/ CBS/AP
The effort to hunt invasive snakes in Florida
It's official, the Florida Python Challenge this year has a winner.
The $10,000 grand prize went to Ronald Kiger, who removed 20 Burmese pythons from the Florida Everglades during the 10-day hunt, which was meant to bring awareness to the threat that these pythons pose to the ecosystem. Last year, he was the direct runner-up to the grand prize winner.
Representatives from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced Kiger's win in a Tuesday morning meeting in Duck Key. This year, more than 800 people from 33 states and Canada participated in the challenge, and hunters removed 195 Burmese pythons from the wild.
The rest of the prize money was divided amongst competitors in the contest's three categories: novice, professional and military. Donna Kalil was one python away from a tie with Kiger. Kalil, a contractor with the South Florida Water Management District, got a $2,500 prize for catching 19 pythons in the professional category.
"I'm not afraid of that python," Kalil recently told CBS News. "I'm afraid of it getting away."
Also in the professional category, Marcos Rodriguez caught 16 pythons for the prize of $1,500, and Quentin Archie won a $1,000 prize for catching the longest python in this category at 8 feet 11 inches.
Thomas Hobbs won $2,500 for leading the novice category by catching 16 Burmese pythons, while Dennis Krum caught the longest python in this category and also in the entire competition, at 9 feet 11 inches.
Jeff Lince caught five pythons, winning $2,500 in the military category, and Antonio Ramos won $1,000 for catching the longest python in this group at 9 feet 7 inches.
The challenge occurred in mid-August. Hunters were tasked with humanely killing the Burmese pythons and turning in the carcasses to any of the contest's three check stations in South Florida.
The challenge wasn't just meant for hunters to win the share of about $25,000 in prizes. It also served to raise awareness about the dangers of Burmese pythons, like how they affect native snakes, can spread diseases amongst native animals and have high mercury levels that are dangerous for human consumption.
"Over 14,000 pythons have been successfully removed by FWC and South Florida Water Management District contractors since 2017," said Rodney Barreto, chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in a news release. "This collective effort continues to have a direct positive impact on the Everglades and our native wildlife through removal and awareness."
This year's competition was a little bit smaller compared to last year. In 2023, more than 1,000 hunters participated and 209 pythons were removed.
"Every invasive python that is removed makes a difference for Florida's environment and its native wildlife," South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Member Bergeron.
Hunters contracted with the state's wildlife commission and the South Florida Water Management District work year-round to remove the invasive pythons from the wild. A female python can lay about 50 to 100 eggs at a time, which is why the competition is held during hatching season in August. According to the wildlife agency, about 22,000 pythons have been removed from the state since 2000.
The Burmese python population exploded in the mid-90s after being imported from South Asia as exotic pets. Burmese pythons are usually between six to nine feet but can grow over 15 feet long. They are non-venomous and generally do not attack people or pets, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History, but pose a threat to wildlife indigenous to the area.
Native bird, rabbit, raccoon and deer populations have been decimated, and even gators have fallen prey to the constrictors. They have no natural predators.