Florida scientists have achieved a major milestone in the fight against one of the state's most destructive invasive species.

Taylor Stanberry won the 2025 Florida Python Challenge by eliminating 60 Burmese pythons. A record 294 pythons were removed during the 10-day competition. The event drew 934 participants from the U.S.

Researchers captured 177 invasive Burmese pythons and removed more than 4,100 eggs during a single breeding season in Southwest Florida.

Researchers say vultures feeding on Burmese python eggs in the Everglades marks the first documented case of native birds preying on a python nest in Florida.