The Florida Python Challenge is an annual 10-day hunting competition encouraging participants to remove Burmese pythons from eight Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-managed lands in South Florida.
The FWC event is held to raise public awareness about invasive species, like the Burmese python, that are a threat to the Florida Everglades ecosystem.
Thousands of Burmese pythons are distributed across more than a thousand square miles of South Florida, including all of Everglades National Park and areas to the north, including Big Cypress National Preserve and Collier-Seminole State Forest.
More than 1,100 of the invasive snakes have been removed during the event through the years, including 294 in 2025.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest pythons captured during the hunt:
Photos of massive Burmese pythons from Florida Python Challenge
Who won 2025 Florida Python Challenge?
Taylor Stanberry, 29, of Naples, was the Ultimate Grand Prize winner in the 2025 Burmese Python Challenge.
Stanberry captured 60 of the invasive snakes, including 30 hatchlings, and won $10,000 for her effort.
The biggest python Stanberry caught in this year’s challenge was between 9.5 and 10 feet long, more than double her height at 4-feet, 11-inches.
Where is the Florida Python Challenge held?
The Florida Python Challenge takes place at eight competition locations:
Can you shoot Burmese pythons during the Florida Python Challenge?
There is no established firearm season during the time of the event. The use of firearms during the competition is prohibited.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Photos show monster Burmese pythons caught in Florida Python Challenge
Reporting by Kim Luciani, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
