Florida Python Challenge 2026 winners to be announced this week: Why hundreds compete to hunt invasive snakes for a $10,000 prize

Every summer, hundreds of people head into the swamps of South Florida with one goal: find and remove one of the world's most destructive invasive snakes. The annual Florida Python Challenge is back in the spotlight, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) set to announce the winners of the 2026 competition on August 5 during its commission meeting in Panama City.

At stake is a $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize for the participant who removed the most invasive Burmese pythons during the 10-day event, along with a share of $25,000 in total prize money across multiple categories.

Last year's champion, Taylor Stanberry of Naples, made history as the first woman to win the overall title after removing 60 Burmese pythons in just 10 days. Whether she successfully defended her crown in 2026 will soon be revealed.

Why Florida pays people to hunt pythons

Unlike native snakes, Burmese pythons do not belong in Florida. Native to Southeast Asia, they became established in South Florida largely through the exotic pet trade and have spread across the Everglades over the past few decades. With few natural predators and an ability to reproduce rapidly, they have become one of the region's most damaging invasive species.

These giant constrictors prey on a wide variety of native animals, including raccoons, opossums, marsh rabbits, cottontail rabbits, bobcats, foxes and more. According to the FWC and the US Geological Survey (USGS), Burmese pythons have contributed to dramatic declines in several native mammal populations across the Everglades, making population control a conservation priority.

What is the Florida Python Challenge?

Launched in 2013, the Florida Python Challenge is an annual public conservation competition jointly organized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the South Florida Water Management District, and, more recently, Everglades National Park.

The 2026 edition ran from July 10 to July 19 across eight official competition areas in South Florida, including Everglades National Park. Participants were required to register, complete mandatory online training and pass a quiz before they could begin searching for pythons. Humane euthanasia rules also apply, and firearms are prohibited during removals.

The challenge is designed not only to remove invasive snakes but also to educate the public about invasive species and the ecological importance of the Everglades.

More than 900 people joined the 2026 competition

Interest in the challenge continues to grow. According to FWC, more than 900 participants registered for the 2026 event. The previous year's challenge attracted 934 participants from 30 US states and Canada, resulting in a record 294 Burmese pythons removed during the 10-day competition.

Participants compete in Professional, Novice and Military divisions, with separate awards for removing the most pythons and capturing the longest snake. The overall winner receives the $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize.

Can Florida ever eliminate Burmese pythons?

Probably not. Wildlife experts say the snakes occupy thousands of square miles across South Florida, including much of Everglades National Park. Their camouflage, nocturnal tendencies and secretive behavior make them exceptionally difficult to detect.

The USGS estimates there are tens of thousands of Burmese pythons in the Everglades, although an exact population count remains impossible because of their low detection rate. As a result, scientists believe complete eradication is unlikely, but reducing their numbers and slowing further spread remains an achievable conservation goal.

Although the cash prize grabs headlines, conservation officials emphasize that the Florida Python Challenge is only one part of a broader effort to control invasive snakes.

Since 2017, FWC and its partners have removed more than 16,000 Burmese pythons through year-round management programs, contractor removals and public initiatives.