Pythons must be euthanized humanely during the competition. The day has finally arrived. On July 10, hundreds of professional and amateur snake hunters entered the annual Florida Python Challenge, a 10-day race to remove as many of the invasive animals as possible from the Everglades.

Naples, a city along the southwest coast of Florida, is plagued by one of the most capable creepy predators on the planet. The situation is dire from an ecological perspective. For years, hunters, hikers, and others who explore the nearby historic ...

Burmese pythons, one of the state's most fearsome invasive species, have been an established presence in the Everglades for more the 25 years. Scientists thought for years salty water, predators, public hunts or freezes might temper the snake's spread in ...

Brandon Welty, a python researcher with Croc Docs, holds up an antenna and receiver to track where a male python during breeding season on March 11, 2026 in the interior of the northern Everglades. Ashley Miznazi amiznazi@miamiherald.com