What Happened to Florida Python Challenge™?

The Florida Python Challenge™ is a critical conservation initiative established to combat the severe ecological threat posed by invasive Burmese pythons in the Everglades ecosystem. These large constrictor snakes, originally introduced to Florida through the pet trade, began establishing wild populations in the mid-to-late 1900s, with the first observation recorded in Everglades National Park in 1979. Lacking natural predators, their population exploded, leading to a drastic decline in native mammal populations, including raccoons, opossums, bobcats, and even the local extirpation of marsh rabbits and cottontail rabbits in some areas.

The challenge first ran as a month-long competition in 2013 and again in 2016, before being re-established as an annual ten-day event in 2020, initially dubbed the “Python Bowl”. It is primarily hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), with support from the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida and, more recently, Everglades National Park. The competition aims not only to remove pythons but also to educate the public about invasive species and encourage year-round participation in removal efforts.

Key turning points in the fight against pythons include the regulation of Burmese pythons as a 'Conditional species' in Florida in 2010, restricting their acquisition as pets, and further as a 'Prohibited species' in 2021, banning commercial breeding. In 2017, the FWC and SFWMD launched dedicated contractor programs, the Python Action Team Removing Invasive Constrictors (PATRIC) and the Python Elimination Program (PEP), which have collectively removed over 19,000 pythons since their inception. While the Python Challenge itself accounts for a smaller number of total removals (over 1,600 to date), its significance lies in raising awareness and engaging a broader public in conservation.

The challenge has seen increasing participation and python removals over the years. The 2024 event, held from August 9-18, saw 857 participants remove 195 pythons, with Ronald Kiger winning the $10,000 grand prize for 20 snakes. The 2025 Florida Python Challenge, from July 11-20, involved nearly 1,000 participants who removed 294 pythons, with Taylor Stanberry making history as the first woman to win the top prize, removing 60 pythons. A significant development in 2025 was the inclusion of Everglades National Park as an official competition location, a partnership that continued into 2026.

As of today, August 6, 2026, the 2026 Florida Python Challenge has recently concluded. Held from July 10-19, 2026, it attracted 907 participants from 30 states and several countries, who collectively removed 280 invasive Burmese pythons. Tom Rahill was crowned the Ultimate Grand Prize winner, taking home $10,000 for removing an impressive 96 pythons, all from Everglades National Park. The longest python, measuring 16 feet, 5 inches, was removed by Rahm Levinson. Despite these efforts, conservationists estimate between 100,000 and 300,000 pythons still inhabit the state, and total eradication is considered unlikely. The challenge, therefore, remains a crucial, ongoing management tool to mitigate the python's impact on Florida's unique and threatened ecosystems.