Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference on Tuesday in Stuart to announce record progress in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission\u2019s Python Action Team \u2013 Removing Invasive Constrictors (PATRIC) program.<\/p>\n
The program, which began in 2017, has removed a record-setting number of invasive Burmese Pythons from Florida\u2019s Everglades, in part because of a new partnership with Miami-based company Inversa.<\/p>\n
\u201cFWC\u2019s partnership with Inversa has supercharged the removal of invasive Burmese Pythons from the Everglades,\u201d DeSantis said. \u201cThe new program accomplished more removals in July 2025 alone than in the entire year before.”<\/p>\n
The FWC\u2019s goal was to increase the number of python removals by three times in years, but with Inversa\u2019s technology, PATRIC has already delivered on its Year 2 objectives, a full year and a half ahead of schedule. <\/p>\n
In just three months (May \u2013 July 2025), 1,022 pythons were removed, compared to 343 during that same period in 2024, and 748 were removed in July alone\u2014more than the entire previous year\u2019s total. <\/p>\n
On top of that, FWC management workload is down 89% and python hunters\u2019 pay has increased by 60% in that same period.<\/p>\n
Based on that success, the governor also called on funding for the program to be continued annually to build off the state\u2019s initial $2 million investment in 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must now build on their achievements and continue investing in this proven strategy to protect the Everglades for many years to come,\u201d DeSantis said.<\/p>\n
Burmese pythons are not native to Florida and negatively impact native species. <\/p>\n
They are found primarily in and around the Everglades ecosystem in south Florida, where they prey on birds, mammals and other reptiles. A female Burmese python can lay 50 to 100 eggs at a time. <\/p>\n
Since the year 2000, more than 23,000 wild Burmese pythons have been removed from the state of Florida and reported to the FWC.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe success we are achieving against invasive species wouldn\u2019t be possible without the support of Governor DeSantis and the Legislature,\u201d said FWC Executive Director Roger Young. \u201cThank you to the Inversa team for helping us combat this problem using emerging technological advancements.\u201d <\/p>\n
Among Florida\u2019s efforts to combat invasive pythons is the annual Florida Python Challenge, which is intended to increase awareness about invasive species and the threats they pose to Florida\u2019s ecology, while offering the public a way to get directly involved in Everglades conservation through removal of invasive Burmese pythons. <\/p>\n
Competitors have the opportunity to win tens of thousands of dollars in prizes based on the size and quantity of pythons captured and removed. <\/p>\n
During this year\u2019s 10-day competition, 934 participants from 30 states and Canada helped support Everglades conservation by collectively removing a record 294 invasive Burmese pythons from south Florida.<\/p>\n
In addition to the Florida Python Challenge, there are other ways people can continue to help control nonnative species such as Burmese pythons. <\/p>\n
Anyone may remove and humanely kill pythons and other nonnative reptiles at any time on private lands with landowner permission and on 32 FWC-managed lands throughout south Florida.<\/p>\n
The public can also help control invasive species by reporting nonnative snakes, tegus and monitor lizards to the FWC\u2019s Invasive Species Hotline at 888-IVE-GOT1 (888-483-4681), and by reporting sightings of other nonnative fish and wildlife online at IveGot1.org<\/a> or by downloading the free IveGot1 smartphone app. <\/p>\n