Ultimate Florida Snake Slayer Wins $10,000 Python Challenge

Florida’s got a snake problem, and it’s not your average garden snake. (I don’t care for those either) I’m talking about Burmese pythons slithering all over the place, messing with the Everglades' natural flow of things. So, what do we do about it? Well, the Florida Python Challenge  just wrapped up, and let’s just say that they got a lot of snakes.  

This year, according to the FWC,  857 snake-wranglers from 33 states and even a couple from Canada joined forces to hunt these invasive monsters. Their mission? Help save the Everglades from being overrun. After about 10 days of sweaty, snake-hunting action, 195 of these giant reptiles were removed from south Florida. And who took the crown? A guy named Ronald Kiger, who bagged 20 pythons and walked away with a cool $10,000. Now that’s a payday!

But it’s not just about the money. The whole point of this challenge is to raise awareness about how these invasive pythons are wrecking Florida’s ecosystem. Burmese pythons don’t belong here. They’re eating everything in sight and making it tough for native species to survive. Since 2017, over 14,000 pythons have been yanked out of the Everglades!

Now, this whole thing wouldn’t be possible without the help of the FWC, South Florida Water Management District, and Governor Ron DeSantis’ push to protect Florida’s natural beauty. They're teaming up to make sure the Everglades can breathe a little easier, and the competition is only part of the fight.

With the warm climate we enjoy, there's more than just New Yorker's heading to Florida.  There are 44 known species of snakes here in Florida, but only 6 are venomous. Of course, it only takes one bite to totally ruin your day, so it's best to know who they are. I've seen so many posts on Facebook of people asking what kind of snake is this, and will I die if it bites me. Most won't. In fact, it's best to leave most snakes alone because they're eating pests that you don't want around. Rats, mice, those frogs that make your dog sick. Things like that.  This list doesn't include the invasive python which is attempting to take over the Everglades. It's not a venomous snake. Although it does make for interesting stories when Florida man takes one on.

It's actually a very short list of snakes that you really need to watch out for. There's the pit vipers and the eastern coral snake. The truly tricky part is all of the other snakes that try to look like they're a venomous snake. Those snakes are the equivalent of someone who is all talk but runs and hides once the fight starts.

Anyway, thanks to the good folks at World Atlas, let's take a look at some things that could kill you. It's the Venomous Snakes Of Florida

A pit viper that prefers to live in wooded and mixed pasture lowlands.

They like the tropical parts of Florida. They would rather hide than attack a human and generally don't bite. Still best to not mess with tho'.

These dudes live in habitats ranging from flatwoods to prairies, swamps, and marshes to along water bodies like ponds and lakes. Don't mess with them, they will react.

They hang out around forests and rugged terrain. One of the most feared snakes in Florida. If you get bit and do not get immediate treatment you'll probably die.

This snake is as nasty as it's name implies. It lives in a wide variety of habitats including marshes and swamps, dry pine forests, sandhills, wet prairies, and wherever it finds food. It can grow up to 8 feet long, is faster than you, and can outswim you. It's bite has a mortality rate up to 30%.

This thing hangs out in swampy regions, wooded regions along watercourses, and along the edges of cypress ponds. It's even made it's way to some islands. You probably won't die if it bites you, but amputations? Yeah, amputations.