177 Burmese pythons weighing 8,080 pounds removed from the Everglades in Florida: Here’s how scientists pulled off this benchmark operation in a few months

A massive operation was carried out during this year’s spring season where 177 Burmese pythons, weighing around 8,080 pounds, were pulled out of an area in the wilderness of South Florida, according to online platform AZ Animals.

The python removal operation, which took place from November 2025 to April 2026, sets a new benchmark for removing invasive giants from the Everglades. It was carried out inside a 200-square-mile expanse of Collier County, about 90 miles west of Miami.

According to AZ Animals, the announcement came from the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, and this happens to be the first occasion when their efforts successfully captured and removed four tons in a single season.

How scientists set their aim at the source

The Python operation saw a different and apparently innovative approach. Conservation teams, including wildlife biologist Ian Bartoszek and his colleagues, made use of radio telemetry, according to AZ Animals.

As a part of the approach, they attached small transmitters to 40 male “scout snakes” released back into the wild. This move allowed them to trace their movements during the key months when mating happens.

The teams that were part of the entire operation had a clear goal in mind. They followed the males to the largest, most fertile female pythons. Things fell in place, allowing researchers to focus their efforts on pregnant females, which can each harbor around 70 eggs.


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The female pythons targeted by the researchers averaged 95 pounds each, and the largest of the entire season arrived at 153 pounds and an astounding 17 feet long. Each and every female python captured had a disproportionate impact on future python generations.

Who are Burmese pythons

Native to South-east Asia, Burmese pythons arrived in Florida during the 1970s. They were most probably released by exotic pet owners. With time, they left a trail of destruction. The climate in the state played an instrumental role in helping them feel at home

Considered among the largest snakes on the face of the earth, Burmese pythons carry the ability of reaching 23 feet or more in length and weighing up to 200 pounds, according to National Geographic. They are also apparently brilliant at swimming and have the tendency to stay submerged for up to 30 minutes before surfacing for air.