Florida Bans Eating Invasive Pythons Amid Mercury Fears

In a move that could impact efforts to control Florida's invasive python population, the state's health department has issued a blanket advisory warning residents against consuming the snakes. The advisory, which was established last year, cites concerns over unhealthy mercury levels found in python meat.

According to the department, toxicology tests on 487 pythons revealed mercury concentrations that exceed safe limits for human consumption. As a result, the state has recommended that no one eat pythons caught in Florida, regardless of the snake's size.

However, some scientists dispute the broad nature of the advisory. Darren Rumbold, a professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, says pythons in the southwestern part of the state tend to have lower mercury levels than those found in the Everglades. He believes the health department could have taken a more targeted approach, allowing consumption of pythons from certain regions while restricting those from areas with higher mercury contamination.

The advisory is a setback for python hunting programs that were exploring ways to utilize the invasive species as a food source. Python hunters like Bayo Hernandez had been experimenting with recipes and preparing the snakes for consumption. Now, their efforts to assist in the cull of these apex predators have been complicated by the health department's recommendation.

While the advisory does not make it illegal to eat pythons, it strongly discourages the practice, potentially dampening enthusiasm for the state's annual Python Challenge and similar initiatives aimed at reducing the python population. As the debate over mercury levels continues, Florida's wildlife managers must find alternative ways to address the growing threat posed by this invasive species.