Brick Man Wrestles Snakes In Florida's Python Challenge

EVERGLADES, FL -- Daniel Moniz is a modern-day snake charmer.

Well, sort of.

The Brick Township man has been in Florida for the last month competing in the 2016 Python Challenge -- a competition to see who can capture the most Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades.

Moniz has captured 13 of the giant constrictors -- snakes that squeeze their prey to suffocate it before eating it -- during the contest, which ran from Jan. 16 through Feb. 14.

The goal of the event, which has been held annually since 2013, is to remove Burmese pythons from the South Florida swamps because the non-native snakes are having a severe impact on the ecosystem of the Everglades, according to biologists. The snakes, which are native to South Asia, are blamed by wildlife officials for nearly wiping out the populations of several native animal species, including raccoons and rabbits.

The competition rewards the hunter or team who captures the most pythons and awards a prize for the longest python, according to the Python Challenge website. 

More than 100 Burmese pythons had been captured as of Feb. 11, according to the website. Pythons that are captured are euthanized.

Burmese pythons, which are non-venomous, can grow up to 26 feet long and have been reported in extreme south Florida since the 1980s, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. An established population is now located mainly within the bounds of Everglades National Park, the commission says. Most of the pythons removed from the Everglades are in the 8- to 10-foot range, according to the commission.

“Juvenile Burmese pythons and python eggs are eaten by a variety of animals, but when the snakes reach lengths of over 8 feet they become a top predator,” with its only enemy being the American alligator. They prey on native Florida species of mammals, birds and reptiles, as well as nonnative species including black rats. They have eaten Key Largo woodrats, a federally endangered species, the commission says.

Moniz’s longest capture was more than 13 feet long, according to posts on his Facebook page. His father, David, said they had been told Daniel was in first place near the end of the contest, but official results will not be announced until Feb. 27. Daniel is pictured with the 13-footer above. 

Daniel Moniz captured his final python on the last day of the competition and posted this video of it: