The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Florida Python Challenge is returning this summer, giving participants a chance to win a share of $25,000 in prizes while helping protect the Everglades ecosystem.
The competition runs July 10-19 and challenges participants to remove as many invasive Burmese pythons as possible from eight official competition locations across South Florida. This year, Everglades National Park is again one of those locations.
Wildlife officials say Burmese pythons, which are not native to Florida, have become a significant threat to the Everglades ecosystem.
Participants of all experience levels are welcome, but registration and completion of required training are mandatory before competing. Interested hunters can register and access training here.
The FWC notes that the fight against invasive pythons doesn’t stop when the competition ends. Burmese pythons and other nonnative reptiles can be humanely killed at any time on private property with landowner permission, as well as year-round on 32 Commission-managed lands.
Florida Python Challenge Prizes
$10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize
Awarded to the participant who removes the most pythons as part of the competition.
Professional Category
Most Pythons Professional Category $2,500
Most Pythons Professional Category Runner Up $1,500
Longest Python Professional Category $1,000
Novice Category
Most Pythons Novice Category $2,500
Most Pythons Novice Category Runner Up $1,500
Longest Python Novice Category $1,000
Military Category
Most Pythons Military Category $2,500
Most Pythons Military Category Runner Up $1,500
Longest Python Military Category $1,000