Stalking the python

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  Along this canal, the C110 basin, a team of professionals including Joe Wasilewski, a wildlife biologist, his son Nick, and Michiko Squires, a wildlife technician with University of Florida, caught an 8-foot-5-inch python. The Python Challenge 2013 begins January 12 and runs for one month, with a goal of increasing public awareness about the Burmese python and how this invasive species is a threat to the Everglades ecosystem. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

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  Joe Wasilewski, left, a wildlife biologist, Michiko Squires, center, a wildlife technician for UF, and Joe's son Nick Wasilewski explore the C110 basin looking for pythons. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

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  Joe Wasilewski, left, a wildlife biologist, and Michiko Squires, a wildlife technician for UF, mark a crossing point in the canal along the C110 basin where they spent the day looking for python. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

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  A bullet-riddled sign near the C110 basin, where Joe Wasilewski, his son Nick, and Michiko Squires, a wildlife technician for UF, looked for pythons. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

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  Michiko Squires, a wildlife technician for UF, uses a stick to probe a hole along the levee, looking for pythons. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

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  Nick Wasilewski, left, his dad Joe Wasilewski, center, a wildlife biologist, and Michiko Squires, right, a wildlife technician for UF, explore the C110 basin looking for pythons. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

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  Joe Wasilewski, left, a wildlife biologist, unloads his backpack to help his son Nick, right, pull a python out of a bush. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

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  Nick Wasilewski, left, drags a python that he just caught out of the bushes while his dad, Joe Wasilewski, a wildlife biologist, is attacked by the snake. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

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  Joe Wasilewski, right, a wildlife biologist, holds the snapping head of a python his son Nick, left, caught moments earlier. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

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  Joe Wasilewski, right, wildlife biologist, holds the snapping head of a python his son Nick, left, caught moments earlier. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

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  Joe Wasilewski, right, a wildlife biologist, gets a closer look at a python his son Nick, center, caught moments earlier, while Michiko Squires, left, a wildlife technician for UF, helps steady the 8-foot-5-inch beast. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

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  Joe Wasilewski, right, his son Nick, center, and Michiko Squires, a wildlife technician for UF, hold a python Nick caught along the C110 basin in south Miami-Dade County. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

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  Joe Wasilewski, right, a wildlife biologist, holds the snapping head of a python his son Nick, center, caught moments earlier while Michiko Squires, left, a wildlife technician for UF, tries to slip it in a bag. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

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  Michiko Squires, a wildlife technician for UF, holds a python that was captured along the the C110 basin. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

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  Joe Wasilewski, right, a wildlife biologist, his son Nick, left, and Michiko Squires, center, a wildlife technician for UF, measure the python they caught along the C110 basin. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

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  Michiko Squires, a wildlife technician for UF, marks the site where they found the 8-foot-5-inch python. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

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  Three hunters from Miami, Estaban Martinez, left, his brother, Pablo Martinez and friend Giovanni Villadoniga begin their quest for a giant python on the Broward-Palm Beach county line, along a canal in the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management area. The Python Challenge 2013 is supposed to help increase the public awareness about Burmese pythons and how this invasive species are a threat to the Everglades' ecosystem. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF