Python hunter wins $10,000 after top capture in Florida Everglades challenge
Matthew Concepcion was one of the nearly 1,000 participants from 32 states, Canada and Latvia who participated in the 2022 Florida Python Challenge. He captured 28 Burmese pythons, winning the $10,000 ultimate grand prize courtesy of the Bergeron Everglades Foundation.
Winner of Florida Everglades challenge captured 28 Burmese pythons
Matthew Concepcion was one of the nearly 1,000 participants from 32 states, Canada and Latvia who participated in the 2022 Florida Python Challenge. He captured 28 Burmese pythons, winning the $10,000 ultimate grand prize.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – More than 230 Burmese pythons were removed from south Florida by snake hunters to help biologists get a handle on the invasive species' population.
Matthew Concepcion was one of the nearly 1,000 participants from 32 states, Canada and Latvia who participated in the 2022 Florida Python Challenge. He captured 28 Burmese pythons, winning the $10,000 ultimate grand prize courtesy of the Bergeron Everglades Foundation.
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It was the first time Concepcion had won the challenge since participating for three years. The largest snake he caught this year during the 10-day competition was just under 8 feet.
Winning the $1,500 grand prize for the longest python removed in the competition, at a length of 11 feet, 0.24 inches, was Dustin Crum.
More than 230 Burmese pythons were removed from south Florida by hunters during an annual competition to eliminate the invasive species.
(Andy Wraithmell/FWC)
"Removing these snakes is one of the many efforts we are employing to restore and maintain the Everglades ecosystem," Governor Ron DeSantis said.
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Chairman Rodney Barreto said every one of the pythons removed is one less preying on the state's native birds, mammals and reptiles.
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"This is a win for the Everglades and a win for the people of Florida," he said.
Burmese pythons are not native to Florida. They are found primarily in and around the Everglades ecosystem in south Florida. A female Burmese python may lay 50 to 100 eggs at a time.
Since 2000, more than 17,000 wild Burmese pythons have been removed from the state of Florida.
Aside from the Florida Python Challenge, there are other ways people can continue to help control non-native species such as Burmese pythons. Anyone can remove and humanely kill pythons any time on private lands with landowner permission and on 25 Commission-managed lands throughout south Florida.