Invasive Actions: How to Remove Burmese Pythons, Lionfish

Florida offers prize money during events to remove these invasive animals (News Digest).

June 25, 2025 By Florida Sportsman

Recent news and information from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Get Those Pythons Outta Here …

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is offering $10,000 to whomever eliminates the most invasive Burmese pythons next month.

As part of the 2025 Florida Python Challenge, scheduled July 11-30 and hosted by the FWC and the South Florida Water Management District, the registered participant who removes the most pythons from the Everglades ecosystem will win the Ultimate Grand Prize of $10,000. In all, $25,000 in prizes are at stake in the FWC’s annual effort to bring awareness about the invasive snake. This year’s competition includes the addition of Everglades National Park as one of eight official Florida Python Challenge locations.

Cash prizes are offered for the most and longest pythons removed in three different categories, including novice, professional and military categories.

Visit  FLPythonChallenge.org  to register for the competition and take the required online training, as well as learn more about Burmese pythons, the unique Everglades ecosystem, additional training options and resources for planning your trip to south Florida for this year’s Challenge.

Since 2000, more than 23,000 Burmese pythons have been reported to the FWC as removed from Florida’s environment. For more information on Burmese pythons, visit MyFWC.com/Python.

… Same Goes for Lionfish

Last month’s annual effort to rid state waters of the invasive lionfish resulted in the removal of more than 20,000 fish. The FWC’s 10th annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day on May 17 included the Emerald Coast Open, considered the largest lionfish tournament in the world. The three-day tournament included 143 participants, who removed 20,512 fish May 16-18. More than $120,000 in cash and prizes were awarded. More info

Gator Awareness Program

The FWC wants residents and visitors to be "GatorWise" this summer as alligators become more active and visible throughout the state. GatorWise is a new public awareness campaign that promotes realistic public perceptions about alligators and in taking appropriate actions to minimize conflict. The initiative includes information from 11 state wildlife agencies within the American alligator’s range.

Florida is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators, which play a vital role in Florida’s freshwater wetlands by keeping aquatic animal populations in balance. People can reduce the chances of conflict with alligators by never feeding or approaching them, properly disposing of fish scraps, keeping pets away from the water’s edge, supervising small children near water, and maintaining a safe distance if an alligator is spotted. To learn more about how to be GatorWise.

Bay Scallops Until Labor Day

Recreational bay scallop season in the Fenholloway – Suwannee River Zone is open through Labor Day (Sept. 1). This includes all state waters in Dixie County, a portion of Taylor County including the towns of Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee, and a portion of Levy County.

The daily bag limit from June 15 through June 30 in this area is 1 gallon of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1 cup shucked bay scallop meat per person, with a maximum of 5 gallons whole bay scallops in the shell or 2 pints (4 cups) shucked bay scallop meat per vessel per day (regardless of the number of harvesters aboard).

From July 1 through Labor Day in this area the daily bag limits are 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1 pint of bay scallop meat per person, with a maximum of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1/2 gallon (4 pints) shucked bay scallop meat per vessel per day (regardless of the number of harvesters aboard). Throughout the season and region-wide, vessel limits do not allow an individual to exceed their personal bag limit.