Everglades, FL – After nine days of endless hunting, the 2024 Florida Python Challenge finally came to an end on Aug. 18, with its total snake counts marking a successful season in the ongoing battle against invasive Burmese pythons in the Everglades. Finally, on Sept. 24, the grand prize winner and the runner-up were announced to be Ronald Kiger and Donna Kalil, both seasoned python hunters.
Burmese pythons are arguably the most infamous of the Everglades’ invasive species; their predatory nature, high reproductive potential and raw strength after maturity have made them the primary competitor of the apex predator in the Everglades, the native American alligator. While scientists and conservationists are not entirely sure of their exact origin, the pythons’ reproducing population in Florida did expand significantly after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 destroyed a python breeding facility in the area. The pythons escaped out into nearby swamps; since then, they have spread throughout Florida’s wetlands, outcompeting and causing great damage to the populations of native species.
The Florida Python Challenge, in association with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), is an organization which holds annual competitions for the purpose of removing Burmese pythons from the Florida Everglades. Participants will partake in a 10-day event over the duration of which they will find and humanely kill any invasive pythons spotted slithering around the wetlands of southern Florida, with the ultimate grand prize for the winner being an inviting $10,000.
This year’s Python Challenge attracted participants from 33 states as well as Canada, with 857 registered hunters taking to the Everglades to track and remove these unwelcome snakes. Participants logged a remarkable total of 200 pythons, with Kiger capturing a whopping 20 pythons and Kalil capturing 19 pythons.
The longest python of the challenge — measuring an impressive 9 feet and 11 inches — was captured by Dennis Krum. Compare this length to that of an average college dorm bed, which is 7 feet long. It is quite easy to recognize the massive threat these massive reptiles pose to Florida’s ecosystem. Yet, tens of thousands of them — the longest found exceeding 17 feet long — still remain hidden in the Everglades, and that’s only a conservative estimate, according to USGS.
As the challenge this year concludes, officials are already looking ahead to next year’s event. The Florida Python Challenge not only raises awareness about the ecological impact of invasive species but also encourages residents to actively engage in crucial conservation efforts. With each snake removed, participants contribute to the restoration of health for Florida’s unique habitats and wildlife, even if it’s only done little by little. For more information on future events and conservation initiatives, you can visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website, or even the Florida Python Challenge’s official site, just in case you’re ever interested in doing some snake-wrangling yourself.
