The 2025 Florida Python Challenge™ kicks off this week, raising awareness about nonnative species and providing participants a firsthand opportunity to join in the effort to remove invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades ecosystem.

DID YOU KNOW: Invasive pythons are one of the most destructive and harmful species in America’s Everglades.

REMOVING INVASIVE PYTHONS: These invasive snakes threaten our precious native ecosystem by preying upon the wildlife that lives there, including wading birds, mammals, and other reptiles. Their aggressive predation on native wildlife robs panthers, raptors, bobcats, and other native predators of their primary food sources.

Every python that is removed is making a difference to protect the Everglades and the region’s diverse and native wildlife.

JOIN THE CHALLENGE: The 2025 Florida Python Challenge™ runs from July 11-20, 2025. The annual ten-day competition is hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District (District). An exciting addition to this year’s event is the inclusion of Everglades National Park as one of eight official Florida Python Challenge™ competition locations.

Visit FLPythonChallenge.org to register for the competition, take the required online training, view the optional training opportunities, learn more about Burmese pythons and the unique Everglades ecosystem, and find resources for planning your trip to South Florida to participate in the 2025 Florida Python Challenge™. 

PROTECTING NATIVE WILDLIFE AND ECOSYSTEMS: The State of Florida has taken unprecedented action to protect the Everglades and eliminate invasive pythons from across the landscape. Over 15,800 pythons have been removed since the FWC and the District teamed up to combat this invasive species.

Last year, Python Challenge participants removed 195 invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades. 1,112 invasive pythons have been removed during all Florida Python Challenge™ competitions to date.

LEARN MORE: The District continues to expedite Everglades restoration efforts and we will continue working to protect South Florida’s natural resources and combat invasive species like Burmese pythons.

We encourage you to visit FLPythonChallenge.org to learn more about the Florida Python Challenge™ and SFWMD.gov/Python to learn more about our efforts to remove these invasive snakes from the Everglades landscape.