WEST PALM BEACH — The 2023 Florida Python Challenge® kicks off this week, providing both professional and novice participants a firsthand opportunity to join in the effort to remove these invasive snakes from the Everglades ecosystem.

The annual 10-day competition and conservation effort is a partnership between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) that promotes the protection of native wildlife through the removal of Burmese pythons. The competition runs from August 4-13, 2023.

Did you know that every python that is removed and eliminated is making a difference to protect the Everglades and South Florida’s diverse and native wildlife? These destructive snakes aggressively prey on native Florida species, such as marsh rabbits, deer, wading birds and even alligators. Their aggressive predation on native wildlife robs panthers, raptors, bobcats, and other native predators of their primary food sources.

• Since 2019, the state has taken unprecedented action to protect the Everglades and eliminate invasive pythons from across the landscape. The state’s focused commitment has accounted for more than half of the 18,000 pythons removed from the Everglades since 2000.

• During the 2022 Florida Python Challenge®, 231 pythons were removed from the Everglades, an increase from the 2021 number and more than double those removed in 2020. Nearly 1,000 participants from 32 states, Canada and Latvia took part in last year’s python challenge.

• Safely capturing and eliminating these destructive snakes protects native wildlife and our one-of-a-kind Everglades ecosystem.

In addition to the competition, the annual Florida Python Challenge also serves as a platform to share information about the damage pythons cause, encourage the public to continually remove these invasive snakes, and highlight the importance of responsible pet ownership so non-native species such as Burmese pythons are not released into the wild.