The 2025 Florida Python Challenge kicked off Friday, with competitors starting as early as 12:01 a.m. searching the Everglades to find and remove invasive Burmese pythons.
Hundreds of people have already registered for a chance to win their share of up to $10,000 in prizes while working to protect Florida’s native wildlife and the Everglades ecosystem.
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Registration is still open for this year’s competition, which features the addition of Everglades National Park as one of eight official Florida Python Challenge locations.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the South Florida Water Management District host the annual python removal competition to increase awareness about invasive species in the state and the threats they pose to Florida’s ecology.
Want to compete but not yet registered? Registration will remain open until the last day of the competition, Sunday, July 20 — visit FLPythonChallenge.org to register and learn more.
There is a $25 registration fee, and participants must pass the required online training to complete their registration for this year’s event.
Once registered, participants are invited to visit one of FWC’s Training Outposts during opening weekend for additional instruction from experts, located at each check station from 4-7 p.m., July 11-13.
This year, a total of $25,000 in cash prizes is available. Participants have the opportunity to win the $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize for the removal of the most pythons during the competition.
Participants also have the opportunity to win other cash prizes for most and longest pythons removed in three different categories, including novice, professional and military categories.
Prizes will be awarded at a later date after the competition.
Want to get involved in removal of invasive species at any time of the year? In addition to year-round python removal opportunities on 32 Commission-managed lands, Burmese pythons may be humanely killed on private lands at any time with landowner permission — no permit or hunting license required.
The FWC encourages people to remove and humanely kill invasive pythons from private lands whenever possible.
