Tonight at midnight hunters will head into the Florida Everglades for the 10 day 2026 Florida Python Challenge. Up for grabs is a share of $25,000 in prizes, including a grand prize $10,000 for the person to whom removes the most invasive snakes.
Last year there were over 900 professional and novice participants searching for the Burmese Pythons that have seemed to have taken over the Everglades.
Growing up in Florida, we used to hear birds, see small animals like rabbits, possums, raccoons, mice, and even larger animals like deer, but no more.
The exotic pet trade has destroyed the ecosystem and has almost wiped out Florida’s wildlife. These pythons that grow over 200 pounds and over 20 feet long are eating everything.
A female Burmese Python lays between 50-100 eggs at a time. Last year’s winner was four foot eleven Taylor Stanberry from Naples, who caught 60 snakes. She’s a fearless native Floridian that works at a canine rehab facility and have been catching pythons for over ten years.
The Miccosukee Indians that live in the Everglades are afraid the snakes are heading north, because there is nothing left for them to eat.
Hunters use boats, SUVS, ATVS and even use dogs to locate the evasive snakes. Captured pythons are turned over to check stations where they are humanely euthanized.







