Florida teenager captures 28 Burmese pythons to win ecology challenge prize

A South Florida teenager captured 28 Burmese pythons during a 10-day competition that was created to increase awareness about the invasive species, and the threats they pose to the state’s ecology (Lynne Sladky/AP)

A South Florida teenager captured 28 Burmese pythons during a 10-day competition that was created to increase awareness about the threats the invasive snakes pose to the state’s ecology.

Matthew Concepcion was among 1,000 participants from 32 states, Canada and Latvia who participated in the annual challenge, which removed 231 of the unwanted pythons, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.