VICKSBURG, Miss. (Aug. 16, 2017) -- Dr. Jan Hoover of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center attended the Everglades Invasive Species Summit in Davie, Florida July. 26-27. Hoover, a research fisheries biologist in ERDC’s Environmental Laboratory, received training from professional python hunters on the capture of large invasive snakes.
“I should say that I did not actually “capture” the snake. The pythons were “pre-captured” for the class by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission python patrols and then held so they could be used for the hands-on training,” said Hoover. “My wife, Dena Dickerson, is a herpetologist, and we have maintained live reptiles for more than 25 years, so I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.” Dickerson is also a member of the EL research staff.