The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has concluded its 2025 Python Challenge, a 10-day competition designed to raise awareness and reduce the spread of invasive wildlife in South Florida.

This year’s event set a new record, with participants removing 294 Burmese pythons from the region. Grand prize winner Taylor Stanbury took home $10,000 after capturing 60 pythons.

Category Winners:

• Longest python – Novice: Michael Marousky (15 ft., 11 in.)
• Longest python – Professional: Kennith Chamberland (9 ft., 8 in.)
• Longest python – Military: Jonathan Miller (11 ft., 2 in.)
• Most pythons – Novice: Krista Hoekstra (14)
• Most pythons – Professional: Donna Kalil (56)
• Most pythons – Military: John Southworth (5)
• Runner-up, Most pythons – Novice: Kymberly Clark (7)
• Runner-up, Most pythons – Professional: Hannah Gray (22)
• Runner-up, Most pythons – Military: Matthew Jamison (3)

Residents who didn’t compete can still help by reporting or removing Burmese pythons. Details are available on the FWC’s website: https://tinyurl.com/23qnr39c.

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(Image credit: Palm Beach Post)

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