Florida's Original Python Huntress

October 24, 2024 1:03 PM

"I’ve been chasing after snakes my whole life" In 2017, biologist Mike Kirkland was tasked with putting together a three-month pilot program for python bounty hunters [...] And so he found himself with just six weeks to assemble his team. “We started by choosing twenty-five spirited individuals from the public,” Kirkland recalls. He remembers reading Kalil’s résumé: “She had martial arts experience, she had participated in python challenges, she was a military brat, and she’d been catching snakes all her life. Even on paper, she was interesting.”

Previously in pythons: Python Action Team (2019), Florida's Python Patrol (2014), No Monty Jokes... (2008).

posted by Drosera (5 comments total)

Terrific read, and I learned stuff. Win-win!

Snakes are beautiful. When I was small I befriended a milk snake; I loved having it around my neck (a small snake and not a constrictor) and the sensation of its smooth and muscular body gently pulling the heat from my skin is a lovely, vivid memory.

It would hurt to kill one but clearly invasives must go. Kalil is amazing and is doing important work.
posted by kinnakeet at 1:56 PM on October 24 [5 favorites]

I thought they already chased him off the Cliffs of Dover for First Degree making sexist jokes in a motion picture?
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 2:29 PM on October 24 [1 favorite]

gardenandgun.com?!?!
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:44 PM on October 24 [1 favorite]

Garden and Gun is surprisingly great!
posted by Drosera at 4:55 PM on October 24

Carl Hiaasen has clearly met her, he wrote a book about her!
posted by goo at 3:44 PM on October 25 [1 favorite]