At least 900 Burmese pythons have been removed from the Everglades in South Florida, including this 18'-4" female from Big Cypress National Preserve/Florida Fish And Wildlife Commission

Editor's note: This updates to CORRECT that the 900 snakes were removed from throughout South Florida, not just Big Cypress National Preserve.

Officially, 900 Burmese pythons have been removed from the Everglades in South Florida since the effort to remove the invasive snakes began about a half-dozen years ago.

The big constrictors first were spotted in the Everglades back in 1979, and they've reproduced quickly in that habitat, which offers them plenty of food and shelter. 

On September 24, a 2-foot, quarter-pound python was captured by Bobby Monroe, a member of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Python Action Team. It was recorded as the 900th python to be captured. Just two days earlier an 18-foot, 4-inch long female python was captured in Big Cypress National Preserve, according to the commission. The big snake weighed nearly 99 pounds.

"Capturing large adult females is critical because it prevents them from potentially adding an average of 30 to 60 hatchlings to the population each time they breed," the commission said in a release.

"Removing 900 pythons is a great milestone for our Python Action Team! These snakes, coupled with the thousands removed by our partners at the National Park Service and the South Florida Water Management District, make a significant impact to protect Florida’s native wildlife,” said FWC Executive Director Eric Sutton. “With leadership from Governor Ron DeSantis, we are committed to working with our partners, including the South Florida Water Management District and the National Park Service, to accomplish our goal of removing pythons from our beautiful state.”

Pedro Ramos, superintendent of Big Cypress, Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, and Dry Tortugas National Park, said no one agency alone can handle the task of removing the invasive snakes from South Florida.

"We're grateful to our partners from FWC and the South Florida Water Management District and look forward to continuing to work with them on Governor DeSantis' initiative to expand python removal," said Ramos.

The public can help the FWC control nonnative invasive wildlife by reporting sightings to the FWC’s Exotic Species Hotline at 888-IveGot1 (888-483-4681), online at IveGot1.org or by using the free smartphone app IVEGOT1. If possible, take a picture and note the exact location of the sighting. Python Action Team members often respond to reports of large constrictors and other priority species to attempt to capture and remove these animals from the wild.