Florida Python Challenge Winner Slayed 96 Snakes
Rahill’s haul included 96 snakes from Everglades National Park, and officials said 907 participants removed 280 invasive Burmese pythons overall.
- On Wednesday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced professional hunter Tom Rahill won the 2026 Florida Python Challenge's $10,000 grand prize for capturing 96 invasive snakes from the Everglades.
- The annual competition aims to reduce populations of Burmese pythons, an invasive species introduced to Florida in the 1970s that now threatens native wildlife throughout the Everglades ecosystem.
- Over 10 days, 907 participants from 30 states, Canada, and Vietnam removed 280 pythons, with competitors from professional, novice, and military categories earning prizes across multiple categories.
- Competitors navigated drought, wildfires, and thunderstorms during the challenge, which FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto called "a major victory for Florida's native wildlife" and proof of public commitment.
- Despite Lee County recording only two python sightings in 2026, environmental science project manager Ian Bartoszek at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida cautioned that "sparse reporting should not be read as evidence that pythons are missing" from the county.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Participants in the annual 'Florida Python Challenge' hunted 280 Burmese pythons in the Everglades, Florida's giant protected wetland, threatened by the advance of this invasive species.
Tom Rahill captures 96 Burmese pythons in 10 days to win 2026 Florida Python Challenge
It was a bad week to be a Burmese python.Tom Rahill removed 96 of the invasive snakes from the Everglades in just 10 days — more than enough to leave the rest of the field in the swamp dust.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE FROM OUTKICKRahill was named the ultimate grand prize winner of the 2026 Florida Python Challenge on Wednesday, earning $10,000 for capturing more snakes than any other competitor during the 10-day event.And apparently, once he go…
Hunter Wins Florida Python Challenge After Capturing 96 Snakes
Professional hunter Tom Rahill has won the 2026 Florida Python Challenge after capturing 96 invasive Burmese pythons during the 10-day competition. According to the report, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission awarded Rahill the $10,000 grand prize for removing the highest number of snakes from the Everglades.The report said the annual challenge is designed to reduce the population of Burmese pythons, an invasive species introdu…
The Largest Snake Caught In The 2026 Florida Python Challenge Was Longer Than A Cadillac Escalade
The 2026 Florida Python Challenge announced its winners this week. Sadly, I once again missed being able to participate in this year’s Florida Python Challenge despite it taking place a hop, skip, and a jump from my house because I was out of town. But I am in complete awe of this year’s winning snake […] The post The Largest Snake Caught In The 2026 Florida Python Challenge Was Longer Than A Cadillac Escalade appeared first on BroBible.
2026 Florida Python Challenge participants remove 280 pythons; $10K grand prize winner removes 96
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and partners announced the results of the 2026 Florida Python Challenge, saying 907 participants from 30 states, plus Canada and Vietnam, removed 280 invasive Burmese pythons from south Florida during the 10-day event.
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