{"id":630697,"date":"2024-08-13T00:49:40","date_gmt":"2024-08-12T21:49:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/veterans-use-floridas-annual-python-challenge-as-opportunity-to-heal-from-time-in-service-2\/"},"modified":"2024-08-13T00:49:40","modified_gmt":"2024-08-12T21:49:40","slug":"veterans-use-floridas-annual-python-challenge-as-opportunity-to-heal-from-time-in-service-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/veterans-use-floridas-annual-python-challenge-as-opportunity-to-heal-from-time-in-service-2\/","title":{"rendered":"#Veterans use Florida\u2019s annual Python Challenge as opportunity to heal from time in service"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a358aef18bb7\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a358aef18bb7\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/veterans-use-floridas-annual-python-challenge-as-opportunity-to-heal-from-time-in-service-2\/#Stars_stripes_and%E2%80%A6_snakes\" >Stars, stripes and\u2026 snakes?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div data-editable=\"content\" itemprop=\"articleBody\" data-reorderable=\"content\">\n<p>    <cite class=\"source__cite\"><br \/>\n      <span class=\"source__location\" data-editable=\"location\"><\/span><br \/>\n      <span class=\"source__text\" data-editable=\"source\">CNN<\/span><br \/>\n        \u00a0\u2014\u00a0<br \/>\n    <\/cite><\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzmy87qx0000356kvb3rxfyq@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            For the animals and plants native to the Florida Everglades, the removal of invasive species like the\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/myfwc.com\/wildlifehabitats\/profiles\/reptiles\/snakes\/burmese-python\/\">Burmese python<\/a>\u00a0is a tough job that someone\u2019s got to do. But for many military veterans who help out with the task, it has become an opportunity for a kind of therapy in the wild.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzkil4uk00023j6kupgcm03f@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Each August, the Florida Python Challenge invites ordinary participants coming from all over\u00a0to catch and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flpythonchallenge.org\/participate\/competition\/humane-killing-methods\/\">humanely <\/a>euthanize the rapidly repopulating reptiles introduced to the US via pet trade because they endanger the Everglades by feasting on native wildlife such as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flpythonchallenge.org\/media\/1140\/usfws_invasive_species_infographic_508.pdf\">American alligators, marsh rabbits and white-tailed deer.<\/a>\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzkim2w8000i3j6k4xqaz8fd@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The first Burmese pythons were spotted in the sunshine state in 1979, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/wildlifeflorida.org\/python-challenge-2023\/\">according to the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida, <\/a>and they have been posing a threat to the environment ever since.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzkil4ul00043j6k8tzsv7e9@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            All it takes to register for the challenge is a $25 fee and completion of an online training course, which focuses on how to identify the pythons and what the accepted killing methods are.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzkil4ul00053j6kw4o53acw@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Then, it\u2019s open season.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzkil4ul00063j6ksm7hy1nn@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            This year\u2019s challenge begins Friday at midnight and will end August 18 at 5 p.m. Going into the weekend, there were 729 competitors who had registered, challenge spokesperson Lisa Thompson told CNN.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzlxhnb0000w3j6k1h7t29us@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The contest has three categories: professional, novice and military. The competitor who wrangles the most pythons out of the overall competition wins $10,000.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzmxwr2d00073j6ks1rnx7b1@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Details about the 2024 competition were <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flgov.com\/2024\/05\/30\/lieutenant-governor-jeanette-nunez-announces-registration-is-open-for-the-2024-florida-python-challenge\/\">announced <\/a>by Florida officials in May, citing the state\u2019s \u201cunwavering dedication to Everglades restoration.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzkil4ul00073j6kwvqz9rc6@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Since the competition\u2019s 2013 launch by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Thompson said, contestants have removed 917 pythons.\n    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/clzm6hl0600053j6kgfzy1atg@published\" class=\"image image__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-name=\"DSC_5933.jpg\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image--eq-extra-small=\"\" data-original-ratio=\"0.6666666666666666\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"2400\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/dsc-5933.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\">\n<div class=\"image__container \" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image--eq-extra-small=\"\">\n       <picture class=\"image__picture\"><source height=\"1600\" width=\"2400\" media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/dsc-5933.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"1600\" width=\"2400\" media=\"(min-width: 960px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/dsc-5933.jpg?q=w_1015,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"1600\" width=\"2400\" media=\"(min-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/dsc-5933.jpg?q=w_1160,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"1600\" width=\"2400\" media=\"(max-width: 479px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/dsc-5933.jpg?q=w_680,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/dsc-5933.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill\" alt=\"A python, caught by a volunteer. The species has posed a threat to the Everglades for decades.\" class=\"image__dam-img image__dam-img--loading\" onload=\"this.classList.remove('image__dam-img--loading')\" onerror=\"imageLoadError(this)\" height=\"1600\" width=\"2400\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzkiukv1000r3j6kil3a61pr@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Participants can be subject to disqualification for inhumanely killing a python or for removing a native snake, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flpythonchallenge.org\/participate\/competition\/rules\/general-rules\/\">says the official website.<\/a> The humane way includes <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/flpythonchallenge.org\/participate\/competition\/humane-killing-methods\/\">\u201cpithing,\u201d<\/a> a method of destroying the snake\u2019s brain, so the animal doesn\u2019t suffer, in contrast to alternatives such as shooting it with a firearm.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzkil4ul00083j6koi9lksqo@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Many participants may enjoy hanging out with apex predators, but for some, it can go a bit deeper than just the thrill.\n    <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"subheader\" data-editable=\"text\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/subheader\/instances\/clzkilejk000f3j6knck0m53i@published\" data-component-name=\"subheader\" id=\"stars-stripes-and-snakes\" data-article-gutter=\"true\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Stars_stripes_and%E2%80%A6_snakes\"><\/span>\n        Stars, stripes and\u2026 snakes?<br \/>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzkil4ul000a3j6kz7nztyee@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Nobody prepares for the competition quite like the group behind <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/swampapes.org\/\">Swamp Apes,<\/a> a non-profit founded by<em> <\/em>Floridian Tom Rahill and supported by state agencies. The organization encourages \u201cpython-ing,\u201d or the act of removing pythons, among other nature initiatives to serve veterans as they re-connect with the world around them.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzkil4ul000b3j6kutxgream@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Rahill and another Swamp Apes member, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Aycock, are year-round <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/myfwc.com\/wildlifehabitats\/nonnatives\/python\/action-team\/\">\u201cpython contractors,\u201d also with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,<\/a> and are currently defending titleholders in their respective categories for the challenge: <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/VexV7fty1cLHhfCU\/\">longest python in the professional category<\/a> for Rahill and runner-up for most pythons caught in the military category for Aycock.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzkil4ul000c3j6ke70gyv1n@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The non-profit uses the challenge to help promote its mission and recruit veterans to be hired removing pythons all year long as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/myfwc.com\/wildlifehabitats\/nonnatives\/python\/action-team\/\">contractors. <\/a>Wrangling the up to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/Burmese-python\">19-foot snakes<\/a> is also a form of \u201ctherapy\u201d for the veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, disabilities or difficulties returning to a civilian lifestyle.\n    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/clzm6i1lo000a3j6kpm9qxcic@published\" class=\"image image__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-name=\"Copy-of-Python1-22-_Fabiola_-4.jpg\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image--eq-extra-small=\"\" data-original-ratio=\"0.7501172058134083\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"2133\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/copy-of-python1-22-fabiola-4.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\">\n<div class=\"image__container \" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image--eq-extra-small=\"\">\n       <picture class=\"image__picture\"><source height=\"1600\" width=\"2133\" media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/copy-of-python1-22-fabiola-4.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"1600\" width=\"2133\" media=\"(min-width: 960px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/copy-of-python1-22-fabiola-4.jpg?q=w_1015,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"1600\" width=\"2133\" media=\"(min-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/copy-of-python1-22-fabiola-4.jpg?q=w_1160,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"1600\" width=\"2133\" media=\"(max-width: 479px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/copy-of-python1-22-fabiola-4.jpg?q=w_680,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/copy-of-python1-22-fabiola-4.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill\" alt=\"Tom Rahill, left, founder of the python-catching organization Swamp Apes, holds a snake at the base of its head.\" class=\"image__dam-img image__dam-img--loading\" onload=\"this.classList.remove('image__dam-img--loading')\" onerror=\"imageLoadError(this)\" height=\"1600\" width=\"2133\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzlqe8ne00003j6kyjvd85qy@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201c(Many veterans) feel they can\u2019t contribute to society (when they return home),\u201d Aycock told CNN. \u201cAnd that\u2019s unfortunately what leads a lot of them down the path to suicide, and so for us to be able to get them out there, get them thinking right, get those endorphins flowing, get that brain working again, making them sweat a little bit\u2026 get them out there busting the swamp and getting dirty\u2026 It brings them back.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzlr4r5100053j6k5lgl16ia@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            While Rahill isn\u2019t a veteran, he is a lifelong wilderness lover and he started thinking of ways he could benefit those who had gone through multiple deployments as he listened to the experiences of his relatives during their tours in Iraq, met other veterans and dealt with the painful absence of his wife as she taught in Arkansas.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzm0mzhy001k3j6kgpshsiu5@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cI believe the Lord put it in my head that, \u2018Look, you\u2019re not thinking about your wife and your grief for missing her at 2, 3, or 4 in the morning while you\u2019ve got a 10-foot Python wr<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ed around your arm,\u2019\u201d Rahill said.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzm0s4nh001n3j6kv2q2h8sy@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            He officially founded Swamp Apes in 2017.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzlspdlr000j3j6k67d53vdm@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Aycock says the act of \u201cpython-ing\u201d is a \u201cgreat way to relieve day to day stress\u201d while simultaneously giving him a paramilitary mission to achieve post-duty.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzmr5dxe0004356kqqki82u3@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Rahill agrees.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzlr63h000073j6khdv9n2v6@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201c(Veterans are) able to utilize their military skills in catching the pythons and in addition to which, it helps them to get a sense of self again; a sense of self-pride,\u201d Rahill said, calling the program a \u201cwin-win.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/clzlvz3qi000b3j6k07zp7h5s@published\" class=\"image portrait image__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-name=\"aycock-and-detre.jpg\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image--eq-extra-small=\"\" data-original-ratio=\"1.3333333333333333\" data-original-height=\"4000\" data-original-width=\"3000\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/aycock-and-detre.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\">\n<div class=\"image__container \" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image--eq-extra-small=\"\">\n       <picture class=\"image__picture\"><source height=\"4000\" width=\"3000\" media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/aycock-and-detre.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"4000\" width=\"3000\" media=\"(min-width: 960px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/aycock-and-detre.jpg?q=w_1015,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"4000\" width=\"3000\" media=\"(min-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/aycock-and-detre.jpg?q=w_1160,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"4000\" width=\"3000\" media=\"(max-width: 479px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/aycock-and-detre.jpg?q=w_680,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/aycock-and-detre.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill\" alt=\"Aycock and soldier Joe Detre holding a 14-foot python captured by Aycock.\" class=\"image__dam-img image__dam-img--loading\" onload=\"this.classList.remove('image__dam-img--loading')\" onerror=\"imageLoadError(this)\" height=\"4000\" width=\"3000\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzlr9ib600093j6k8twxiveg@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Aycock encourages recruits to \u201cget your hands wrapped around a python and forget about your cares and worries,\u201d adding that some of them appear to be \u201cwithdrawn\u201d until they get the prized python in their arms. Once that happens, Aycock says, he sees many \u201cear to ear\u201d grins.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzlt8dnv000l3j6k12v03pw1@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Members of Swamp Apes come from all over the country and Rahill notes women veterans are welcome as well.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzltc2bj000p3j6ked6xg3q6@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            In addition to wrangling the snakes, many python enthusiasts have the \u201cside hustle\u201d of tanning python skin into hides which can be turned into belts, shoes, wallets and more. It\u2019s something Rahill plans to do more as he gets older in his barn in Lutz, Florida.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzlustev00023j6ki8oohb2y@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Aycock \u201cdidn\u2019t have time to deal with the (python) carcasses\u201d when he was on active duty but now, he can sell them for a set amount per foot.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzlthcdp000v3j6knxasf9nk@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cI\u2019m of the old philosophy \u2013 I don\u2019t kill anything if I\u2019m not going to eat it,\u201d Aycock said. \u201cObviously, I\u2019m not eating pythons (so) I kind of had to change my philosophy a little bit for this invasive species but whatever we can do to utilize that hide and make things and bring public awareness about this problem that\u2019s down here.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzm474br000e3j6kvv4g5xpv@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            He added, \u201cI\u2019d be more than happy if all the pythons disappeared tomorrow. And we didn\u2019t have to do this again and we could go concentrate on iguanas or whatever the next invasive is\u2026 But somebody\u2019s got to do it, and we like to do it.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzlto2b0000x3j6kjvbuycyn@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            As for the annual challenge, the two men will have to prepare mentally and physically. Preparation involves<strong> <\/strong>days spent loading up on water and focusing on hydration in advance to brave the hot Florida weather and being equipped with the proper clothing, gear, gloves and snake boots. The duo says the best time to remove pythons is in the middle of the night when the pythons are the most active.\n    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/clzm6nrrl000g3j6kt709qg9a@published\" class=\"image image__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-name=\"aycock-wife-and-soldiers.jpg\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image--eq-extra-small=\"\" data-original-ratio=\"0.6663333333333333\" data-original-height=\"1999\" data-original-width=\"3000\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/aycock-wife-and-soldiers.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\">\n<div class=\"image__container \" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image--eq-extra-small=\"\">\n       <picture class=\"image__picture\"><source height=\"1999\" width=\"3000\" media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/aycock-wife-and-soldiers.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"1999\" width=\"3000\" media=\"(min-width: 960px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/aycock-wife-and-soldiers.jpg?q=w_1015,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"1999\" width=\"3000\" media=\"(min-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/aycock-wife-and-soldiers.jpg?q=w_1160,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"1999\" width=\"3000\" media=\"(max-width: 479px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/aycock-wife-and-soldiers.jpg?q=w_680,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/aycock-wife-and-soldiers.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill\" alt=\"Aycock (left) says his adventures \" python-ing=\"\" with=\"\" swamp=\"\" apes=\"\" while=\"\" on=\"\" active=\"\" duty=\"\" in=\"\" homestead=\"\" florida=\"\" gave=\"\">gives him a sense of peace &#8220;I&#8217;m not thinking about how crazy the day was. I&#8217;m not thinking about the meetings that I had to do the next day.&#8221;&#8221; class=&#8221;image__dam-img image__dam-img&#8211;loading&#8221; onload=&#8217;this.classList.remove(&#8216;image__dam-img&#8211;loading&#8217;)&#8217; onerror=&#8221;imageLoadError(this)&#8221; height=&#8221;1999&#8243; width=&#8221;3000&#8243; loading=&#8217;lazy&#8217;\/&gt;<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzluaxxz00113j6khswd24rq@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Rahill will be there for the entirety of the competition, he said, noting the importance of promoting the Swamp Apes. But he, of course, will be a competitor and<strong> <\/strong>still hopes to catch plenty of snakes.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzlul20x00003j6k15kjuxfe@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cIt\u2019s like your birthday every time you see a snake\u2026 It\u2019s like your birthday and Hanukkah and Christmas and New Year\u2019s and Fourth of July,\u201d Rahill told CNN, calling the pythons \u201cbeautiful animals once you get past the fear of the snake.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzm16z1s00093j6k7nx1cfwd@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Python contractors like Rahill and Aycock pick up the cold-blooded creatures year-round, but the challenge provides a chance for their community to \u201cget together\u201d and \u201cshare stories\u201d and \u201ctips of the trade,\u201d while still putting the ecosystem first.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzlsanqu000h3j6kokrmub7a@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Rahill hopes to catch a particular snake with a head the \u201csize of a football\u201d that evaded him nearly eight years ago as it raced far out into the sawgrass with Rahill on its back, costing him a pair of Oakley sunglasses.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph-primary-core-light\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/clzlrgqw0000b3j6kzo9den05@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cThere\u2019s a snake somewhere on a levee or out on a tree island wearing my Oakleys and I want them back,\u201d Rahill said. \u201cSo, that\u2019s the goal.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/correction\/instances\/clzq3n07600003b6klj3rclra@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"correction\" class=\"correction inline-placeholder\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n  Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the year Swamp Apes was founded. It was 2017.\n<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/08\/10\/us\/florida-everglades-python-challenge-veterans\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CNN \u00a0\u2014\u00a0 For the animals and plants native to the Florida Everglades, the removal of invasive species like the\u00a0Burmese python\u00a0is a tough job that someone\u2019s got to do. But for many military veterans who help out with the task, it has become an opportunity for a kind of therapy in the wild. Each August, the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":630698,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/copy-of-20190602-192631.jpg?c=16x9&q=w_800,c_fill","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-630697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/630697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=630697"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/630697\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/630698"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=630697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=630697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=630697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}