Taylor Stanberry is the Ultimate Grand Prize Winner for the 2025 Florida Python Challenge thanks to her efforts to elimiate 60 of the invasive species wreaking havoc with the Evergaldes ecosystem.
Not too shabby for a first-timer.
Stanberry, 29, and a resident of Naples, was introduced as this year's Florida Python Challenge winner at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) August meeting today (Aug. 13).
More: Video shows gator chomp on invasive python, swim away with it in its jaws
Stanberry collected a $10,000 check for eliminating the most pythons during the 10-day compeition from July 10-20.
Yes, this was the first time Stanberry has particiapted Florida Python Challenge, but it would be wrong to call her success beginners luck. She and her husband, Rhett, have been catching pythons and other snakes for a decade. They have a Facebook page where they document and share content from their adventures.
They also have a YouTube Channel and Taylor has an Instagram page where she shares content.
The Naples Daily News and The News-Press caught up with Stanberry by email soon after she accepted her check and received the special recognition at the FWC meeting in Havana (Gadsden County).
Q&A with 2025 Florida Python Challenge grand prize winner Taylor Stanberry
Did you think you could get as many as 60 pythons going into this year’s Florida Python Challenge?
I knew it was possible since this time of year is when nests are hatching and pythons are really moving. My husband (Rhett) I have caught more than 100 pythons before in the month of July in previous years.
What was the longest Burmese python you caught in this year’s Florida Python Challenge?
It was 9.5-10-feet. I caught a 12-foot one the day before the Challenge but obviously that did not count for the Challenge.
What was the heaviest python you caught in the 2025 Florida Python Challenge?
I am not sure how much that 9.5-10-foot python weighed, probably 12-ish pounds.
Out of the 10 days, what was the most number of pythons you caught in one day?
I found a nest one night with 30 babies (hatchlings) and the eggs!
Where (what location or locations) were you hunting?
The approved challenge areas.
Note to audience: There were eight approved locations for the 2025 Python Challenge.
What was the day and time of the first python you caught during this year’s challenge and can you recall the details of that catch? And how about the same for the last snake you caught – No. 60 – day and details?
Honestly the 10 days is kind of a blur lol! The first snake was the first night of the Challenge, just a 5-foot python that we road-cruised. He was the one that bit me, but nothing crazy.
My last snake caught during the challenge was an 8-foot python, I actually caught like seven snakes on the last night, which was crazy since so many hunters were out trying to get as many pythons as possible in the last few hours of the challenge!
Any particular memorable moments from this year’s Florida Python Challenge?
Honestly my favorite part of it all is just working along side my husband, and best friend, Rhett, and looking for snakes! But I will say finding babies (hatchlings) and the eggs is always a bonus!
Did you get bitten during this year’s Florida Python Challenge and if so approximately how many times?
Just a handful of times, once by a 5-foot python then by the itty bitty babies (hatchlings). I’m used to it!
More: Florida python hunter describes python bite: 'Like a mouthful of hypodermic needles'
What was your schedule like during the 10-days of the challenge? Sleep during day and out all night, or what was a typical timeframe for you for being out hunting during the 10 days?
I would start my hunt around 7-8 p.m. and go until 5 a.m. then I would sleep a couple hours, take care of my rescue animals, and some days I would work my other jobs. I then had to drop off any of the snakes I captured the day before then start hunting again. It was a long 10 days!
What is the key to your success for finding and eliminating Burmese pythons? Why do you think you are successful at this? What advice would you give to newbie hunters?
I have been catching pythons for over 10 years. It’s all about knowing what areas to hunt, what habitat to look for and just putting in the time. Some nights I go out and won’t find a single python then other nights, I’ll find a nest of 60 babies (hatchlings)! I would tell newbie hunters to just put in the time, I’ve heard from some that they’ve hunted for “a few hours and caught nothing”. Rhett and I are out for 12 hours some nights multiple days a week.
How far back does your interest in pythons and all things snakes go. I know on Rhett’s Facebook page you and him are showing photos of all kinds of snakes.
I’ve been looking for wildlife since I was a little kid. I used to go fishing with my dad and we would catch toads and I would bring them home to play with them. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started traveling around the world looking for wildlife especially snakes to video and photograph. I post a lot of it on my Instagram and we have a YouTube channel called “ Tobies Troop”.
Do you work or is snake hunting a full-time job for you?
I work at a canine physical therapy rehab center, then I am a python contractor and I also run a small exotic animal rescue.
Do you think the Florida Python Challenge is effective as far as raising awareness and getting as many people as possible to eliminate the invasive snake?
Python contractors like myself and Rhett eliminate way more invasive Burmese pythons year round than novices do during the 10-day challenge. Also, every year during the challenge, a lot of native snakes are killed because novice participants cannot correctly identify native species.
Any suggestions for making it better or is it perfect as it is?
I think participants should do more training to be able to identify pythons from native species of snakes.
Do you have any special plans for the prize money you won?
I am going use the money to expand my animals enclosures and gas money for more python hunting!
Will you come back next year to defend you title at the 2026 Florida Python Challenge?
I am not sure if I’ll enter next year, we will have to wait and see (wink emoji).
More coverage of pythons in Florida
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Florida Python Challenge 2025: How many snakes did winner kill?
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