Did you know the 2024 Florida Python Challenge® continues to advance efforts to remove invasive Burmese pythons and raise awareness about the threat they pose to Florida’s ecology?
WHY IT MATTERS: Invasive pythons are one of the most destructive and harmful species in America’s Everglades. They threaten our precious native ecosystem by preying upon the wildlife that lives there, including wading birds, mammals, and other reptiles.
READY, SET, GO: The 2024 Florida Python Challenge® will take place August 9-18, 2024, and will allow both professional and novice participants the opportunity to join in the effort to remove pythons from the Everglades ecosystem. The annual 10-day competition and conservation effort is a partnership between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) that promotes the protection of native wildlife through the removal of Burmese pythons.
BY THE NUMBERS: Since 2017, the state has taken unprecedented action to protect the Everglades and eliminate invasive pythons from across the landscape. Over 13,600 pythons have been removed since the FWC and the SFWMD teamed up to combat this invasive species.
Working together to eliminate harmful pythons is making a difference to protect the Everglades and South Florida’s diverse and native wildlife. A total of 917 pythons have been removed as a result of the Florida Python Challenge® to date.
ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE? Click here to register for the competition, take the required online training, view the optional training opportunities, learn more about Burmese pythons and the Everglades ecosystem, or find resources for planning a trip to South Florida to participate in the Florida Python Challenge®.