Registration has officially opened for the 2025 Florida Python Challenge™, the state’s annual competition to help reduce the population of invasive Burmese pythons in South Florida. This year brings a significant addition: Everglades National Park joins the list of eight official event locations—an exciting expansion for both participants and conservationists .
Event Details
Dates: Starts at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 11, concludes 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 20 wgcu.org.
Registration: Costs $25, non-refundable; includes a challenge T‑shirt (while supplies last) myfwc.com
Training: Participants must pass a required online quiz (85% minimum) and complete certification via FLPythonChallenge.org prior to registering myfwc.com
Expanded Conservation Footprint in 2025
Everglades National Park’s inclusion marks a milestone. Pedro Ramos, the park’s superintendent, noted the collaboration builds on longstanding efforts by FWC, SFWMD, and partners to both manage invasive species and educate the public.
The event is hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), with support from the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida and state leadership, including Governor Ron DeSantis.
2024 Recap: Nearly 200 Pythons Removed
In last year’s 2024 competition, 857 participants from 33 states and Canada helped remove 195 Burmese pythons from the Everglades. That effort brought the total number of snakes removed through the Challenge since it began to 1,112.
The Ultimate Grand Prize winner, Ronald Kiger, claimed the $10,000 award by capturing 20 pythons.
Since 2017, FWC and SFWMD contractors have removed over 14,000 pythons, and more than 23,000 have been removed statewide since 2000.
Bigger Picture & Ecological Impact
25 tons of Burmese pythons have been removed across the Everglades region since 2013; recent gains include a record season removal of 6,300 lb—potentially preventing the hatching of ~20,000 eggs
While complete eradication is unlikely—estimates suggest at least 100,000–300,000 pythons remain—it is believed that lowering the population and removing reproductive females can significantly slow their spread.
Burmese pythons are apex predators in the region, preying on a wide range of native animals—from raccoons to deer and even alligators. A notable recorded case involved a 115‑lb python consuming a 77‑lb white‑tailed deer.
Scientists employ targeted methods like radio‑tracked "scout" male snakes to locate reproductive females, a strategy that has yielded effective results though it is resource‑intensive.
How to Get Involved in 2025
Register now at FLPythonChallenge.org — includes required training and optional in-person trainings.
Choose your competition category: Novice (public), Professional (contractors), or Military.
Compete for prizes, including:
$10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize to participant who captures the most pythons.
Additional prizes in each category for most snakes and longest snake removed.
Observe all rules, including no firearms or harmful methods; track “scout snakes” to avoid harming research specimens. Consider year‑round involvement: FWC-managed lands offer opportunities beyond the challenge period; on private land, licensed individuals may remove pythons with landowner permission, no permit required.
The Everglades ecosystem has lost native mammal populations coinciding with the expansion of python numbers.
Removing invasive pythons helps restore balance, protecting species such as deer, rabbits, raccoons, alligators, and birds .
Public engagement through events like the Florida Python Challenge raises environmental awareness and supports innovative invasive‑species control methods
The 2025 Florida Python Challenge opens July 11–20 with an expanded footprint that now includes Everglades National Park. As python removal continues to be a critical conservation strategy, the event combines public engagement, scientific methods, and prize incentives. With registration open and training underway, organizers hope to build on last year’s success, protect the Everglades’ native biodiversity, and raise awareness of this pressing environmental threat.
