STUART, Fla. (CBS12) — Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference in Stuart Tuesday, highlighting the state’s success in removing invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades.
Under his administration, Florida has invested nearly $8 billion in Everglades restoration and partnered with Inversa, a Miami-based company using AI technology to help hunters spot the snakes more efficiently.
The governor says python removals have tripled since May, and the effort is helping protect Florida’s wildlife and endangered species that call the Everglades home. He also pointed to increased incentives for hunters — including higher pay per snake and $2 million in this year’s budget to keep the program going.
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“They have an economic incentive to get every python out of here because they can then turn that python skin into these products that they can sell for more money,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.
The partnership uses the python skins to create fashion items like wallets, belts, and shoes — making use of what’s being removed from the wild.
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