The Florida Python Challenge 2026 is now open for registration. The competition will run from July 10 to July 19, 2026, across the Everglades, offering up to $25,000 in prizes for participants who capture Burmese pythons—an invasive species threatening Florida’s ecosystem.
Organized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the event awards a grand prize of $10,000 and an additional $15,000 in special categories for those who remove the most snakes. Since 2000, more than 23,500 Burmese pythons have been eliminated in Florida, with numbers rising significantly after paid removal programs began in 2017.
📅 Dates and Locations
- Start: July 10, 12:01 a.m.
- End: July 19, 5:00 p.m.
- Authorized Areas: Big Cypress, Everglades National Park, Francis S. Taylor WMA, Frog Pond, Holey Land, Rocky Glades, Rotenberger, Southern Glades.
Rules
- Registration: $25 per person, after completing an online training course and passing a quiz (minimum 85%).
- Prohibited: Firearms, dogs, or other animals.
- Protection: Disqualification if native wildlife or protected species’ eggs are harmed.
- Transport: Only professional hunters may move live pythons; beginners must humanely euthanize them on site.
 Quick Facts
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Grand Prize | $10,000 |
| Additional Prizes | $15,000 in categories |
| Registration Fee | $25 per person |
| Pythons Removed (2000–2025) | 23,500+ |
| Event Duration | July 10–19, 2026 |
This challenge underscores Florida’s effort to protect endangered species such as the wood stork and the Key Largo woodrat, both preyed upon by Burmese pythons. The invasive snakes also pose risks to pets and, in rare cases, human safety.
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