Florida is home to some of the most unique wildlife in the country.
The Sunshine State asked residents to step up in the fight against one problem.
And a Florida hunter nabbed a big prize for winning this scary challenge.
Invasive pythons wreaking havoc on Florida
Burmese pythons have become a serious threat to the ecosystem in the Florida Everglades.
These snakes were brought over as pets from Southeast Asia in the 1980s and people began releasing them into the wild once they became too big.
Burmese pythons can grow to be nearly 20 feet long and can weigh hundreds of pounds.
They have no natural predators in Florida and can thrive in the state’s climate which has led the numbers to explode.
Pythons in South Florida and the Everglades have devastated the native species.
They will eat any bird, mammal, or alligator they can find in Florida.
Populations of native species like foxes, rabbits, and bobcats plummeted after they became prey for pythons.
That is why Florida launched a challenge to try to control their population.
Florida’s python challenge wraps with a big winner
The annual Florida Python Challenge began in 2013 to capture and kill Burmese pythons in the Everglades.
Amateur and professional python hunters compete for 10 days to see who can bag the most and win prizes.
The goal is also to use the challenge to raise awareness about the python problem in Florida.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) awarded Ronald Kiger a grand prize of $10,000 for winning the challenge after he bagged 20 pythons.
“I just want to say thanks to my family for putting up with 10 days of camping in the swamp with the heat and the bugs,” Kiger told the Palm Beach Post. “We enjoy getting out there and doing it and helping the state out.”
Over the course of this year’s 10-day competition, Florida Python Challenge™ participants removed 195 invasive Burmese #pythons from the Everglades ecosystem! The big prize winner this year? A big congrats to Ronald Kiger, who removed 20 pythons to snag the Ultimate Grand Prize… pic.twitter.com/698gAB6hER
— MyFWC (@MyFWC) September 17, 2024
Runner-up Donna Kalil received $2,500 for bagging 19 pythons.
Novice Dennis Krum caught the longest python at 9 feet 11 inches which got him a $1,000 prize.
Nearly 200 pythons were bagged in the Everglades by hunters.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis thanked the participants.
“Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who participated in the Florida Python Challenge this year!” DeSantis said.
More than 14,000 pythons have been removed from the Everglades during his administration.
Every python removed from the Everglades makes a difference.
“Every invasive python that is removed makes a difference for Florida’s environment and its native wildlife,” South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Member Ron Bergeron said.
“Our python hunters are passionate about protecting the Everglades, and I am proud of their efforts to remove these invasive snakes from across this precious ecosystem,” Bergeron added.
FWC Rodney Barreto thanked DeSantis and everyone involved for making it a success.
“The success of the 2024 Florida Python Challenge was a collective achievement, made possible by the contributions of more than 800 participants, the dedicated efforts of our staff, the invaluable support from our partners and the dedicated leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis,” Barreto said.
“Over 14,000 pythons have been successfully removed by FWC and South Florida Water Management District contractors since 2017,” Barreto added.
But the fight against pythons does not end with the conclusion of the challenge.
Pythons can be hunted on private land year-round and hunters are contracted by state and local officials to go after them.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
