A Burmese python population has emerged in Southwest Florida, raising fresh concerns about the invasive predator's spread.

The state's annual Florida Python Challenge began Friday with hunters seeking to nab snakes and big prize money. The 10-day challenge, held from July 10-19, 2026,

The invasive pythons number in the thousands and have unleashed havoc across more than 1,000 square miles of the Everglades region ecosystem.

The dates for the 2026 Florida Python Challenge – the annual 10-day hunt for invasive Burmese pythons – were announced today, May 19, with registration now open. The 2026 python hunt will run from July 10, 2026, to July 19, 2026. The hunt helps ...

In just over a month, novice and professional python hunters will converge on the Everglades for the annual Florida Python Challenge. Participants can win money prizes in several categories, including a $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize for the most pythons ...

Python hunters should wear long pants, closed-toed shoes, and bring tools like a flashlight and snake hook. Novice hunters must humanely kill pythons immediately at the capture site; firearms are prohibited in the competition. The Florida Fish and Wildlife ...