Burmese pythons may be the most destructive foreign animal in Florida Everglades history.
They’re among the largest snakes in the world, averaging between 6 and 9 feet. The longest python ever measured was caught in 2023 near Naples and came in at a whopping 19 feet.
Burmese pythons are an invasive species established across more than a thousand square miles of South Florida, including Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve and Collier-Seminole State Forest.
The invasive snakes have put a stranglehold on Florida’s wildlife and contributed to the decline of small mammals, including raccoons, opossums, bobcats, foxes, marsh rabbits and cottontail rabbits.
While it’s difficult to get an exact count given the snake’s adaptability and difficulty accessing some areas, the U.S. Geological Survey estimates the Burmese python population in the Florida Everglades region in the tens of thousands.
Every python removed and eliminated makes a difference in protecting the native ecosystem.
Federal and state programs contract with members of the public to become paid python hunters to combat Burmese pythons in Florida, including:
Here’s what to know:
FWC teaches public how to find, catch and humanely kill Burmese pythons in Florida
FWC offers training to the public, free of charge, via its Python Patrol program.
Virtual classes are offered every third Thursday of the month.
The training covers:
Class registration and a self-guided version of the training are available on the FWC website.
FWC does not offer compensation for pythons except to contracted members of the PATRIC Program and winners during the Florida Python Challenge.
How to get paid for catching pythons in Florida
The FWC’s Python Action Team – Removing Invasive Constrictors (PATRIC), in conjunction with South Florida Water Management District’s Python Elimination Program, contracts with qualified private individuals to remove pythons.
Contracted python removal agents are paid hourly – $13, $18 or $30 per hour, depending on the area, up to 10 hours a day – for removal efforts. Additionally, freelancers earn $50 for each python up to 4 feet long, plus $25 for each additional foot. They’re also paid $200 per verified active python nest.
Online applications are bring accepted:
Hunters, anglers and outdoor recreationists with experience removing pythons or other large constrictors from the wild are encouraged to apply, with preference given to Florida residents and qualified military veterans.
To gain experience, FWC recommends participating in the Florida Python Challenge or hunting on FWC-managed lands.
Per the South Florida Water Management District, to be eligible, python removal agents must:
Florida python hunter catches more than 60 snakes in August, paid $1,000 incentive bonus
South Florida Water Management District’s Python Elimination Program python removal agent Brian Hargrove caught a whopping 63 pythons in August.
Thanks to a new trial incentive program launched in 2025, Hargrove earned a $1,000 bonus award paid to the agent with the most pythons caught each month.
2025 incentive bonus winners:
How did the Burmese python get to Florida?
Burmese pythons are native to Southeast Asia. Many of the invasive snakes came to the U.S. because of their popularity in the pet trade, according to the USGS.
The snakes were then intentionally or accidentally released in South Florida.
Are Burmese pythons still a problem in Florida, Everglades?
Burmese pythons occupy much of southern Florida and eat a wide range of animals, from mammals to birds and even reptiles, including alligators. According to USGS, pythons have severely impacted native species and ecosystems in Florida and represent one of the most difficult invasive-species management issues across the globe.
Where in Florida are pythons found?
According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, Burmese pythons are established from just south of Lake Okeechobee to Key Largo and from western Broward County west to Collier County, including:
Any pythons found outside of those areas are likely escaped or released captive animals.
However, “due to the cryptic nature of pythons, it can take a while to gather enough evidence to confirm new areas of establishment,” FWC said.
How big do Burmese pythons in Florida get?
Burmese pythons are among the largest snakes in the world, with adult animals averaging between 10 and 16 feet long, according to the University of Florida.
A group of python hunters caught the longest Burmese python ever measured on July 10, 2023, in the Big Cypress National Preserve in eastern Collier County.
The monster snake was 19 feet long.
The heaviest Burmese python ever recorded was caught by Conservancy of Southwest Florida biologists in the Florida Everglades in 2022. The colossal female python weighed an eye-popping 215 pounds and was nearly 18 feet long.
Can you shoot Burmese pythons in Florida?
Reptiles not native to Florida are not protected in the state except by anti-cruelty law. Shooting Burmese pythons is permitted as long as state and local firearms rules are followed and the animal loses consciousness immediately. The animal’s brain should then be destroyed by pithing to prevent it from regaining consciousness, according to FWC.
Contributing: Mark H. Bickel, The News-Press and Naples Daily News
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: You can get paid for catching pythons in Florida. What to know, how much you can make
Reporting by Kim Luciani, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
