Get ready, snake hunters: The Florida Python Challenge is back in just a few weeks.
If you’re new to Florida, you might wonder why the Sunshine State has a special period every year promoting python hunting, complete with prizes totaling $25,000.
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Well, Burmese pythons are not native to Florida and don’t really have natural predators here.
Found mostly in and around the Everglades ecosystem in South Florida, the pythons gobble up birds, mammals and other reptiles, and have a big negative impact on our native wildlife.
And boy, can they breed! A female Burmese python can lay 50 to over 100 eggs at a time, so it’s hard to keep up with the population.
In fact, since 2000, more than 27,000 Burmese pythons have been reported to the FWC as removed from Florida’s environment. And those are just the ones that have been caught!
That’s why, starting at 12:01 a.m. on July 10, participants registered in the 2026 Florida Python Challenge™ will have the chance to win a share of $25,000 in prizes while removing invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades.
This year’s competition runs until Sunday, July 19, at 5 p.m., and registration is open until the last day of the Challenge.
The 2026 Florida Python Challenge, hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District, features an Ultimate Grand Prize of $10,000 for the registered participant who removes the most pythons.
Competitors also have an opportunity to win additional cash prizes for the most and longest pythons removed in three categories: novice, professional and military.
A highlight of this year’s event is the return of Everglades National Park as a partner and one of eight official Florida Python Challenge competition locations.
Intrigued but not yet registered? Visit FLPythonChallenge.org to register and complete the required online training. You will also find educational information about Burmese pythons and the unique Everglades ecosystem, additional training opportunities and helpful resources for planning your trip to South Florida for the event.
Last year, participants in the 2025 Florida Python Challenge™ removed a competition record of 294 invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades, resulting in a total of 1,406 of the nonnative constrictors being removed cumulatively during all Florida Python Challenge competitions to date. In 2025, 934 people from 30 states and Canada registered for the 10-day competition.
Want to get involved in the 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.
For more information on Burmese pythons, visit MyFWC.com/Python.