Taylor Stanberry Wins 2025 Florida Python Challenge
The 29-year-old hunter removed 60 Burmese pythons to become the first woman to win the annual state competition.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Reptiles
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Taylor Stanberry claimed the Ultimate Grand Prize of $10,000 at the 2025 Florida Python Challenge by removing 60 of the invasive snakes. She is the first female participant to win the competition since it began in 2013.
Why it matters
Burmese pythons are an invasive species in Florida that prey on native birds, mammals, and reptiles. Controlling their population is a primary goal of state environmental efforts.
Taylor Stanberry caught 33 female pythons and 27 male pythons during the 10-day challenge. Since 2000, over 23,500 pythons have been removed from Florida.
The players
Taylor Stanberry
She is a 29-year-old hunter who made history as the first woman to win the Florida Python Challenge.
The details
Stanberry secured her victory by navigating the cypress swamps barefoot to locate and capture the snakes. She uses a manual technique of grabbing the pythons by the back of the head and the middle of the body to secure them.
Timeline
Python removal efforts in Florida began in 2000.
The first Python Challenge was held in 2013.
Cumulative removals reached 23,500 by April 2025.
Taylor Stanberry won the annual challenge in 2025.
Culture Shift
This victory highlights a shift in the demographics of environmental conservation efforts, traditionally dominated by male participants. It underscores the broader trend of citizen-led environmental management in protecting native ecosystems from invasive species.
Residents of Florida may see continued state-sponsored efforts to manage invasive populations in local swamps. The competition highlights the practical reality of living with an invasive species that requires active management to protect the native environment.
The takeaway
Stanberry demonstrated that specialized hunting techniques in difficult terrain can yield significant results in population control. Her win marks a notable milestone in the ongoing state efforts to reduce the threat of invasive pythons.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to manage invasive wildlife in Florida Reptiles.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
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