11-year python hunter Thomas Aycock participates in Florida's annual Python Challenge, removing invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades.
Thomas Aycock, a contractor for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and a retired U.S. Army veteran, has spent 11 years hunting invasive Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades. Aycock actively participates in the annual Florida Python Challenge, an event that encourages people to track down invasive pythons thriving in Florida's preserved wetlands. These pythons, which are notoriously difficult to spot and control, have had a devastating impact on local wildlife populations since they were introduced. Florida prohibits hunters from using firearms to kill pythons, and as these snakes are not venomous, capturing them involves a hands-on approach. Since 2017, Florida has been paying contractors to round up pythons year-round, removing over 18,000 of them through 2023.