Florida Python Hunting Contest Draws Hundreds by Barbara Liston gives a quick snapshot into the ever-growing python hunting competition that starts this Saturday. Liston’s first sentence paints a picture of what the competition will be like and what sorts of people plan to participate. According to Liston the contest is “drawing hundreds of amateurs armed with clubs, machetes, and guns.” Pythons are large snakes that are sometimes hard to picture in size, but Liston says they are a little longer than a mini-van, giving the reader something to visualize. Liston presents background information on the contest; the state wildlife agency is awarding $1,500 to the person with the most pythons and $1,000 for the longest python. Although this competition may sound silly due to the author’s initial approach, she quickly explains that it does in fact serve a purpose. Florida hopes to draw attention to the serious threat pythons are to the Everglades ecosystem. State officials also hope to discover whether such hunting contests can slow the growth of the species. Pythons originate in Southeast Asia and have no natural predators in Florida. Liston quotes some who worry about the contest’s safety; one man said he feared that “these idiots will be firing [guns] all over the place.” Others point out that participants must take a training class and will be prepared. Shawn Heflick, of National Geographic, said he believes that the swamp itself will drive away competitors after a while and that the real dangers are alligators, crocodiles, and poisonous snakes. Heflick mentioned that people are drawn to this contest for its “romantic mystique,” those attracted by dreams of adventure. Overall, the article is relatively neutral and unbiased. Liston includes quotes and information from both supporters and opponents of the contest.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/09/us-usa-python-hunt-idUSBRE9081CL20130109
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