WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (November 3, 2009)—Expert snake hunters snared 37 pythons in South Florida during a trial hunting season to eradicate the invasive species and officials hope to start it again next year.

State wildlife officials granted 15 permits in July to snake experts.

The program ended on Halloween.

Meanwhile, hunters are still allowed to kill the snakes in designated areas.

The number of pythons in South Florida has exploded in the past decade to potentially tens of thousands.

Scientists believe pet owners freed their snakes into the wild and think some Burmese pythons that may have escaped in 1992 from pet shops battered by Hurricane Andrew have been reproducing ever since.