Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission plans to issue more python permits, as part of a population control effort on state-managed lands in South Florida, beginning Jan. 1, 2010.

Only qualified applicants will be issued the permits. Successful applicants must be a Florida resident, have a reptile of concern permit, a digital camera and a GPS unit.

Permit holders will be required to photograph and mark GPS locations where a capture is made, euthanize pythons onsite or transport live pythons to be euthanized at a location with veterinary facilities or deliver live pythons to a reptile of concern licensed recipient, photograph and describe stomach contents of the euthanized snakes and then file reports with the FWC within 36 hours of capture.

Permit holders will also be required to make five snake hunting trips per year, and visit each wildlife management area twice during the permit year.

New permits will expire on Dec. 31, 2010.

The Burmese python capture pilot program began on July 17 with 15 permits issued to professional reptile and snake handlers. Only 10 permit holders went on the prowl for the non-native pythons, and only a total of 39 snakes were captured. The python “season” came to an end on Oct. 31.

The 10 original permit holders that actually went out on a snake hunt will have their permits extended through the end of December.

Permit applications can be found MyFWC.com. Click on the Python Permit Application.pdf.