The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and partners announced the results of the 2026 Florida Python Challenge, saying 907 participants from 30 states, plus Canada and Vietnam, removed 280 invasive Burmese pythons from south Florida during the 10-day event.
Everglades National Park returned as a partner and one of eight official competition locations. Tom Rahill won the $10,000 ultimate grand prize after removing 96 pythons — all taken from Everglades National Park. The longest python in the competition, measuring 16 feet, 5 inches, was removed from Everglades National Park by Rahm Levinson.
FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto called the results “a major victory for Florida’s native wildlife,” noting the challenge’s role in broader removal efforts. He said more than 1,600 pythons have been removed through Florida Python Challenge events to date and that FWC and South Florida Water Management District contractors have removed more than 19,000 pythons since 2017.
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