A total of 294 Burmese pythons were eliminated during the 2025 Florida Python Challenge – the most of any python challenge since the event started in 2013.
But only one snake by a hunter was declared the longest of this year's competition.
2025 Florida Python Challenge: What was the longest snake caught?
That honor belongs to Michael Marousky. He was competing in the Novice category and a python he caught was officially measured 15 feet, 11 inches. For the accomplishment, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission awarded Marousky with $1,000.
A total of $25,000 in prize money was distributed to winners in three categories − professional, novice and military.
Python hunter Taylor Stanberry was the Ultimate Grand Prize winner for 2025. She captured the most pythons during the 10-day Challenge from July 10-20 and took home $10,000 for her efforts.
Of the 60 snakes she caught, Stanberry said her longest was between 9.5 feet and 10 feet.
In the other categories, Kennith Chamberland, competing in the Professional category, found a 9-foot, 8-inch python. He also won $1,000. In the Military category (Active Duty and Veteran) it was Jonathan Miller (U.S. Air Force) taking the $1,000 prize for capturing a 11-foot, 2-inch python.
Florida Python Challenge: Who were all of the winners?
ULTIMAGE GRAND PRIZEAwarded to the participant who removes the most pythons as part of the competition.
Taylor Stanberry
Python caught: 60
Prize: $10,000
PROFESSIONAL WINNER
Donna Kalil
Pythons: 56
Prize: $2,500
PROFESSTIONAL RUNNER-UP
Hannah Gray
Pythons: 22
Prize: $1,500
LONGEST PYTHON PRIZE
Kennith Chamberland
Length: 9 feet, 8 inches
Prize: $1,000
NOVICE
MOST PYTHONS PRIZE
Krista Hoekstra
Pythons: 14
Prize: $2,5000
MOST PYTHONS RUNNER-UP PRIZE
Kymberly Clark
Pythons: 7
Prize: $1,500
LONGEST PYTHON PRIZE
Michale Marousky
Length: 15 feet, 11 inches
Prize: $1,000
MILITARY – Active Duty and Veteran
MOST PYTHONS PRIZE
John Southworth (U.S. Army)
Pythons: 5
Prize: $2,500
MOST PYTHONS RUNNER-UP PRIZE
Matthew Jamison (U.S. Air Force)
Pythons: 3
Prize: $1,500
LONGEST PYTHON PRIZE
Jonathan Miller (U.S. Air Force)
Length: 11 feet, 2 inches
Prize: $1,000
How serious is the python problem in Florida?
Burmese pythons have wrought destruction in the Florida Everglades. They've contributed to the decline of small mammals including raccoons, opossums, bobcats, foxes, marsh rabbits and cottontail rabbits.
A recent study revealed that Burmese pythons can eat prey much larger than previously reported. Scientists observed a Burmese python swallowing a 77-pound white-tailed deer, nearly 70 percent of the snake’s mass.
What is the Florida Python Challenge?
The Florida Python Challenge is a ten-day competition encouraging participants to remove Burmese pythons from seven Commission-managed lands in South Florida.
According to FWC, the event is held to raise public awareness about invasive species in Florida, like Burmese pythons, that are a threat to the Everglades ecosystem.
Where was the 2025 Florida Python Challenge held?
The Florida Python Challenge took place at these eight competition locations:
Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area
Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area
Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area
Frog Pond North Public Small Game Hunting Area
Holey Land Wildlife Management Area
Rocky Glades Public Small Game Hunting Area
Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area
Burmese pythons in Florida must be humanely killed
If you catch a Burmese python in Florida, you must humanely kill the snake where it was captured. Transporting live pythons is not allowed.
Two steps must be completed to kill a python humanely:
Step 1 - Target the brain: The application of the tool should immediately result in the python losing consciousness.
Draw an imaginary line between each eye and opposite jawbone.
The brain is located where the two lines intersect.
Apply the tool to the target area (brain) to achieve an immediate loss of consciousness.
Step 2- Destroy the brain: Immediately and substantially destroy the python’s brain by manually “pithing” which prevents the python from regaining consciousness.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: What was the longest snake caught in 2025 Florida Python Challenge?
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