10 Photos of Taylor Stanberry: Woman Wins $10,000 and Top Prize for 2025 Florida Python Challenge

A Naples woman has become Florida's most celebrated wildlife warrior after removing 60 invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades in just 10 days, securing the top prize in a competition that saw nearly 1,000 hunters descend on America's largest subtropical wilderness to combat an ecological crisis.

The 2025 Florida Python Challenge crowned a new champion, Taylor Stanberry, who emerged victorious, not only securing the top prize but also a substantial $10,000 (£7390.05) award.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) declared a woman as the winner of the Ultimate Grand Prize, as she successfully removed 60 invasive Burmese pythons.

A Record-Breaking Effort for Conservation

The FWC announced that the 10-day competition saw a record-breaking 294 pythons removed by 934 participants from 30 states and Canada. This year also marked the first time that Everglades National Park was included as one of the eight official competition locations.

Florida authorities stated the competition is crucial for preserving the state's natural biodiversity and allowing residents to participate in environmental protection actively.

Who is Taylor Stanberry?

Known as a 'venomous keeper' and 'venomous relocator' from Naples, Stanberry has cultivated a following of over 63,000 on her Instagram account. She also runs a YouTube channel with her husband, Rhett, called 'Tobie's Troop', where they document their worldwide travels in search of rare species.

The couple's channel boasts 227,000 subscribers and has accumulated over 120 million views. The duo also maintains a Facebook page dedicated to snakes and hunting. According to NBC Miami, they provide venomous snake relocation services in Southwest Florida.

The Python Challenge: An Effort to Raise Awareness

The Florida Python Challenge, now an annual event, also has a public education component. 'The python, an animal that can get 20 feet long and weigh 200 pounds, is destroying the natural food chain. Under the leadership of the FWC, we started the Python Challenge,' said Ron Bergeron, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) governing board member.

State officials explained that the project has a dual purpose: to both lessen the invasive species' impact and to educate the public on the threat these animals pose to native wildlife within the Greater Everglades ecosystem.

'The Python Challenge is not just catching pythons. That's a part of it. It's educating the public so that when you're in the Everglades, all of the groups that recreate in the Everglades learn how to remove a python safely year-round,' Bergeron said.

The winners of the 2025 Florida Python Challenge were revealed during the FWC's Commission Meeting in Havana, Florida. Taylor Stanberry was named the Ultimate Grand Prize winner for removing 60 Burmese pythons, an accomplishment that earned her $10,000 (£7390.05).

Why Florida Desperately Needs Python Hunters

The Burmese python invasion represents one of America's most devastating ecological disasters. These apex predators, initially released by pet owners, have established a breeding population that threatens to collapse the Everglades' food chain. A single female can lay between 50 and 100 eggs at a time, creating an exponential growth crisis.

Since 2000, over 23,000 wild Burmese pythons have been removed from Florida and reported to the FWC. Yet scientists estimate this represents merely a fraction of the actual population terrorising native wildlife. These snakes prey on a wide range of prey, including endangered birds, alligators, and even deer, with documented cases of pythons consuming deer and attempting to swallow alligators whole.

The Bigger Picture: Saving an Ecosystem

Bergeron stressed that these serpents are 'destroying the natural food chain' across the Greater Everglades ecosystem. The Python Challenge, beyond its headline-grabbing prizes, represents a last-ditch effort to prevent ecological collapse in one of Earth's unique wetland environments.

As invasive species increasingly threaten ecosystems worldwide, Florida's python hunters have become unlikely heroes in the fight to preserve biodiversity—one snake at a time.