Meet Taylor Stanberry: The First Woman Winner in Florida, Captures 60 Snakes & Wins 2025 Python Challenge

A 4-feet-11 Florida woman just made headlines by removing 60 Burmese pythons during the 2025 Florida Python Challenge. She earned the $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize and beat out 934 participants from 30 states and Canada in this ten-day effort across multiple sites, including Everglades National Park for the first time. Her efforts brought the total removals to a record-high 294 snakes, marking a big win for Florida’s wildlife.

What Makes the Python Challenge Special

The Florida Python Challenge launched as part of efforts to slow the spread of Burmese pythons, an invasive species that arrived through the exotic pet trade. Female pythons can lay up to 100 eggs, and the reptiles have few natural predators in Florida.

This event invites public participation. Anyone can join after completing online training. Rules forbid firearms or dogs and require humane removal methods. The goal: fight invasive snakes while keeping everyone safe and responsible.

Also Read: Warnings of Dangers of Snake Bites: Tennessee Hiker Dies

2025 by the Numbers

This year’s Python Challenge broke records in several ways:

• 934 participants from 30 states and Canada took part.
• A total of 294 Burmese pythons were removed in just 10 days, far above previous years.
• The challenge ran from July 11 to July 20, expanding beyond the usual August timing.
• Everglades National Park joined as a sanctioned zone, giving hunters wider access and visibility.

These results show how public engagement can help protect Florida’s fragile ecosystems.

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Historical Context

Here’s how the Python Challenge has evolved:

• 2017 onward – FWC and partners removed over 16,000 pythons through official actions.
• 2024 Challenge – Hunters removed 195 snakes; Taylor’s 2025 results far exceeded this.
• 2025 Challenge – 294 snakes removed; winner caught 60; first inclusion of Everglades National Park.

The cumulative impact matters, even if millions of dollars can’t match the collective efforts of citizens and agencies working together.

Meet the Winner: Taylor Stanberry

Taylor Stanberry calls Naples, Florida, home. She stands at 4-feet-11-inches but caught a 9.5–10-foot coiled python, more than double her height, and uncovered 30 hatchlings at once in a single nest. Her total haul of 60 snakes earned her the top prize.

She’s no beginner. With more than a decade of python-hunting behind her, she works in canine physical therapy, serves as a python contractor for FWC, and runs an exotic animal rescue with her husband, Rhett.

The couple also shares their wildlife adventures on Instagram and YouTube, where Taylor’s known as @taylor2short and has around 69,000 followers on Instagram and 227,000 subscribers on YouTube.

Also Read: Hiker dies after being bitten by Timbler rattlesnake in Savage Gulf State Park TN

Why This Matters for Wildlife

Burmese pythons prey on a wide range of Florida’s native wildlife, from small mammals to birds. Removing nearly three hundred snakes in ten days relieves pressure on local species and helps maintain balance in the Everglades and surrounding regions.

FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto called it “a big win for native wildlife.” Everglades Superintendent Pedro Ramos echoed that citizen involvement, like this event, helps tackle one of the toughest wildlife problems Florida faces. And since 2017, FWC and its partners have removed more than 16,000 pythons, showing the scale and steady results of the effort.

Common Misunderstandings About the Python Hunt

Myth: Capturing a few snakes will eliminate the problem.
Reality: Estimates suggest Florida harbors 100,000 to 300,000 pythons, so total eradication isn’t realistic yet. Every removal helps, though, especially when paired with public involvement and ongoing monitoring.

Myth: This challenge is dangerous or cruel.
Reality: Participants must complete training, follow humane-kill protocols, and cannot use dangerous methods. Safety and ethics sit at the core of this effort.

Myth: Only professionals can help.
Reality: Any trained person can participate, including students, hobbyists, and residents, when they abide by the rules and act responsibly.

What You Can Do to Help

You don’t need to be a professional hunter. Ways to contribute include:

• Complete FWC’s free online training to learn humane techniques.
• Report sightings of pythons to wildlife authorities via state hotlines.
• Share what you learn on social media or among friends to spread awareness.
• Support local rescue efforts led by trained volunteers who handle these animals safely.

Every effort counts, even from fans of wildlife or readers who simply care enough to help.

Our Opinion

Watching a petite, determined woman outrun hundreds of seasoned participants to catch 60 snakes speaks volumes. Taylor’s feat shows that passion, preparation, and persistence still matter.

Her success not only protected local wildlife but also delivered a message: no matter your size, you can make a difference. I hope this inspires young readers, especially those who love nature, to jump into citizen science and conservation, even if it means starting small.

Source: Times Now News