Winners announced of 2023 Florida Python Challenge
FWC photo of 2023 Python Challenge winners.
On Sept. 15, 2023, Florida's Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez announced the winners of the 2023 Florida Python Challenge®. During this ten-day competition that started at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 4, 2023 and ran through 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 13, 1,050 participants from 35 states and Belgium removed 209 Burmese pythons from south Florida.
The competition was created by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida (FWFF) to raise awareness about invasive species in Florida and their impacts upon Florida's ecology. The competition also encourages people to get directly involved in Everglades conservation through invasive species removal.
“Removing these invasive pythons is an important part of our efforts to protect the Everglades, and this competition allows people to get involved in Florida’s conservation efforts for one of the world’s most prized natural resources,” said Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez. “I thank everyone involved in making the Florida Python Challenge® a successful event year after year, and I congratulate the winners of this year’s competition.”
The winners of the 2023 Florida Python Challenge® were announced at a Sept. 15, 2023 Awards Ceremony at the Long Key Nature Center in Davie, Florida. The Ultimate Grand Prize Winner was Paul Hobbs, who removed 20 Burmese pythons, winning $10,000. The Ultimate Grand Prize Runner-Up, Ronald Kiger, took home $7,500 for removing 14 pythons. The winner in the Military category was Justin Morgan, who took home $2,500 for removing 7 pythons. See the full list of winners here: https://flpythonchallenge.org/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=campaign.
Python Challenge website
Visit FlPythonChallenge.org for more information.
About Invasive Burmese Pythons
Burmese pythons are not native to Florida and negatively impact native species. They are found primarily in and around the Everglades ecosystem in south Florida, where they prey on birds, mammals and other reptiles. A female Burmese python may lay 50 to 100 eggs at a time. Since 2000, more than 19,000 wild Burmese pythons have been removed from the state of Florida and reported to FWC, including more than 11,000 Burmese pythons removed since 2019.
Sponsors
This year, Inversa Leathers provided the $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize, while the Bergeron Everglades Foundation provided the $7,500 for the Grand Prize Runner Up. Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands supplied prizes to the winners in the active-duty military and veteran category. The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida contributed additional prizes in the novice and professional categories. A special thanks also goes to Bronze Level Sponsor, Dakota Matting. Visit FlPythonChallenge.org for more information.