Record-Setting Python Captured in the Florida Everglades

Snakes, why'd it have to be record-setting sized snakes? 

A man working with the South Florida Water Management District to help remove invasive species from the Everglades in Miami-Dade County managed to capture a record-setting Burmese python Monday night.

Kyle Penniston of Homestead, was on SFWMD property when he captured the 17-foot, 5-inch female Burmese python, which weighed in at 120 pounds, according to the agency. 

"Eliminating invasive species such as Burmese pythons is critical to preserving the rare Everglades ecosystem," the SFWMD said. "Florida taxpayers have invested billions of dollars to restore the water quality and hydrology of the Everglades. Reducing the populations of invasive plants and animals is necessary to ensure this investment results in meeting the shared goals of the overall restoration plan."

In a post to Facebook Penniston described how he was surprised by the size of the snake. 

I was riding along the levee and saw this massive girl in the water. Jumped out and grabbed her by the head and realized how big she truly was. She started wrapping me while I tried getting her up the levee, she ended up making me loose my grip and as soon as I knew it she had my hand in her mouth. I grabbed my pistol off my side loaded one in the chamber and it jammed. I kept fighting till we were both dead of energy. I finally was able to get her up the levee and l euthanized her as it’s required by our program.

This is the third python captured by the agency's Python Elimination Program that's measured larger than 17 feet. At least 1,859 of the invasive species have been captured by snake hunters according to the press release. 

Penniston is one of their better snake catchers. He's eliminated 235 snakes so far, the second-most in the program. Miami resident Brian Hargrove can claim first place with 257 snakes caught according to the agency. 


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