Massive Burmese Python Captured in Florida Everglades

Python hunter Carl Jackson and his family help measure the second-heaviest snake on record in the state.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 7:20pm

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A bold, abstract painting in earthy tones featuring sweeping geometric shapes and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the disruptive presence of an invasive Burmese python in the Everglades.A massive invasive Burmese python captured in the Florida Everglades highlights the ongoing battle to protect the region's fragile ecosystem.Everglades Today

Carl Jackson, a contracted python hunter for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, recently captured a massive 16-foot, 10-inch Burmese python weighing over 200 pounds in the Big Cypress National Preserve. Jackson and his two adopted children, Ryker Young and Jazzlyn Bateman, helped measure the snake, which is the second-heaviest python ever caught in Florida.

Why it matters

Burmese pythons are an invasive species in Florida that have decimated native mammal populations in the Everglades, leading to an ongoing effort to remove the snakes from the ecosystem. Capturing and documenting the size of these large pythons is an important part of the state's efforts to control the invasive snake population.

The details

Jackson wrestled with the python for 15 minutes before subduing it with the help of his children and wife. This was not the largest python Jackson has captured - in 2025, he caught a 17-foot, 10-inch python shortly after moving to Florida to become a full-time python hunter. Burmese pythons are not native to Florida but were introduced through the pet trade, and they have since established a breeding population that is devastating local wildlife.

  • On January 13, 2026, Jackson caught the 16-foot, 10-inch python.
  • In 2025, Jackson captured a 17-foot, 10-inch python shortly after becoming a full-time python hunter.

The players

Carl Jackson

A contracted python hunter for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission who recently captured a massive Burmese python in the Everglades.

Ryker Young

Jackson's 20-year-old adopted son who helped measure the python.

Jazzlyn Bateman

Jackson's 16-year-old adopted daughter who helped measure the python.

Tasha Jackson

Carl Jackson's wife who assisted in subduing the python.

Burmese Pythons

An invasive snake species in Florida that has decimated native mammal populations in the Everglades.

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What they’re saying

“When you capture a Burmese python for the record books, you find creative ways to measure it or show the perspective of just how big the snake is.”

— Carl Jackson, Python Hunter

What’s next

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will continue its efforts to remove invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades ecosystem.

The takeaway

Capturing and documenting the size of these large, invasive Burmese pythons is a critical part of Florida's ongoing efforts to protect the Everglades' native wildlife from the devastating impacts of this non-native predator.