Florida’s fight against invasive Burmese pythons has increasingly relied on an unusual tool: cash incentives large enough to draw hunters, hobbyists and out-of-state competitors into the swamps for a shot at a payout.

Florida hosts an annual Python Challenge, offering a $10,000 prize to the participant who removes the most invasive pythons. The 2025 challenge winner, Taylor Stanberry, was the first woman to win and captured 60 pythons in 10 days. Researchers have used ...

The South Florida Water Management District is now rewarding hunters for removing python eggs and active nests from the landscape.

In Florida, python removal is often presented as a test of nerve and skill. One professional python hunter, however, says the priority should be the protection of native animals,