Everglades Burmese Python Removal Hits Record with 177 Snakes and 4,100 Eggs Taken

Biologists working in South Florida’s Everglades reported a record‑setting removal season, capturing 177 Burmese pythons and about 4,100 eggs from a 200‑square‑mile area of Collier County between November 2025 and April 2026. The effort used radio‑tracked “scout snakes” – male pythons fitted with transmitters – to locate breeding females, resulting in a total biomass of 8,080 lb removed, including a 17‑foot, 153‑lb female. The removal helps curb the invasive species that threatens native wildlife.

Separately, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the South Florida Water Management District have opened registration for the 2026 Florida Python Challenge, a ten‑day competition from July 10‑19 that offers $25,000 in prizes, including $10,000 for the participant who removes the most pythons. The event aims to raise public awareness and support ongoing efforts to manage the invasive python population in the Everglades.