Florida’s annual Python Challenge set a new record this year, with 294 Burmese pythons removed across ten days, adding to a growing effort to curb the invasive species in the Everglades and other parts of the state. The challenge, which ran from July 11 to July 20, attracted 934 participants from 30 states and Canada and included eight official locations, such as Everglades National Park.
The top prize went to Taylor Stanberry of Naples, who hauled in 60 pythons and took home part of roughly $15,000 in prize money across the competition’s three categories: novice, professional and military. In total, about $15,000 was distributed among winners. Donna Kalil, who last year caught 19 pythons in the professional category, increased her haul to 56 this year. In the novice division, Krista Hoekstra caught the most with 14 snakes, while John Southworth led the military category with five.
Other notable records included the longest snakes caught: a novice participant, Michael Marousky, captured a python measuring 15 feet 11 inches. In the military category, Jonathan Miller reeled in a snake 11 feet 2 inches long, and Kennith Chamberland caught a professional-length python at 9 feet 8 inches.
Burmese pythons are among Florida’s most troublesome invasive species, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) continues to lead efforts to remove them from native ecosystems. The challenge is part of broader removal efforts that aim to reduce the impact of these nonvenomous constrictors on wildlife populations.
Since 2000, more than 23,500 pythons have been removed from Florida’s natural areas, with the paid Python Challenge launched in 2017 helping to boost numbers. FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto called the record a significant win for native wildlife, noting that more than 1,400 pythons have been removed during all Python Challenge events to date and over 16,000 pythons have been removed by FWC and South Florida Water Management District contractors since 2017. He emphasized that continued, collective efforts are key to addressing the threats Burmese pythons pose to Florida’s ecosystems.
What this means going forward is that ongoing, coordinated removal remains essential to protecting native species and habitats in the Everglades and surrounding areas. The challenge also highlights the important role volunteers and professionals play in wildlife management and invasive-species control.
Summary: Florida’s Python Challenge set a new record with 294 Burmese pythons removed across eight locations and a field of nearly 1,000 participants, underscoring the ongoing, collaborative effort to reduce the impact of invasive pythons on native wildlife. The event rewarded top performers across three categories and reinforced the state’s commitment to ecosystem protection through coordinated removal.