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MIAMI, FL – August 14, 2025 – In a stunning display of skill and determination, a Florida woman has claimed the top prize in the 2025 Florida Python Challenge®, removing a record-breaking 60 invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades ecosystem. Anne Marie Carter of Homestead, Florida, was awarded the $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize for her unprecedented solo effort in the state-sanctioned competition.
The 10-day event, which concluded last week, draws hundreds of professional and novice hunters from across the country to help combat the destructive spread of the invasive snakes. This year, participants removed a total of 512 pythons from South Florida's delicate wetlands, but it was Carter's individual tally that shattered previous records and captured the headlines.
"It’s grueling work, but it’s not about the money," Carter said, holding her prize check at the awards ceremony hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). "This is about protecting the native wildlife that I grew up with. Every python we remove is a chance for our native birds, mammals, and reptiles to survive. To set a new record is humbling, but it also shows the scale of the problem we're still facing."
Burmese pythons, native to Southeast Asia, have established a breeding population in South Florida, likely as a result of escaped or released pets decades ago. With no natural predators, the giant constrictors have decimated populations of native species such as raccoons, opossums, wading birds, and even alligators.
Officials praised the event as a critical tool for both python removal and public awareness.
"Ms. Carter's incredible effort is a testament to the passion and dedication of our participants," said FWC Director Roger Collins. "The Florida Python Challenge® is vital for conservation. It not only removes hundreds of these harmful predators but also raises global awareness about the devastating impact of invasive species. This is a battle we are fighting on behalf of one of the world's most unique ecosystems."
The annual challenge awards prizes in several categories, including longest python and most pythons by professional and novice participants. The longest snake caught during the 2025 event measured an impressive 17 feet, 2 inches (approximately 5.23 meters).
The removed pythons are turned over to scientists for research purposes, providing valuable data on their diet, reproductive habits, and spread. The skins are often used for leather goods, and the meat is sometimes consumed.
As Florida continues to grapple with the ecological crisis, the efforts of citizens like Anne Marie Carter serve as a powerful example of direct conservation in action, highlighting a local environmental struggle with global implications.
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