EVERGLADES NAT'L PARK, Florida (CNN) - A family got quite a shock when an uninvited guest slithered into a picnic area in Florida.

They were visiting from Arkansas and captured this snake on camera. The 17-foot Burmese python was killed by a park ranger.

In January, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will host a 2013 Python Challenge. They hope this will help control the expanding population.

A grand prize of $15,000 will go to the person who kills the most pythons and $1,000 will go to the person who kills the longest python.

Researchers say pythons have devastated rabbit, fox, opossum, and bobcat populations.