TAMPA, Fla. – A Tampa man is this year’s top snake hunter.
Tom Rahill took home the $10,000 prize after removing 96 pythons from Everglades National Park as part of the Florida Python Challenge — the most of any competitor.
Overall, this year’s challenge wrapped with 280 invasive Burmese pythons removed from one of America’s most iconic ecosystems.
The 10-day event drew 907 participants from 30 states and overseas, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The longest snake pulled during the challenge measured nearly 17 feet.
Other top finishers by category, according to FWC:
- Most pythons, Professional: Christina Kraus — 36 pythons (runner-up: Taylor Stanberry — 34)
- Most pythons, Novice: Bart Shreve — 9 pythons (runner-up: Michael Marousky — 4)
- Most pythons, Military: Stephen Payton — 3 pythons (runner-up: Jonathan Miller — 2)
- Longest python, Professional: Rahm Levinson — 16 feet, 5 inches
- Longest python, Novice: Vincent Poole — 8 feet, 2 inches
- Longest python, Military: Jeffery “Heath” Roser — 8 feet, 7 inches
Burmese pythons are an invasive species in South Florida, threatening native wildlife throughout the Everglades ecosystem. FWC uses the annual challenge to raise public awareness and encourage hands-on removal efforts.