The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and its partners celebrated the successful 2024 Florida Python Challenge™. 857 participants removed 195 invasive Burmese pythons, contributing to Everglades conservation efforts.
The grand prize winner, Ronald Kiger, removed an impressive 20 pythons.
The challenge aims to raise awareness about the threat invasive species pose to Florida’s ecology. FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto highlighted the collective achievement and its positive impact on the Everglades and native wildlife.
Read :Florida Lt. Gov. Nuñez Announces Registration Is Open For The 2024 Florida Python Challenge
“Alligator Ron” Bergeron, South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Member, congratulated the winners and emphasized the importance of python removal in preserving the Everglades.
Roger Young, FWC Executive Director, thanked Governor DeSantis and partners for their support, noting the participation of over 700 Floridians and 100 out-of-state competitors.
The event was sponsored by the Bergeron Everglades Foundation and Inversa Leathers, with additional prize funding provided by other organizations.
The challenge, held under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, demonstrates Florida’s commitment to combatting invasive species and protecting its natural resources.
Read: 2 Georgia Men Planned To Have A Python Eat A Woman’s Child Before Blowing Up Her Home
The public can continue to help by removing pythons on private lands with permission and reporting sightings of nonnative species.
2024 Florida Python Challenge™ Prize Winners:
| Ultimate Grand Prize Awarded to the participant who removes the most pythons as part of the competition. | $10,000 Ronald Kiger 20 pythons | |
| Professional | Novice | |
| Most Pythons Prize | $2,500 Donna Kalil 19 pythons | $2,500 Thomas Hobbs 16 pythons |
| Most Pythons Runner-Up Prize | $1,500 Marcos Rodriguez 16 pythons | $1,500 Donald Straughan 7 pythons |
| Longest Python Prize | $1,000 Quentin Archie 8 feet, 11 inches | $1,000 Dennis Krum 9 feet, 11 inches |
| Military – Active Duty and Veteran | ||
| Most Pythons Military Prize | $2,500 Jeff Lince (Army) 5 pythons | |
| Most Pythons Military Runner-Up Prize | $1,500 David Wagner (Army) 3 pythons | |
| Longest Python Military Prize | $1,000 Antonio Ramos (Army) 9 feet, 7 inches |
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