The winners of a 10-day hunt for Burmese pythons, which had more than 850 participants from 33 states and Canada collectively removing 195 of the invasive species from south Florida, were announced Tuesday.
Ronald Kiger of Marion County won the 2024 Python Challenge, that took place Aug. 9-18, triumphing over 857 participants, bringing in 20 Burmese pythons during the contest. Kiger won the grand prize of $10,000, according to a new release by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Donna Kalil trailed closely behind, capturing 19 pythons and winning the 'Most Pythons Prize' under the professional category. She also took home $2,500. Dennis Krum, a novice, caught the longest python at 9 feet, 11 inches, winning $1,000.
The winners were announced Tuesday at FWC meeting in Duck Key, an incorporated community about 100 miles from Miami.
"The aim of the Florida Python Challenge is to increase awareness about invasive species and the threats they pose to Florida’s ecology," the wildlife commission said in the news release, explaining that Burmese pythons are not native to Florida and negatively impact native species. They are a prohibited species in Florida, and permits are required to possess them alive.
These invasive species are primarily found in and around the fragile Everglades ecosystem in south Florida, where they prey on birds, mammals and other reptiles, FWC said. Pythons captured during the challenge or otherwise must be immediately humanely killed at the location of capture, the commission states.
“Over 14,000 pythons have been successfully removed by FWC and South Florida Water Management District contractors since 2017," FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said in a statement. "This collective effort continues to have a direct positive impact on the Everglades and our native wildlife through removal and awareness.”
More than 22,000 wild Burmese pythons have been removed from Florida and reported to the FWC since 2000, according to the organization.
Participants of the Python Challenge were divided into the novice, professional and military categories, the FWC said. While Kiger took home the ultimate grand prize, other winners include:
Professional
Novice
Military
Kiger, who won the grand prize of $10,000 by capturing 20 pythons, thanked his family at the Duck Key meeting for "putting up with 10 days of camping in the swamp with the heat and the bugs."
"We enjoy getting out there and doing it and helping the state out," Kiger said.
Kalil, a veteran python hunter, contracted with the South Florida Water Management District, captured and euthanized 19 pythons, winning the most pythons prize in the professional category.
"I went out every night and I actually tried to win it this time," Kalil, who has been participating in the challenge since 2013, told The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. "It's a chess game, not checkers. You really have to plan your moves. It's a chess game, and then it's like whack-a-mole."
Kalil's longest snake this year was 12 feet, 1 inch. She said she typically had two volunteers with her each night, including a friend from Canada.
"It was a good challenge," she said. "You get tired, it's a push for sure."
Contributing: Kimberly Miller, Palm Beach Post, USA TODAY NETWORK
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
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