Hunters working across the Florida Everglades removed a record four tons of invasive Burmese pythons in a single coordinated effort, a haul that reflects both the staggering scale of the infestation and the expanding reach of state and federal removal programs.

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

Catches like this can be a massive win toward slowing the spread of a problematic invasive species.

The annual Florida Python Challenge is only a few weeks away, but participants will have trouble matching a new record set earlier this month. Between November 2025 and April 2026, researchers removed 177 apex predators weighing a combined 8,

Eric Suarez, research program coordinator for University of Florida Croc Docs, holds a female python during a research trip to collect python eggs on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, from a nest the scientists have been tracking in the Everglades outside of Weston.

Burmese pythons spread beyond the Everglades as Florida's Python Challenge begins, offering $25,000 in prizes.

Burmese pythons are recognizable by more than their size. Hunters should be on the lookout for a telltale, arrow-shaped marking on the snake’s head, along with giraffe-like spots across its body and dark spots around its eyes. During the summer months, they’re most likely to be found sunning on levee banks or near trees.

Brandon Welty eased his airboat named “Python Patrol” onto the rocky edge of a man-made island carved from the spoil of a canal near Everglades Holiday Park. His team was on a mission.

The Florida Python Challenge begins July 10 and gives participants the opportunity to remove invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades while raising awareness about the threat posed by the non-native species.