese pythons.</p><p>Prizes of $1,500 for the most pythons will be awarded in both the general competition and the Python Permit Holders competition, with additional $1,000 prizes for the longest Burmese python harvested in both competitions.</p><p>The biggest Burmese python found was in August in Everglades National Park -- a 17-foot, 7-inch snake laden with 87 eggs.</p><p>A study published early this year linked the boom of pythons in the Everglades -- which likely resulted from released pets -- to a crash in populations of many bite-sized mammals like raccoons, opossums and marsh rabbits.</p><p>Florida prohibits possession or sale of Burmese pythons for use as pets, and federal law bans the importation and interstate sale of this species.</p><p>On Jan. 12, the Python Challenge kickoff will initiate a month-long program of harvesting Burmese pythons from public land, and the public can see and learn more about these large constrictors. The kickoff is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the University of Florida's Research & Education Center at 3205 College Ave. in Davie in Broward County. There will be an invasive-species open house that day.</p><p>Said Kristen Sommers, head of the FWC's Exotic Species Coordination Section, "By enlisting both the public and Florida's python permit holders in a month-long competitive harvesting of Burmese pythons, we hope to motivate more people to find and harvest these large, invasive snakes. The Python Challenge gives people a chance to sign up for a competition to see who can catch the longest or the most pythons."</p><p>She added, "We also expect the competitive harvesting of Burmese pythons to result in additional information on the python population in south Florida and enhance our research and management efforts." Complete information on the Python Challenge, including how to train and register for the competitions, is available at www.PythonChallenge.org.</p><p>Besides the FWC, Python Challenge partners include University of Florida, The Nature Conservancy, the Future of Hunting in Florida, the Wildlife Foundation of Florida and Zoo Miami.