Burmese pythons have haunted the Florida Everglades for more than two decades, growing from a handful of escaped or released pets into a breeding population that wildlife agencies now count among the most damaging invasive species in North America.

Invasive Burmese pythons have slithered to a new location in South Florida, establishing a colony outside the previously established core range, according to wildlife officials. Historically, Burmese python populations in South Florida were centered in Everglades National Park in Miami-Dade County,

On July 10, hundreds of professional and amateur snake hunters entered the annual Florida Python Challenge, a 10-day race to remove as many of the invasive animals as possible from the Everglades. The person who bags the most snakes will earn a $10,

Python tacos? Python pizza? 'Chicken of the Glades?' Florida considered making invasive snakes a food source. Then science stepped in.

These snakes can go for months without eating, grow and shrink the size of their hearts and jump start their metabolism on a dime.

Brandon Welty, a python researcher with Croc Docs, holds up an antenna and receiver to track where a male python during breeding season on March 11, 2026 in the interior of the northern Everglades. Ashley Miznazi amiznazi@miamiherald.com

Invasive reptiles may be quietly altering how plants regenerate, moving seeds across the Everglades and complicating efforts to restore balance.

Preserving what's left of a python after its caught and killed requires a great deal of time, skill and patience.

It's official, the Florida Python Challenge this year has a winner. The $10,000 grand prize went to Ronald Kiger, who removed 20 Burmese pythons from the Florida Everglades during the 10-day hunt, which was meant to bring awareness to the threat that these ...

The creator wrote, "On this day with Antman's Adventures (@AntmansAdventures), we came across TWO massive Burmese Pythons at the same time!" The post added that both snakes measured 17 feet long. At that size,