More than 200 of the invasive pythons were removed from South Florida during last year's hunt, according to the FWC.

Catching a python can be very challenging during the Florida Python Challenge. But when one is caught, there are rules for how to kill the invasive.

The snake may have been an escaped pet or one that was intentionally released.

The annual Florida Python Challenge is set to begin. Starting at 12:01 a.m. ET July 10 and concluding at 5 p.m. July 19, participants have the chance to win over $25,000 in prizes by removing invasive Burmese pythons from South Florida.

Florida's Python Challenge is an annual event encouraging people to hunt Burmese Pythons, a reptile species invasive to Florida's ecosystem.

Taylor Stanberry became the first woman to win Florida's annual python challenge last year by catching 60 pythons during the 10-day competition.

A Burmese python population has emerged in Southwest Florida, raising fresh concerns about the invasive predator's spread.

Registration for the 2026 Florida Python Challenge is officially underway, as participants have the chance to take part in a 10-day competition to win a grand prize. The competition takes place from Friday, July 10, until 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 19.