Naples own Taylor Stanberry slayed the 2025 Florida Python Challenge, securing the grand prize after removing an astounding 60 Burmese pythons from the Everglades in just 10 days. That tally represents more than 20% of the record-breaking 294 pythons captured during the competition.

What Went Down

From July 11 to 20, 934 hunters — from 30 U.S. states and Canada — joined the annual python hunt hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The event, designed to curb the population of invasive pythons in the Everglades, hit a milestone with the highest removal count in its history.

Why Stanberry’s Win Is a Big Deal

  • A record-shattering haul: Catching 60 snakes in 10 days earns Taylor the coveted $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize.

  • First woman to claim the top prize: She’s breaking through gender barriers in an area often dominated by male participants.

  • Boost for conservation: Officials called her win and the overall removal tally a meaningful contribution to native wildlife protection.

More Awards from the Python Challenge

Here’s the rest of the 2025 leaderboard:

  • Professional Most Pythons: Donna Kalil – 56 snakes — $2,500

  • Professional Runner-Up: Hannah Gray – 22 snakes — $1,500

  • Longest Python (Professional): Kennith Chamberland – 9 ft 8 in — $1,000

  • Novice Most Pythons: Krista Hoekstra – 14 snakes — $2,500

  • Novice Runner-Up: Kymberly Clark – 7 snakes — $1,500

  • Longest Python (Novice): Michael Marousky – 15 ft 11 in — $1,000

  • Military Prizes: John Southworth (Army) – Most Pythons, and Matthew Jamison (Air Force) – Runner-Up; Longest among military went to Jonathan Miller (Air Force) with an 11 ft 2 in python.

Why It Matters Locally

  • Naples pride: Taylor’s victory puts our backyard on the map—but more critically, it shows local resilience tackling environmental threats head-on.

  • Rising role models: Her win underscores the growing influence of women in conservation and outdoor sport.

  • Conservation in action: The 294 snakes removed represent a significant push to protect the Everglades ecosystem — invasives like Burmese pythons degrade the balance by decimating small mammals and native predators.