Burmese python
Coverage of Burmese python in the Nexus archive.
- Winner of Florida python hunting contest nabs 96 snakes: ‘I was on a mission’
The winner of Florida's annual Python Challenge eliminated 96 Burmese pythons from the Everglades as part of an invasive species removal initiative. The 10-day event, organized by FWC, the South Florida water management district, and the National Park Service, offers a $10,000 prize for capturing the most snakes.
- FWC announces winners of annual 10-day python challenge
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced Tom Rahill as the Grand Prize winner of the 2026 Florida Python Challenge, awarded $10,000 for removing 96 Burmese pythons. Over 900 participants from 30 states and countries removed 280 invasive pythons during the 10-day event aimed at protecting Florida’s ecosystem.
- What’s a Burmese python doing in Causeway Bay? Expert links reptile to rain
A Burmese python was spotted in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay area, with an expert attributing its presence to recent heavy rains that may have driven wild animals into urban spaces. The snake was captured on camera by a jogger near Jardine Noonday Gun.
- Slithering success: Florida conservationists celebrate record, 4-ton invasive python haul
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida removed 177 invasive Burmese pythons and 4,100 eggs during a six-month hunting season, achieving a record 8,080-pound haul. The effort used tagged scout snakes to target breeding adults, aiming to suppress local python reproduction. Notable captures include a 215-pound female python and a 19-foot, 125-pound female in Big Cypress National Preserve.
- Could vultures help fight invasive pythons? Study documents rare attack
Researchers observed vultures feeding on Burmese python eggs in the Everglades, marking the first documented case of native birds preying on a python nest in Florida. The study highlights a potential natural method for controlling invasive pythons.
- Burmese python found under sidewalk with 20 eggs during peak nesting season
A Burmese python was discovered under a sidewalk in South Florida guarding 20 eggs during peak nesting season, demonstrating the species' adaptability. The snake was found by a passerby and analyzed by Guillermo Tapanes, a contractor with the South Florida Water Management District, who highlighted the threat of pythons using human infrastructure and waterways to spread. Pythons, introduced via the pet trade and exacerbated by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, are being euthanized to control their invasive population.