A group of Florida men, including Holden Hunter, Trey Barber, and Carter Gavlock, successfully captured a massive 17-foot, 2-inch Burmese python in the Big Cypress National Preserve. The men, who had just finished a fishing trip, spotted the snake on a sandy trail and, along with local conservationist Mike Elfenbein and his son Cole, teamed up to wrangle the serpent. They held the python until a game warden arrived to euthanize it at the scene. Weighing in at almost 198 pounds, the python is now the second-heaviest on record in Florida.
The giant snake was turned over to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, with its official weight confirmed by the Fish and Wildlife Commission. Concerns were raised about the threat posed by invasive pythons to the native wildlife in the Everglades, emphasizing the disruption caused to the local ecosystem.
In response to the capture, the men involved in the feat, namely Gavlock, Hunter, and Barber, expressed their commitment to preserving different parts of the python. Gavlock plans to mount the snake’s skull, while Hunter and Barber intend to preserve the snake’s skin.
The men highlighted the broader issue of invasive pythons in Florida and their impact on the native ecosystem. They emphasized the threat these pythons pose to small game, as well as larger predators like Florida panthers, by disrupting the natural balance of the region’s wildlife. The capture exemplifies the ongoing challenges Florida faces in managing the population of invasive Burmese pythons.
The state’s wildlife authorities permit the humane killing of these pythons without a hunting license, reflecting the severity of their threat to the native wildlife. Despite efforts to control their population, invasive Burmese pythons continue to pose a significant ecological challenge in Florida, primarily in and around the Everglades.
WATCH: Florida Men Capture Massive 17-Foot, 200-Pound Python in Everglades
via @theflstandard #FlaPol pic.twitter.com/VTS4Ve1ctQ
— Grant A. Holcomb (@GrantAHolcomb) November 14, 2023