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Oopsss: Fla. Python Hunt Names Wrong Winner

The real longest snake captured was returned to the Everglades

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 18, 2013 4:19 AM CST

(Newser) – The wrong hunter nabbed some glory when Florida named the winners of its Python Challenge, reports the Miami Herald. A pair of hunters who bagged an 11 foot, 1 inch snake were the real winners of the longest-snake-captured category, but the winner was named as somebody who brought in one that measured 10 feet, 7 inches. Officials say the mix-up may have occurred because the winners' snake was tagged and released, while its shorter colleague was euthanized. But the real winner may have been the invasive pythons: After a month-long hunt involving 1,600 hunters, just 68 snakes were killed or captured out of a population believed to number in the tens of thousands.

Ruben Ramirez received an award for most pythons caught by an licensed hunter, but was also wrongly awarded the longest snake caught prize.
Ruben Ramirez received an award for most pythons caught by an licensed hunter, but was also wrongly awarded the longest snake caught prize.   (AP Photo/The Miami Herald, Peter Andrew Bosch)
A Burmese python is displayed at the python hunt awards ceremony presented by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
A Burmese python is displayed at the python hunt awards ceremony presented by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.   (AP Photo/The Miami Herald, Peter Andrew Bosch)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
AnimeOtaku
Feb 18, 2013 1:44 PM CST
I'm a Florida native and I can honestly say "Way to go,FloriDUH"!!!!! Just another day here for us.
HANKHILL
Feb 18, 2013 8:06 AM CST
what a bunch of dumbazz fubar people. now they can all go back to work at the white house!
MrStoot
Feb 18, 2013 5:58 AM CST
The larger one "caught and released WTF, thought they were trying to get rid of them 
 

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