Gov. DeSantis shares efforts in place to solve Florida python issue

The governor held a press conference on Monday where he highlighted the success of a public-private partnership aimed at removing Pythons from Florida’s Everglades.Gov. Ron DeSantis shared the success of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Python Action Team – Removing Invasive Constrictors (PATRIC) program.The governor explained that the program has achieved record-setting removal numbers of invasive Burmese Pythons from Florida’s Everglades. From May to July of this year, 1,022 pythons were removed, compared to 343 during that same period in 2024. 748 were removed in July alone. This is more than the entire previous year’s total, he said.The governor also called on funding for the program to be continued annually to build off of the state’s initial $2 million investment in 2025. Not only does the company help remove invasive species, but it also uses the skin to make leather. The company then uses the leather to make boots, belts, wallets and more.”I will tell you some of the stuff is very fashionable, and I’m not somebody that really is very good at knowing what that would be, but these guys do. They sell these things, and when they become very popular, they sell them for a lot of money,” DeSantis said. With ongoing efforts to restore Florida’s Everglades, DeSantis said the idea made perfect sense to him when he learned they could harness the economic incentives and help dwindle the number of Burmese Pythons in the Everglades.”I knew it would help. I didn’t know that the numbers would be this dramatic, I must confess. So, it’s been a pleasant surprise to see the progress, and I know we’re going to continue to do it,” he said.Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Roger Young said this is just the beginning. DeSantis explained why he feels the removal of the invasive species is crucial in their fight to restore the Everglades.”They were introduced through the exotic pet trade, and they were released into the wild once they got too big for their owners to keep them in the house. How stupid do you have to be to have released these things out of your house and into the wild?” he said.He explained how the invasive species threatens both native and endangered species.”This is an apex predator right here. It threatens the survival of many endangered species. A single female python can lay up to 100 eggs at a time, and they have no natural predators in the Florida Everglades. So their population has exploded. Native mammals ranging from raccoons and rabbits to foxes and even deer have seen their numbers dwindle. These things will take out a deer. I mean, it’s unbelievable what they’re able to do,” DeSantis said.DeSantis said he hopes this will be the next step to getting rid of the invasive species once and for all. In addition to the Florida Python Challenge, the public can help control invasive species by reporting nonnative snakes, tegus and monitor lizards to the following places:FWC’s Invasive Species Hotline at 888-IVE-GOT1 (888-483-4681)Reporting sightings of other nonnative fish and wildlife online at IveGot1.orgDownloading the free IveGot1 smartphone app.For more information, visit https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/.

The governor held a press conference on Monday where he highlighted the success of a public-private partnership aimed at removing Pythons from Florida’s Everglades.

Gov. Ron DeSantis shared the success of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Python Action Team – Removing Invasive Constrictors (PATRIC) program.

The governor explained that the program has achieved record-setting removal numbers of invasive Burmese Pythons from Florida’s Everglades.

From May to July of this year, 1,022 pythons were removed, compared to 343 during that same period in 2024. 748 were removed in July alone. This is more than the entire previous year’s total, he said.

The governor also called on funding for the program to be continued annually to build off of the state’s initial $2 million investment in 2025.

Not only does the company help remove invasive species, but it also uses the skin to make leather. The company then uses the leather to make boots, belts, wallets and more.

“I will tell you some of the stuff is very fashionable, and I’m not somebody that really is very good at knowing what that would be, but these guys do. They sell these things, and when they become very popular, they sell them for a lot of money,” DeSantis said.

With ongoing efforts to restore Florida’s Everglades, DeSantis said the idea made perfect sense to him when he learned they could harness the economic incentives and help dwindle the number of Burmese Pythons in the Everglades.

“I knew it would help. I didn’t know that the numbers would be this dramatic, I must confess. So, it’s been a pleasant surprise to see the progress, and I know we’re going to continue to do it,” he said.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Roger Young said this is just the beginning.

DeSantis explained why he feels the removal of the invasive species is crucial in their fight to restore the Everglades.

“They were introduced through the exotic pet trade, and they were released into the wild once they got too big for their owners to keep them in the house. How stupid do you have to be to have released these things out of your house and into the wild?” he said.

He explained how the invasive species threatens both native and endangered species.

“This is an apex predator right here. It threatens the survival of many endangered species. A single female python can lay up to 100 eggs at a time, and they have no natural predators in the Florida Everglades. So their population has exploded. Native mammals ranging from raccoons and rabbits to foxes and even deer have seen their numbers dwindle. These things will take out a deer. I mean, it’s unbelievable what they’re able to do,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis said he hopes this will be the next step to getting rid of the invasive species once and for all.

In addition to the Florida Python Challenge, the public can help control invasive species by reporting nonnative snakes, tegus and monitor lizards to the following places:

FWC’s Invasive Species Hotline at 888-IVE-GOT1 (888-483-4681)Reporting sightings of other nonnative fish and wildlife online at IveGot1.orgDownloading the free IveGot1 smartphone app.

For more information, visit https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/.