NAPLES, Fla. — The longest-ever captured Burmese python sets a new record in Florida, according to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.
The non-profit organization says the female python was captured on Monday by Glades Boys Python Adventures in Big Cypress National Preserve.
Jake Waleri and Stehen Gauta, the duo who makes up Glades Boy, took their catch into the conservancy to get the full scope of the size of their catch. The results came in with a whopping 19 feet and 125 pounds, making their catch officially the longest ever documented in Florida.
"It's the only snake I've ever seen that's scared me enough where I just didn't know what to do," Waleri said.
Waleri told the conservancy that they'd wrestled the snake for about three minutes before he was able to get ahold of the head. "It was a fight. And it was a good one. Definitely, one to remember," Waleri said.
The conservancy said the previous record in Florida was 18 feet, 9 inches.
“We brought the snake to the Conservancy to be officially measured and documented. We wanted to donate this find to science," Waleri told the conservancy. "It’s awesome to be able to make an impact on South Florida’s environment. We love this ecosystem and try to preserve it as much as possible.”
“We had a feeling that these snakes get this big and now we have clear evidence," Ian Easterling, conservancy biologist said in a statement.
"Her genetic material may prove valuable for an eventual understanding of the founding population of South Florida. We will be collecting measurements and samples that will be distributed to our research collaborators.”
"It's pretty terrifying to know that these animals are so destructive to our ecosystem," Gauta said. "But knowing we can go out there and take care of monsters like this and get them out of the Everglades, is something that makes you feel good."
In August, both professional and novice snake hunters have a chance to break this new record during the 2023 Florida Python Challenge.
The 10-day competition runs Aug. 4–13 with a grand prize of $10,000 going to the participant who removes the most pythons, plus smaller prizes for additional categories.
Learn more about the challenge here.
