Now in its second full years, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Python Elimination Program continues to involve.
For the first time since the program started in 2025, the SFWMD is keeping track of and rewarding contracted hunters for total number of eggs removed during the month.
Female pythons can carry can carry dozens or even hundreds of eggs at a time and finding pythons with eggs and eliminating them contributes to the ongoing efforts of reducing the Burmese python population which is harming the ecosystem in the Everglades.
How can you become a contracted python hunter?
Federal and state programs contract with members of the public to become paid python hunters to combat Burmese pythons in Florida, including:
South Florida Water Management District Python Elimination Program
Florida Fish & Wildlife Python Action Team
FWC offers training to the public, free of charge, via its Python Patrol program.
Virtual classes are offered every third Thursday of the month.
The training covers:
Class registration and a self-guided version of the training are available on the FWC website.
FWC does not offer compensation for pythons except to contracted members of the PATRIC Program and winners during the Florida Python Challenge.
More: Florida Python Challenge 2026 dates are set. How 2025 champ scored the win
According to the Facebook post the SFWMD made on June 5, last month’s bonus awards also rewarded hunters for removing python eggs and active nests from the landscape. Together, the hunters eliminated 315 eggs.
Elimination python in Florida: Hunters earn money for removalsPhotos of South Florida Water Management District Python Elimination Program winners
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Megan De Angelis, right, was the overall winner (most pythons eliminated) for the South Florida Water Management District’s Python Elimination Program for May 2026.
(Provided by South Florida Water Management District)
Here are the May 2026 winners for the SWFWD Python Elimination Program:
Most Pythons removed: $600 − Megan De Angelis (81 captures; 1 nesting female python and 80 eggs)
Longest Python removed: $400 − Donna Kalil (17 feet, 6 inches)
15 Pythons removed: $1,500 − Guillermo Tapanes, Anthony Flanagan, Tommy Lee, Kyle Findley, Christina Kraus and Megan De Angelis
10 Pythons removed: $1,000 − Donna Kalil and Matt Kogo
7 Pythons removed: $500 − Andre Brown and Aaron Mann
4 Pythons: $300 − Alec Rex, Joseph Currie, Kristine Bartish, Richard Catrambone, Federico Arrosa, Frank Alonso and Joaquin Vila
Python hunter Donna Kalil won the monthly award from the South Florida Water Management District for the longest python removed. It was measured at 17 feet, 6 inches.
From the SFWMD to the hunters: “Thank you to all of our python removal agents! Every invasive python and nest that is removed is making a difference to protect the Everglades and the region’s native wildlife.”
Python removal efforts in Florida: What they are saying
Here’s some of what people are saying on the South Florida Water Management’s Facebook post about the May winners for its Python Elimination Program:
Deborah Axtell Dobbins said: Great job, keep up your hard work!
Lori Irvine Cameron said: Great job by all
Ron-Mary Boltze said: Awesome. Thanks to all of you for your hard work saving our Everglades.
David Potter said: What a month! Well done hunters!
Anna Petofi said: Can’t have them over take Everglades’s ecosystem
Malinda Kilby said: Thank y’all so much for what you’re doing for us !! Much respect !!
Jay Vetsch said: Great job! Is the bonus money enough to get high participation?
Mark H. Bickel is the Audience Development Director for The News-Press & Naples Daily News. Reach him by emailing mbickel@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: How can you become a contracted python hunter in Florida?