Woman wins 2025 Florida Python Challenge as record amount of snakes removed
The 10-day competition that ran from July 11-20 resulted in a record 294 invasive pythons being removed, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said Wednesday.
Just 195 pythons were caught during last year's challenge.
A total of 934 participants from 30 states and Canada were involved in this year's hunt which included eight official locations including Everglades National Park.
The winner of the $10,000 ultimate grand prize this year was Taylor Stanberry, who removed a whopping 60 pythons.
Stanberry promotes herself as a 'venomous keeper' and 'venomous relocator' from Naples on her Instagram page.
The rest of the approximate $15,000 in prizes was divided among competitors in the contest's three categories: novice, professional and military.
Donna Kalil, who last year caught 19 pythons in the professional category, captured 56 this year.
The most pythons caught by a novice were 14 by Krista Hoekstra, while John Southworth led the military category with 5.
The longest python caught this year was 15 feet, 11 inches by a novice, Michael Marousky. The longest caught in the military category was 11 feet, 2 inches by Jonathan Miller, while the longest caught by a professional was 9 feet, 8 inches by Kennith Chamberland.
Burmese pythons are one of the state's most notorious invasive species, and the FWC has implemented several efforts to remove the large nonvenomous constrictors from our ecosystem — primarily by humanely killing them.
To incentivize their removal, Florida hosts the annual python challenges.
More than 23,500 pythons were removed from natural areas in the state of Florida between 2000 and April 2025, according to the FWC.
The amount of pythons captured and removed increased drastically once the paid challenge was launched in 2017.
'The record number of invasive pythons removed from the Everglades during this year's competition is a big win for native wildlife. With over 1,400 pythons removed during all Florida Python Challenge events to date and over 16,000 pythons removed by FWC and South Florida Water Management District contractors since 2017, collective efforts are the key to continue addressing the threats Burmese pythons pose to Florida's native wildlife and ecosystems,' FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said in a statement Wednesday.
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CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Florida woman snags $10,000 and 60 invasive snakes in record-breaking 2025 Python Challenge
When it was all said and done Wednesday, a woman emerged as the top snake slayer of the 2025 Florida Python Challenge. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced Taylor Stanberry removed 60 invasive Burmese pythons and claimed the $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize. Record haul for conservation effort The FWC announced that 934 participants from 30 states and Canada removed a record 294 pythons during the 10-day competition. This year marked the first time Everglades National Park was included among the eight official competition locations. Florida authorities said the competition plays a crucial role in preserving Florida's natural biodiversity and gives residents an active role in environmental protection. A family passion Stanberry, a Naples, Florida resident, alongside her husband, Rhett, runs a Facebook page dedicated to snakes and hunting. The couple also has a YouTube and Instagram page. Python Challenge aims to raise awareness The Florida Python Challenge, now a yearly event, includes public education. "The python, animal that can get 20 feet long and weigh 200 pounds, is destroying the natural food chain. Under the leadership of the FWC, we started the Python Challenge," Ron Bergeron, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) governing board member, said. The goal is twofold: reduce the impact of the invasive species and raise public awareness about the threat these animals pose to native wildlife in the Greater Everglades ecosystem, state officials said. "The Python Challenge is not just catching pythons. That's a part of it. It's educating the public so that when you're in the Everglades, all of the groups that recreate in the Everglades learn how to remove a python safely year-round," Bergeron said.
NBC News
3 hours ago
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Woman wins 2025 Florida Python Challenge as record amount of snakes removed
Nearly 300 Burmese pythons were removed during a record-setting Florida Python Challenge this year, state wildlife officials said. The 10-day competition that ran from July 11-20 resulted in a record 294 invasive pythons being removed, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said Wednesday. Just 195 pythons were caught during last year's challenge. A total of 934 participants from 30 states and Canada were involved in this year's hunt which included eight official locations including Everglades National Park. The winner of the $10,000 ultimate grand prize this year was Taylor Stanberry, who removed a whopping 60 pythons. Stanberry promotes herself as a 'venomous keeper' and 'venomous relocator' from Naples on her Instagram page. The rest of the approximate $15,000 in prizes was divided among competitors in the contest's three categories: novice, professional and military. Donna Kalil, who last year caught 19 pythons in the professional category, captured 56 this year. The most pythons caught by a novice were 14 by Krista Hoekstra, while John Southworth led the military category with 5. The longest python caught this year was 15 feet, 11 inches by a novice, Michael Marousky. The longest caught in the military category was 11 feet, 2 inches by Jonathan Miller, while the longest caught by a professional was 9 feet, 8 inches by Kennith Chamberland. Burmese pythons are one of the state's most notorious invasive species, and the FWC has implemented several efforts to remove the large nonvenomous constrictors from our ecosystem — primarily by humanely killing them. To incentivize their removal, Florida hosts the annual python challenges. More than 23,500 pythons were removed from natural areas in the state of Florida between 2000 and April 2025, according to the FWC. The amount of pythons captured and removed increased drastically once the paid challenge was launched in 2017. 'The record number of invasive pythons removed from the Everglades during this year's competition is a big win for native wildlife. With over 1,400 pythons removed during all Florida Python Challenge events to date and over 16,000 pythons removed by FWC and South Florida Water Management District contractors since 2017, collective efforts are the key to continue addressing the threats Burmese pythons pose to Florida's native wildlife and ecosystems,' FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said in a statement Wednesday.
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