Florida Python Challenge Seeks to Remove Invasive Pythons

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District are hosting the Florida Python Challenge, a competition designed to remove invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades. The event, which began on Friday, July 10, at 12:01 a.m. and concludes Sunday, July 19, at 5 p.m., offers a grand prize of $10,000.

Everglades National Park is participating as a partner and one of eight official competition locations for this year's challenge. Registration for the 10-day event opened recently and will remain open until its conclusion. Interested individuals can register and complete required online training at flpythonchallenge.org. The website also provides educational information about Burmese pythons, the Everglades ecosystem, optional training, and resources for those planning to attend.

Burmese pythons are not native to Florida and pose a significant threat to the state's native wildlife. These invasive constrictors are primarily found in and around the Everglades, where they prey on native birds, mammals, and other reptiles. A single female Burmese python can lay between 50 and over 100 eggs per clutch, contributing to their rapid proliferation.

“We look forward to the challenge each year as a way to raise awareness about nonnative fish and wildlife, while also encouraging the public to get involved in Everglades conservation by removing invasive Burmese pythons,” stated Roger Young, FWC executive director. The Keys Weekly reported on the initiative, highlighting its dual purpose of public engagement and ecological protection.

During the previous competition, participants successfully removed a record 294 invasive Burmese pythons. This brought the cumulative total of removed constrictors across all competitions to 1,406. In 2025, the competition saw 934 participants register from 30 states and Canada for the 10-day event.

Beyond the competition, Burmese pythons can be humanely killed on private land at any time with landowner permission. No permit or hunting license is required for this activity. Additionally, python removal opportunities are available year-round on 32 FWC-managed lands.

The Florida Python Challenge serves as a crucial effort to manage and reduce the population of this harmful nonnative species, protecting the unique biodiversity of the Everglades. For more details on the challenge and registration, visit Keys Weekly.