DO NOT REMOVE SCOUT SNAKES

Scout snakes are Burmese pythons used for scientific study and are located throughout Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades and Francis S. Taylor, Holey Land, and Rotenberger WMAs during the event. Scout snakes are tracked year-round to learn about Burmese pythons movement patterns, habitat use, and behaviors. During the breeding season, scout snakes lead researchers to groups of mating pythons that are captured and removed. Scout snakes are clearly labeled with fluorescent external tags.

These snakes will count as a capture in the competition. They should not be harmed or killed.

If you capture a scout snake, take a picture of the external tag (near the head or tail) with the identification number and release the animal alive at the site of capture. To receive credit for the capture, you must submit a photograph of the tag number with capture location (GPS) and date. If the snake was found on state lands submit to pythons@ifas.ufl.edu and if it was found on federal lands submit to bicy_pythons@nps.gov. Participants do not need to measure the scout snake; the research agencies will provide the known lengths of any captured scout snakes.                                                             

• Hatchling Burmese pythons are also part of the scout snake research program.
• Hatchlings have no external tags or marks, unlike the adult scout snakes.
• Look on the body for sutures and a transmitter bulge. Scan for a PIT tag implanted along the ventral side of snakes.
• Record the capture time and location. Take the photos of the suture site and snake scale pattern, then release the hatchling where you found it.
• Send information to the research teams identified above to receive credit for the capture.
• If you accidently kill a hatchling scout snake, contact the research teams identified above to recover the transmitter and collect necropsy data.