Florida Python Challenge Winner Slayed 96 Snakes
Officials say Lee County logged just 2 Burmese python sightings in 2026 as researchers and hunters step up removals across Southwest Florida.
- On Wednesday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced professional hunter Tom Rahill won the 2026 Florida Python Challenge's $10,000 grand prize for capturing 96 invasive snakes from the Everglades.
- The annual competition aims to reduce populations of Burmese pythons, an invasive species introduced to Florida in the 1970s that now threatens native wildlife throughout the Everglades ecosystem.
- Over 10 days, 907 participants from 30 states, Canada, and Vietnam removed 280 pythons, with competitors from professional, novice, and military categories earning prizes across multiple categories.
- Competitors navigated drought, wildfires, and thunderstorms during the challenge, which FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto called "a major victory for Florida's native wildlife" and proof of public commitment.
- Despite Lee County recording only two python sightings in 2026, environmental science project manager Ian Bartoszek at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida cautioned that "sparse reporting should not be read as evidence that pythons are missing" from the county.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Hunter Wins Florida Python Challenge After Capturing 96 Snakes
Professional hunter Tom Rahill has won the 2026 Florida Python Challenge after capturing 96 invasive Burmese pythons during the 10-day competition. According to the report, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission awarded Rahill the $10,000 grand prize for removing the highest number of snakes from the Everglades.The report said the annual challenge is designed to reduce the population of Burmese pythons, an invasive species introdu…
The Largest Snake Caught In The 2026 Florida Python Challenge Was Longer Than A Cadillac Escalade
The 2026 Florida Python Challenge announced its winners this week. Sadly, I once again missed being able to participate in this year’s Florida Python Challenge despite it taking place a hop, skip, and a jump from my house because I was out of town. But I am in complete awe of this year’s winning snake […] The post The Largest Snake Caught In The 2026 Florida Python Challenge Was Longer Than A Cadillac Escalade appeared first on BroBible.
2026 Florida Python Challenge participants remove 280 pythons; $10K grand prize winner removes 96
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and partners announced the results of the 2026 Florida Python Challenge, saying 907 participants from 30 states, plus Canada and Vietnam, removed 280 invasive Burmese pythons from south Florida during the 10-day event.
Tampa snake hunter bags 96 pythons, wins $10,000 prize in Florida Python Challenge
The 10-day event drew 907 participants from 30 states and overseas, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The longest snake pulled during the challenge measured nearly 17 feet.
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