‘Swamp Queen' sets record in Python Challenge debut

USA Today

a day ago

Not only did Taylor Stanberry become the first woman to win the Florida Python Challenge, but she did it in record style while making her debut in the event.
The Python Challenge has been staged annually since 2013 as a means of raising awareness about the invasive species and removing them from the South Florida ecosystem.
This year, the 10-day competition drew 934 participants from 30 states and Canada, and they combined to remove a record 294 Burmese pythons from South Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Stanberry alone removed more than 20 percent of that total, catching a record 60 pythons to capture the $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize.
The Gulf Coast News called Stanberry the Swamp Queen in its report of the event posted on YouTube.
'This is not about trophy hunting or just killing pythons because it's fun or whatever, I actually want to save the native wildlife,' Stanberry told Gulf Coast News.
Stanberry plans to use her financial prize on growing her exotic animal sanctuary in South Florida.
'The record number of pythons removed highlights the importance of citizen engagement as we tackle one of the toughest conservation challenges of our time, invasive exotic species of animals and plants,' said Pedro Ramos, superintendent of Everglades National Park.
'By collaborating closely with our partners at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the South Florida Water Management District, we are making meaningful progress toward preserving the Everglades and its diverse wildlife for generations to come."
'Burmese pythons are not native to Florida and negatively impact native species,' the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wrote. 'They are found primarily in and around the Everglades ecosystem in south Florida, where they prey on birds, mammals and other reptiles. A female Burmese python can lay 50 to 100 eggs at a time. Since the year 2000, more than 23,000 wild Burmese pythons have been removed from the state of Florida and reported to the FWC.'
Women took five of the top seven spots in the challenge. After Stanberry's Ultimate Grand Prize, Donna Kalil received $2,500 for the most pythons taken in the professional category with 56 followed by the runner-up Hannah Gray with 22 pythons for $1,500.
Krista Hoekstra took the top prize of $2,500 in the novice category, taking 14 pythons followed by the runner-up Kymberly Clark with seven for $1,500.
In the novice division, Michael Marousky won the longest python prize of $1,000 for a 15-foot, 11-inch python he brought in.
In the military division of active duty and veterans, John Southworth (Army) won $2,500 for the most pythons with five with Matthew Jamison (Air Force) taking home $1,500 as the runner-up with three. The longest was 11 feet, 2 inches brought in by Jonathon Miller (Air Force), good for $1,000.