Record Breaking Python Found In Collier County

I’m sure you know by now that snakes are my biggest fear and a record breaking python was just found in Collier County.

The largest in Florida history is a female snake was found in Picayune Strand and was 18 feet long, weighed 215 pounds and was carrying 122 eggs.

It’s pretty cool how this snake was found, and it was through the use of “scout snakes” which are male snakes that have implanted radio transmitters that help biologists track the patterns and movement of the snakes.

Ian Bartoszek, a wildlife biologist and environmental science project manager for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida told NBC2, “The removal of female pythons plays a critical role in disrupting the breeding cycle of these apex predators that are wreaking havoc on the Everglades ecosystem and taking food sources from other native species.”

If you’re interested in helping to remove these snakes, Governor DeSantis announced the 2022 Florida Python Challenge will take place in August. For more information, click here

Pics From Previous Florida Python Challenges:

• Hunting Excursions Latest In Effort To Curb Evasive Snake Population

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  DAVIE, FL - JANUARY 12: A Burmese python is held by Jeff Fobb as he speaks to the media at the registration event and press conference for the start of the 2013 Python Challenge on January 12, 2013 in Davie, Florida.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its partners launched the month long 2013 Python Challenge to harvest Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades, a species that is not native to Florida.The contest features prizes of $1,000 for catching the longest snake and $1,500 for catching the most. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• Hunting Excursions Latest In Effort To Curb Evasive Snake Population

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  DAVIE, FL - JANUARY 12: A Burmese python is seen on display at the registration event and press conference for the start of the 2013 Python Challenge on January 12, 2013 in Davie, Florida.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its partners launched the month long 2013 Python Challenge to harvest Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades, a species that is not native to Florida.The contest features prizes of $1,000 for catching the longest snake and $1,500 for catching the most. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• Hunting Excursions Latest In Effort To Curb Evasive Snake Population

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  DAVIE, FL - JANUARY 12: A Burmese python is seen on display at the registration event and press conference for the start of the 2013 Python Challenge on January 12, 2013 in Davie, Florida.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its partners launched the month long 2013 Python Challenge to harvest Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades, a species that is not native to Florida.The contest features prizes of $1,000 for catching the longest snake and $1,500 for catching the most. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
• Hunting Excursions Latest In Effort To Curb Evasive Snake Population

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  DAVIE, FL - JANUARY 12: A Burmese python is held by Ron Bergeron as he speaks to the media at the registration event and press conference for the start of the 2013 Python Challenge on January 12, 2013 in Davie, Florida.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its partners launched the month long 2013 Python Challenge to harvest Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades, a species that is not native to Florida.The contest features prizes of $1,000 for catching the longest snake and $1,500 for catching the most. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• Hunting Excursions Latest In Effort To Curb Evasive Snake Population

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  MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 12: Dan Keenan (R) and Steffani Burd hunt for python's in the Florida Everglades on the first day of the 2013 Python Challenge on January 12, 2013 in Miami, Florida.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its partners launched the month long 2013 Python Challenge to harvest Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades, a species that is not native to Florida.The contest features prizes of $1,000 for catching the longest snake and $1,500 for catching the most. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Python Cowboy Found An Everglades Python Nest With A Large Snake Guarding 45 Eggs

• If you're short on time or impatient, skip ahead to the 6 minute mark

• He also hunts another one of our invasive species - iguanas

• Otto The Dog is a tremendous iguana hunter

• Check out what he uses to hunt hogs

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• A true Florida Man

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Record Breaking Python Collier