Florida has spent decades trying to reduce python numbers through organized removal programs, public hunts, and contractor teams trained to capture the snakes.

It's important for new or wanna-be python hunters to understand the basics when it comes to eliminating the invasive creatures.

What began as a family outing to help remove invasive snakes from Florida's Everglades quickly turned into a terrifying fight for survival. Carl Jackson believed he had spotted a Burmese python measuring about 12 feet as it crossed a dirt road in Big Cypress National Preserve.

Florida's Python Challenge is an annual event encouraging people to hunt Burmese Pythons, a reptile species invasive to Florida's ecosystem.

Researchers captured 177 invasive Burmese pythons and removed more than 4,100 eggs during a single breeding season in Southwest Florida.

"He gave it his all and led us right to a discovery that will leave a lasting impact."

As the 2026 Florida Python Challenge is underway, one Florida restaurant will let you cash in your catch for a pizza. The python challenge kicked off on Friday as avid and amateur hunters alike compete for cash prizes as they work to rid the Everglades of the ravenous,