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Over 15-foot python nabbed during 2021 Florida Python Challenge

By Elina Shirazi
Updated  August 6, 2021 7:05am EDT
News
FOX 35 Orlando

2021 Florida Python Challenge wraps up

The results are in for the 2021 Florida Python Challenge with 223 invasive pythons caught. The 10-day-event last month more than doubled the number of pythons captured the previous year.

LAKE MARY, Fla. - The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) reported on Wednesday that 223 Burmese pythons have been removed from the Everglades ecosystem after a competition to remove them as part of the 2021 Florida Python Challenge.

The 10-day-event last month more than doubled the number of pythons captured the previous year. There were a few winners in South Florida, including prizes for most pythons captured and longest pythons.

One man defeated all the obstacles to take home that title for the longest snake. Brandon Call is a deaf science teacher who nabbed a 15 foot, 9-inch python.

He signed with us earlier, saying being deaf actually helped him conquer the snake since it allowed his other senses to be even sharper. He was able to spot things the average person may overlook.

RELATED: 223 Burmese pythons removed from Florida Everglades, officials say

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said the goal of the challenge is to increase awareness about invasive species and to get more people involved in Everglades conservation through their removal.

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The award winner who removed the most pythons overall and is receiving the "Ultimate Grand Prize" of $10,000 is Charlie Dachton, who removed 41 pythons during this competition.

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Charlie Dachton's submission into 2021 Florida Python Challenge.

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Brandon Call is a deaf science teacher who caught the longest python: a 15 foot, 9-inch snake.

"We have changed the time of year, we used to do this in the winter which is also a really good time to remove pythons as they sun themselves … but in the summer participants were able to get out and actually get nests and get pythons before they hatch and spread out and disperse and breed and eventually create even more pythons," said Carli Segelson, the FWC spokesperson.

Segelson says more than 600 people and 25 different states participated in this year's risky competition and they are already preparing for their next event in 2022.

Watch FOX 35 Orlando for the latest Central Florida news.