Coverage of reptiles in Florida focuses on the keeping of snakes, lizards and turtles as well as the hobby itself. It includes regulatory status updates, conservation efforts and community gatherings.
An eight-year USGS-led tracking study of 356 Burmese pythons in Big Cypress National Preserve documented tree use across seasons.
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Should governments spend more money trying to remove invasive pythons from Florida?
November 6, 2026
Congressman Proposes Federal Study on Alligator ManagementThe GATOR Act would examine whether wildlife protections hinder removing alligators near homes in Florida.
November 4, 2026
Robotic Rabbits Lure Burmese Pythons in FloridaResearchers are testing motorized, heated toy-rabbit decoys to attract invasive pythons into camera-monitored pens for removal.
November 2, 2026
Florida Governor Backs Python Removal From EvergladesDeSantis posted support for trapping invasive Burmese pythons after an otter video circulated on social media.
October 29, 2026
Taylor Stanberry Wins 2025 Florida Python ChallengeThe 29-year-old hunter removed 60 Burmese pythons to become the first woman to win the annual state competition.
October 28, 2026
Florida Researchers Develop New Python Removal IndexThe state program uses demographic weighting to improve the efficiency of invasive Burmese python population management.
October 20, 2026
Researchers Track Invasive Pythons in the EvergladesUniversity of Florida interns are using radio-tagged snakes to better understand and manage the invasive population.
October 14, 2026
Florida Researchers Developed Weighted Python Removal IndexThe new method accounts for the demographic impact of captured Burmese pythons to better evaluate removal efforts.
October 9, 2026
Three Florida Reptile Species Listed as EndangeredThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service granted protection to three native reptiles following a federal court settlement.
October 7, 2026
Hunters Removed 181 Invasive Pythons in FloridaThe state-led elimination program awarded bonuses to top performers who removed snakes from public lands in September 2026.
October 7, 2026
Florida American Crocodile Died from Lead PoisoningA 7-foot female crocodile died in November 2023 after consuming lead pellets from scavenged green iguanas.
Coverage takes in legal developments for specific species, the impact of invasive populations, the work of rescue groups and trends in reptile expos. Reporting spans from the state capital to the rural counties and urban centers where these animals are kept. Florida faces a unique set of challenges regarding exotic animals that thrive in the climate and the subsequent impact on the ecosystem. The legal classification of different species changes frequently as state agencies react to new environmental data.
