Family Wrestles 202-Pound Burmese Python in Florida
A snake hunter from Florida, alongside his wife and two children, managed to take down a hefty 202-pound Burmese python. During the struggle, they watched the enormous creature slither and drag itself about 15 feet across the ground.
Carl Jackson, who works full-time as a Burmese python hunter for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), was tackling invasive species in the Everglades when he stumbled upon the giant snake on January 13th.
When Jackson, 43, saw the massive 16-foot-10-inch python, it wrapped itself around his leg and pulled him over an anthill. “It was like riding a slow horse,” he remarked. That moment was pretty wild, to say the least.
Fortunately, Jackson’s family was with him—his wife, Tasha, and their children, Riker Young, 20, and Jajin Bateman, 16, were there to help pry the snake free. It sounds like a real family affair, doesn’t it?
Recently certified as Jackson’s assistants, Tasha, Young, and Bateman were excited for this challenging task of removing an invasive python from the Florida ecosystem.
This python was notable for being the second heaviest ever captured in the state, following a 215-pound snake taken in 2022, according to the FWC.
After overcoming the python, Jackson and his family made their way back to the site and discovered another male python exceeding 10 feet in length.
“I’m pretty proud of what we found,” he said. “It feels great to have removed 200 python eggs and reduced another invasive predator from the area.” He added that such actions are vital given that these snakes can take a toll on native wildlife, potentially endangering deer and other small animals.
This was the family’s largest catch since moving to Florida last year, aiming to fulfill Jackson’s dream of becoming a professional python hunter, inspired by shows on the Discovery Channel.
The Burmese python, one of the largest species globally, has been an invasive presence in Everglades National Park for over four decades. The FWC has linked these reptiles to the decline of small mammal populations in Florida, including species like rabbits and raccoons.
