2016 Python Challenge registration kicks off Thursday

Competition to be held from Jan. 16 to Feb. 14, 2016

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Those who wish to participate in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's 2016 Python Challenge can begin registering on Thursday.

Participants will compete to see who can harvest the longest or most Burmese pythons to win grand prizes of $5,000 in a team category and $3,500 in the individual category.

"We are providing training opportunities to teach people how to properly identify and safely capture Burmese pythons in the wild," said FWC Commissioner "Alligator Ron" Bergeron. "Non-native species are a problem for Florida -- especially the one-of-a-kind Everglades ecosystem. The Python Challenge is empowering people to be part of the solution to this problem."

The Python Challenge begins at noon Jan. 16 and ends at 7 p.m. Feb. 14.

The first 200 people to sign up for the competition online will receive a free 2016 Python Challenge T-shirt.

All participants are required to take online training that includes a hands-on component in which they will practice handling and capturing pythons.

Anyone can sign up for in-person training, whether they are participating in the competition or not, beginning Thursday.

Click here for more information and to sign up for the Python Challenge.

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Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.