Florida Python Team Catches 18-Foot Snake

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Python Action Team has now removed 900 Burmese pythons from the wild in Florida, including a large 18-foot, 4-inch long female python—the largest ever captured by the team.

FWC PAT members Cynthia Downer and Jonathan Lopez captured the large adult female python weighing 98 pounds, 10 ounces, on Sept. 22 at Big Cypress National Preserve. In addition to being the largest snake ever captured by the PAT team, it is also the largest ever captured in Big Cypress. The snake is the second-largest python ever caught in the wild in Florida, only 4 inches shorter than the longest wild Florida python ever recorded.

According to Florida wildlife officials, capturing large adult females is critical because it prevents them from potentially adding an average of 30 to 60 hatchlings to the population each time they breed.

The 900^th python captured by the FWC’s Python Action Team was caught by Bobby Monroe on Sept. 24 in the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area in Miami-Dade County. That python was just over 2 feet, weighing just a quarter of a pound.

“Removing 900 pythons is a great milestone for our Python Action Team. These snakes coupled with the thousands removed by our partners at the National Park Service and the South Florida Water Management District make a significant impact to protect Florida’s native wildlife,” said FWC Executive Director Eric Sutton. “With leadership from Governor Ron DeSantis, we are committed to working with our partners including the South Florida Water Management District and the National Park Service to accomplish our goal of removing pythons from our beautiful state.”

“No one agency can shoulder the responsibility to remove this invasive snake alone,” said Superintendent Pedro Ramos, who oversees Big Cypress National Preserve, as well as the other National Park Service sites in south Florida. “We’re grateful to our partners from FWC and the South Florida Water Management District and look forward to continuing to work with them on Governor DeSantis’ initiative to expand python removal.”

The Florida FWC created the Python Action Team to engage qualified individuals with python control efforts. Team members are paid to survey for and capture Burmese pythons on public land in south Florida. Team members have removed more than 900 invasive constrictors from the wild, including this 18-foot, 4-inch female that weighed almost 100 pounds.

The public can help the FWC control non-native invasive wildlife by reporting sightings to the FWC’s Exotic Species Hotline at 888-IveGot1 (888-483-4681), online at IveGot1.org or by using the free smartphone app IVEGOT1. If possible, take a picture and note the exact location of the sighting. Python Action Team members often respond to reports of large constrictors and other priority species to attempt to capture and remove these animals from the wild.

Burmese pythons became established in Florida as a result of escaped or released pets. It is illegal to release non-native species into the wild, doing so can negatively impact native wildlife and habitat. Don’t let it loose! The FWC’s Exotic Pet Amnesty Program allows pet owners to surrender nonnative or exotic pets without penalty. Visit MyFWC.com/PetAmnesty for more information.

For more information about the FWC’s Python Action Team, visit MyFWC.com/Python.

About Big Cypress National Preserve: The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida’s southwest coast. Protecting over 729,000 acres of this vast swamp, Big Cypress National Preserve contains a mixture of tropical and temperate plant communities that are home to a diversity of wildlife, including the elusive Florida panther. For more information visit NPS.Gov/BICY.