There’s a contest in Florida with prizes for those who remove invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades.
Dubbed the Florida Python Challenge, registered participants will be able to collect the nonnative species beginning Friday, July 10 at 12:01 a.m. through Sunday, July 19 at 5 p.m. The contest — with a $10,000 grand prize — is hosted by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District. A highlight of this year’s event is the return of Everglades National Park as a partner and one of eight official Florida Python Challenge competition locations.
Registration opened today for this year’s 10-day event and will remain open until the last day of the competition on July 19. Visit flpythonchallenge.org to register and take the required online training, as well as get access to educational information on Burmese pythons and the unique Everglades ecosystem, optional training opportunities, and resources for planning travel to south Florida for the event.
Burmese pythons are not native to Florida and harm native wildlife. This invasive species is found primarily in and around the Everglades ecosystem in south Florida where they prey on birds, mammals and other reptiles. A female Burmese python may lay 50 to over 100 eggs at a time.
“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,” said Roger Young, FWC executive director.
Last year, participants removed a competition record of 294 invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades, resulting in a total of 1,406 of the nonnative constrictors being removed cumulatively during all competitions so far. In 2025, 934 people from 30 states and Canada registered for the 10-day competition.
In addition to python removal opportunities on 32 FWC-managed lands which are available year-round, Burmese pythons may be humanely killed on private land at any time with landowner permission and no permit or hunting license required.
