It happened again. Just when everyone thought the Everglades couldn't possibly hide anything larger, a massive big snake caught in Florida made national headlines, reminding us that the swamp is winning. We aren't just talking about a backyard garden snake. We are talking about apex predators that can swallow a white-tailed deer whole and still have room for dessert.
The Florida Everglades have become a literal breeding ground for giants. Burmese pythons, originally brought over as exotic pets in the 1970s and 80s, have turned the Southern Florida ecosystem into their personal buffet. It's a mess. Honestly, it’s a biological disaster that looks like a horror movie but is actually just a Tuesday for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The Record-Breakers: What 19 Feet Actually Looks Like
When you hear about a big snake caught in Florida, your mind probably goes to a 10-footer. That’s a baby. In July 2023, a team of hunters—specifically Jake Waleri and his crew—wrestled a 19-foot Burmese python out of the Big Cypress National Preserve.
Nineteen feet.
To put that in perspective, that’s longer than most family sedans. It weighed 125 pounds. This wasn't just a long snake; it was a heavy, muscular tube of pure invasive power. Most people don't realize that these snakes aren't just "long." They are dense. When you try to grab one, it’s like trying to hold onto a fire hose that’s actively trying to kill you. The strength in their midsection is terrifying.
The Science of the "Super Snake"
Biologists at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, like Ian Bartoszek, have been tracking these giants for years. They use "scout snakes"—males with radio transmitters—to lead them to the big "mamas." This is how they found a 215-pound female back in 2022. That snake was nearly 18 feet long but carried 122 developing eggs. Think about that. One big snake caught in Florida isn't just one snake; it's a potential biological bomb that can reset the entire local food chain.
The sheer scale of these animals is changing how we look at invasive species management. It's no longer about "control." It's about damage hit-and-run tactics.
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Why Florida Is the Perfect Python Kitchen
Why here? Why now? Basically, Florida is a paradise for a reptile that loves humidity and hates the cold. The Everglades provide thousands of square miles of inaccessible marshland. It's a fortress.
You've got a climate that mimics Southeast Asia and a buffet of native wildlife that has no evolutionary "fear" of constrictors. In their native range, pythons have to deal with tigers and leopards. In Florida? They are the kings. The only thing that really stands a chance against a big snake caught in Florida is a very large, very angry alligator. And even then, it's a coin flip.
There are famous photos of an alligator and a python in a "death grip" where both ended up dead. The snake tried to swallow the gator, the gator clawed its way out from the inside, and the swamp just reclaimed them both. It's brutal.
The Vanishing Mammals
If you go into the Everglades today, you’ll notice something eerie. It’s quiet.
Where are the rabbits?
Where are the foxes?
Studies have shown that in areas where these pythons are most dense, mammal populations have dropped by over 90%. The pythons are eating everything. Raccoons, opossums, even bobcats. This is why every big snake caught in Florida that gets removed is a small victory for the local ecosystem. Every time a hunter pulls one out, they are potentially saving hundreds of native animals.
The Python Challenge: Can We Actually Stop Them?
Every year, Florida hosts the "Python Challenge." It’s exactly what it sounds like. Hundreds of people, from professional hunters to "weekend warriors," descend on the glades to catch as many as they can.
It’s great for PR. It raises awareness. But honestly? It’s a drop in the bucket.
Estimates for the number of pythons in Florida range from 30,000 to over 100,000. We don't even know for sure because they are so good at hiding. Their camouflage is perfect. You could be standing three feet away from a big snake caught in Florida and never see it until it moves.
Professional Hunters vs. Amateurs
The real work is done by the professionals contracted by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). These guys go out at night with high-intensity spotlights, cruising the levees.
- Donna Kalil: One of the most famous female python hunters. She's caught hundreds.
- Kevin Pavlidis: Known for wrestling some of the most aggressive snakes on record.
- Trapping: It rarely works because pythons prefer live, moving prey.
The method is usually simple: spot the eyes, jump on the head, and secure the mouth. It’s dangerous. One mistake and you’re dealing with hundreds of needle-sharp, recurved teeth. They don't have fangs, but they have rows of teeth designed to pull you in. If a big snake caught in Florida bites your hand, you don't pull away. You have to push in to unhook the teeth. It’s counter-intuitive and terrifying.
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What Happens After the Catch?
People always ask: "What do they do with the snakes?"
First, they are humanely euthanized according to FWC guidelines. This usually involves a captive bolt or a firearm. It’s not "cruel"—it’s necessary.
Then, the data is collected.
Researchers want to know:
- What did it eat? (Stomach contents are fascinating and depressing).
- Was it breeding?
- Are there high levels of mercury?
Actually, the mercury thing is a huge deal. You can't eat these snakes. Well, you could, but you shouldn't. Because they are at the top of the food chain, they bioaccumulate massive amounts of mercury from the Everglades water. Some test results have shown mercury levels ten times higher than what is considered safe for human consumption. So, despite the "Python Jerky" rumors, it's a bad idea.
The Future of the Florida Frontier
Is the big snake caught in Florida just the beginning? Probably.
We are now seeing Green Anacondas in the wild. We're seeing Nile Monitors—huge lizards that can run faster than you. The pet trade has turned the state into a global melting pot of apex predators.
But the focus remains on the python because of its sheer size. As the climate warms, there is a very real fear that these snakes will move north. They’ve already been found as far north as Lake Okeechobee. Some experts worry they could eventually reach Georgia or even the Carolinas.
The only thing stopping them is a hard freeze. But as Florida winters get milder, the "python line" moves further north every year.
How to Help (and What to Avoid)
If you live in Florida or are visiting, you play a role. The state relies on "citizen scientists" to track these animals.
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- Use the App: The "IveGot1" app is the official way to report sightings. If you see a big snake caught in Florida, take a photo and pin the location.
- Don't Release Pets: This is how the mess started. If you have an exotic pet you can't handle, use the FWC’s Exotic Pet Amnesty Program. No questions asked.
- Stay Clear: Don't try to be a hero. A 15-foot python can overpower a grown man. If you aren't trained, stay back.
- Support the Scouts: Funding for the radio-tagging programs is the most effective way to find the "breeding aggregations" that actually matter for population control.
The battle for the Everglades isn't over. Every big snake caught in Florida is a reminder of how fragile our ecosystems are and how much work is left to do. It’s a weird, wild, and slightly scary situation, but for the people on the front lines, it's the only way to save what's left of the "River of Grass."
Actionable Steps for Florida Residents:
If you encounter a large constrictor on your property, do not attempt to capture it yourself. Contact the FWC’s Exotic Species Hotline at 888-Ive-Got1 (888-483-4681). For those interested in joining the effort, consider attending an officially sanctioned Python Patrol training session, which teaches citizens how to identify and safely report (or humanely capture, if permitted) these invasive reptiles. Documentation is the most valuable tool we have; even if the snake disappears before hunters arrive, your GPS-tagged photo helps biologists map the spread and prioritize search zones for the next night patrol.