Florida woman removes record breaking number of pythons, wins challenge with unbelievable prize money

As many as 300 Burmese pythons were removed during a record-setting Florida Python Challenge this year, state wildlife officials told NBC. The 10-day competition that ran from July 11-20 resulted in a record 294 invasive pythons being removed, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said Wednesday.

And the ultimate Grand prize winner of the 2025 Florida Python Challenge is Taylor Stanberry, as per US media reports. She successfully eliminated 60 Burmese pythons during the 10-day competition that was held from July 10-20 this year. Taylor Stanberry was recognized at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting today.

Florida authorities said the competition plays a crucial role in preserving Florida's natural biodiversity and gives residents an active role in environmental protection.


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Woman removes record-breaking snakes

Taylor Stanberry received the $10,000 grand prize for her accomplishment. Stanberry was introduced at the meeting by Sarah Funk, the FWC's Nonnative Fish and Wildlife Program Coordinator. During last year's challenge, only 195 pythons were caught.

Stanberry, a Naples, Florida resident, alongside her husband, Rhett, runs a Facebook page dedicated to snakes and hunting. The couple also has a YouTube and Instagram page, as per CBS News.

A total of 934 participants from 30 states and Canada were involved in this year's hunt which included eight official locations including Everglades National Park.

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The winner of the $10,000 ultimate grand prize this year was Taylor Stanberry, who removed a whopping 60 pythons. Taylor Stanberry promotes herself as a "venomous keeper" and "venomous relocator" from Naples on her Instagram page. The rest of the approximate $15,000 in prizes was divided among competitors in the contest’s three categories: novice, professional and military.

"This year, participants in the 10-day competition removed a record 294 invasive Burmese pythons from South FL, while helping raise awareness about invasive species of fish and wildlife! Nonnative Burmese pythons pose a serious threat to our native wildlife and every python removed is a win for our native fish and wildlife," FWC Florida Fish and Wildlife's post on Facebook read.

What is Florida Python Challenge?

The Florida Python Challenge, now a yearly event, includes public education. "The python, animal that can get 20 feet long and weigh 200 pounds, is destroying the natural food chain. Under the leadership of the FWC, we started the Python Challenge," Ron Bergeron, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) governing board member, told CBS.

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The goal is twofold: reduce the impact of the invasive species and raise public awareness about the threat these animals pose to native wildlife in the Greater Everglades ecosystem, state officials said.

"The Python Challenge is not just catching pythons. That's a part of it. It's educating the public so that when you're in the Everglades, all of the groups that recreate in the Everglades learn how to remove a python safely year-round," Bergeron said.

Burmese pythons are one of the state's most notorious invasive species, and the FWC has implemented several efforts to remove the large nonvenomous constrictors from our ecosystem — primarily by humanely killing them. To incentivize their removal, Florida hosts the annual python challenges.

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More than 23,500 pythons were removed from natural areas in the state of Florida between 2000 and April 2025, according to the FWC. The amount of pythons captured and removed increased drastically once the paid challenge was launched in 2017.

“The record number of invasive pythons removed from the Everglades during this year’s competition is a big win for native wildlife. With over 1,400 pythons removed during all Florida Python Challenge events to date and over 16,000 pythons removed by FWC and South Florida Water Management District contractors since 2017, collective efforts are the key to continue addressing the threats Burmese pythons pose to Florida’s native wildlife and ecosystems," FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said in a statement Wednesday.