Latest news with #2025FloridaPythonChallenge
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida's new python hunting queen makes history and catches 60 snakes
A Florida woman caught 60 snakes in the state's annual 10-day challenge to eliminate the invasive Burmese python species wreaking havoc with the Everglades ecosystem. More than 900 people participated in the 2025 Python Challenge, a 10-day hunt in the steamy South Florida heat that this year made history on two fronts with the first woman to win the grand prize and the most total snakes caught since the competition began in 2013. Taylor Stanberry, a 29-year-old Naples resident, was introduced as the 2025 Florida Python Challenge winner on Aug. 13. At 4-feet, 11-inches tall, Stanberry is taking home the grand prize of $10,000 for catching 60 snakes. She is the first woman to win the grand prize in Florida's Python Challenge. Overall, the catches were also monumental this year with 294 pythons captured – the most in the contest's history. The contest brings together amateur and professional snake-catchers to hunt within certain zones of south Florida for the pythons, which threaten the state's ecology and are found in the Everglades, preying on birds, mammals and other reptiles. Challengers must capture and humanely kill the pythons and not harm any native species. Stanberry eliminated 33 female pythons and 27 males. The longest snake she caught was just over 9 feet and weighed about 16 pounds. "Every invasive python removed is a win," said Sarah Funk, nonnative fish and wildlife program coordinator with the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission. At least one participant noted that the July dates for the hunt lined up with new hatchlings swarming the southern wetlands, which provided plenty of opportunities for hunters. Donna Kalil, a contract hunter for the South Florida Water Management District, nabbed 56 snakes during the Python Challenge between July 11 and July 20. She brought in 19 during the 2024 contest when the event was held Aug. 9 through Aug. 18. The grand prize winner last year nabbed 20 snakes. "It's all because of the timing," said Kalil, who won $2,500 this year for catching the most snakes in the professional category of the challenge. "There were a lot of little baby snakes just getting out of the nest. Some had already had a meal. They come out and are ready to eat." Burmese python breed in the late winter to early spring with females laying clutches of eggs in March or April. The incubation period lasts between 60 to 90 days. Hatchlings can be up to two feet long, which is a lot of what Kalil said she caught. Her longest snake measured 5 feet, 5 inches. Last year she brought in a 12-footer. "All I got was little guys," she said. Stanberry, of Naples, is a contract hunter with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. She said she has been hunting pythons for 10 years but this was the first year she entered the challenge. Her Facebook profile says she is a digital creator with an exotic animal sanctuary. "There are so many amazing female python hunters out there so I had some tough competition," Stanberry said after leaving the Aug. 13 FWC Commission meeting where the results were announced. Stanberry said most of her catches were babies, but she did nab one that she said was between 9.5 and 10 feet long. While this year's participation is higher than 2024, the number of hunters has fluctuated over the years from a high of nearly 1,600 in 2013 to just 600 during the early pandemic year of 2021. Participants hunted in designated areas that stretch from western Palm Beach County to the Tamiami Trail in the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area. Other management areas included in the Python Challenge are Holey Land, Rotenberger and Southern Glades. This was also the first year that Everglades National Park allowed people to hunt in the park during the challenge. What are the prizes for the Florida Python Challenge? The $10,000 grand prize is awarded to the participant who removes the most snakes as part of the competition. There are also three competition categories including professional, novice and military. Each category includes a $2,500 price for most pythons caught, $1,500 for the second-highest number of pythons caught and $1,000 for the longest python. Participants may only win one prize, so if someone wins two, the person will be awarded the prize of the highest value and the next qualifying hunter will win the remaining prize. Why hunt Burmese pythons? Florida earnestly began hunting pythons in about 2012. It was the first year of the Python Challenge and the same year a study in Everglades National Park suggested pythons were responsible for a decline of 85% to 100% of the population of medium-sized furry animals, such as raccoons and rabbits. The Burmese python invasion started with releases – intentional or not – that allowed them to gain a foothold in the park by the mid-1980s, according to the 2021 Florida Python Control plan. By 2000, multiple generations of pythons were living in the park, which is noted in a more than 100-page 2023 report that summarized decades of python research. How many pythons have been caught? More than 15,800 snakes have been removed by hunters from the South Florida Water Management District and FWC since 2019. The hunters were called the "most effective management strategy in the history of the issue" by district invasive animal biologist Mike Kirkland. Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network of Florida. She covers real estate, weather, and the environment.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Record-breaking python hunt: Florida woman wins grand prize for removing massive number of pythons
A Florida woman has won the 2025 Florida Python Challenge after removing 60 invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades, winning the grand prize of $10,000. Taylor Stanberry outperformed 934 participants from 30 U.S. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now states and Canada in a 10-day competition aimed at controlling the spread of this dangerous species. The event, held from July 11 to 20, saw a record 294 pythons removed from the wild, highlighting both the scale of the infestation and the critical role of citizen engagement in conservation. Officials described Stanberry's achievement as a major win for Florida's native wildlife. Taylor Stanberry's record-breaking python achievement Taylor Stanberry, a Naples resident and self-described 'venomous keeper' and 'relocator,' captured 60 pythons during the challenge, more than any other participant. Known as the 'new queen of the Everglades,' she demonstrated exceptional skill and patience, contributing significantly to efforts to curb the Burmese python population in Florida. Burmese pythons are highly adaptable and can lay 50–100 eggs at a time, making them a persistent threat to the Everglades' delicate ecosystem. Her accomplishment underscores how individual action can make a measurable difference in wildlife conservation and sets a high benchmark for future competitors. The Florida Python Challenge : purpose and participation The Florida Python Challenge is an annual event organized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to reduce the number of invasive pythons and raise public awareness about their impact on native ecosystems. This year, 934 participants competed across eight official locations, including Everglades National Park, to capture the most pythons within the 10-day window. Participants must complete online training and adhere to humane python-killing guidelines. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Firearms, dogs, or other animals are not permitted, emphasizing safe and responsible removal. Conservation impact and community engagement The record removal of 294 pythons in 2025 represents a milestone in ongoing conservation efforts. FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto noted, '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 continuing to address the threats Burmese pythons pose to Florida's native wildlife and ecosystems. ' Pedro Ramos, superintendent of Everglades National Park, added that the challenge highlighted the importance of citizen participation in tackling invasive species. Understanding the threat of Burmese pythons Burmese pythons are native to Southeast Asia but have become one of Florida's most notorious invasive species due to the exotic pet trade. Their rapid reproduction and adaptability threaten the natural food chain in the Everglades, impacting native species and the overall ecosystem. Since 2000, over 23,000 pythons have been removed from the wild, but the challenge continues to play a crucial role in controlling their population. The annual event educates the public about the ecological risks and encourages responsible participation in wildlife management. Other competition highlights Aside from the grand prize winner, participants competed in various categories, including the 'longest python' captured. Taylor Stanberry's success has brought additional attention to the Python Challenge, inspiring new participants and emphasizing the importance of collaboration with partners like the South Florida Water Management District and the National Park Service. The inclusion of Everglades National Park as an official competition site this year provided both a new challenge and an opportunity to raise public awareness about the ongoing threat posed by invasive Burmese pythons.
USA Today
4 days ago
- USA Today
Video shows gator chomp on invasive python, swim away with it in its jaws
Video captured by a woman riding her bike near a Florida swamp earlier this month shows one apex predator attacking another. Footage shot in the Florida Everglades shows a large alligator gliding through water with a massive Burmese python clutched in its jaws. Local media outlet WPLG-TV reported Alison Joslyn was riding her bike in the Shark Valley area on Friday, Aug, 8, when she noticed the reptiles in the water. 'I stayed and watched it for quite a while as it was struggling to eat the python,' Joslyn said, according to Storyful. Video: Gator chomps on python in Florida Everglades Florida python hunt Burmese pythons pose a threat to Florida's natural ecosystem and are considered invasive in The Sunshine State. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) frequently organizes a competition targeting Burmese pythons, which are dangerous to other animals in the Everglades. Earlier this summer, from July 11 to July 20, FWC held its annual 10-day hunt when participants removed Burmese pythons from various locations in South Florida. More than 900 people participated in the 2025 Florida Python Challenge. Contributing: Audrey Taylor Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
3 men catch monster Burmese python in Florida Everglades. Was it biggest ever captured?
Three hunters recently captured a massive Burmese python in the Florida Everglades. Zach Hoffman, Jan Gianello and Justice Sargood caught the invasive snake near Everglades City just after midnight on May 31. The constrictor was so large that Hoffman had to get a bigger tape measure. "At first we measured with a 15-foot tape measure that we had lying around, and it wasn't long enough," Hoffman said. "Then I took a measurement with a 25-foot tape. When I read the number out loud we couldn't believe it." First identified in Everglades National Park in 2000, the Burmese python may be the most destructive foreign animal in the park's history. The massive constrictors can grow to more than 18 feet and weigh over 200 pounds. Did the trio's catch break the record for the longest python ever captured? Here's what to know about the behemoth catch and the biggest pythons ever caught in Florida: Registration for the 2025 Florida Python Challenge — a 10-day event to remove invasive Burmese pythons — is open. This year's hunt runs from July 11 to July 20, Florida Fish and Wildlife announced May 15. Participants can win money prizes in several categories, including a $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize. FWC works with partners and the public to hunt and kill the snakes, including the annual Florida Python Challenge. The 2025 Florida Python Challenge starts at 12:01 a.m. July 11 and ends at 5 p.m. July 20, Florida Fish and Wildlife announced May 15. There are $25,000 in cash prizes up for grabs for this year's hunt. The top prize of $10,000 goes to the person who catches the most pythons. Those with the most catches in the Novice, Professional and Military categories win $2,500, while runners-up in each group receive $1,500, and $1,000 is awarded for the longest pythons caught. There is no established firearm season during the time of the event. The use of firearms during the competition is prohibited. Burmese pythons captured in Florida must be humanely killed. While they are not protected in Florida, anti-cruelty law still applies. Step 1: The method should result in the animal losing consciousness immediately. These tools should result in the immediate loss of consciousness: Captive bolt Firearms (not allowed in the Florida Python Challenge and otherwise subject to property-specific and local rules) or pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air guns Step 2: The animal's brain should be destroyed by 'pithing' which prevents it from regaining consciousness. The invasive snakes are distributed across more than a thousand square miles in the Everglades and southern Florida. Burmese pythons have been found across the state and are slithering north. They may even reach Georgia. At 12:30 a.m. on May 31, Zach Hoffman, Jan Gianello and Justice Sargood were on their way home from an uneventful night of python hunting when they decided to check one last spot and spotted a huge Burmese python 'laying halfway on the road, half in the ditch." Sargood grabbed the python's head and wrestled with it, while Hoffman and Gianello controlled the rest of the snake's body to keep it from coiling too tightly. ➤ 'We couldn't believe it': Giant python wrangled, caught by 3 hunters in Everglades Once they had control over the large python, it was humanely euthanized. They attempted to measure the snake with a 15-foot tape measure, but it came up short. A 25-foot tape measure did the trick, and the hunters determined the massive python to be 16 feet, 8 inches long. The hefty snake weighed 105 pounds. A group of python hunters caught the longest Burmese python ever measured on July 10, 2023, in the Big Cypress National Preserve in eastern Collier County. The monster snake was 19 feet long. The previous record was held by python hunters Ryan Ausburn and Kevin Pavlidis who captured a python measuring a whopping 18-feet 9-inches in 2020. In 2013, Jason Leon captured a then-record 18-foot python in southeastern Miami-Dade County. The massive snake weighed 128 pounds. Licensed python hunter Mike Kimmel, alone on a spoil island in the Florida Everglades, caught a 17-foot python in 2020. Conservancy of Southwest Florida biologists caught the heaviest Burmese python ever recorded in the Florida Everglades in 2022. The colossal female python weighed an eye-popping 215 pounds and was nearly 18 feet long. A 198-pound Burmese python was captured in November 2023 in the Big Cypress Preserve, making it the second-heaviest ever caught in the Sunshine State. The massive snake was 17 feet, 2 inches long. Support local journalism by subscribing to a Florida news organization. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Burmese python caught in Everglades. Is massive snake largest ever?
CBS News
15-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Florida's 2025 Python Challenge dates are set. Why the event could be key to saving the Everglades.
Florida wildlife officials are unveiling this Thursday the dates for the 2025 Florida Python Challenge, as part of a broader conservation effort to protect the Everglades from invasive Burmese pythons. The announcement, hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), was set to take place at 10 a.m. at the S-356 Pump Station off U.S. Highway 41, just west of Krome Avenue near Homestead. The event includes interviews with state experts on nonnative fish and wildlife, and a live demonstration by a biologist showcasing the safe capture of a Burmese python — the large, invasive constrictors that have caused significant ecological damage across South Florida. 2025 Florida Python Challenge kicks off in July This year, the 10-day python removal competition begins at 12:01 a.m. on July 11 and ends at 5 p.m. on July 20. Those interested in taking part can register here. Participants must follow the competition rules and specific area regulations of the eight competition locations. Python Challenge aims to raise awareness, remove invasive snakes The Florida Python Challenge, now a yearly event, includes public education and a 10-day competition in which participants attempt to capture and remove Burmese pythons from public lands. 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. Florida authorities said the competition plays a crucial role in preserving Florida's natural biodiversity and gives residents an active role in environmental protection.
