OCHOPEE, FLORIDA — Was there any doubt who would prevail in the matchup between Florida Man and Monster Snake?
Python hunter Jake Waleri, 22, wrangled a massive Burmese python in Big Cypress National Park on July 7. The 19-foot, 135-pound snake is the longest ever recorded.
The humongous reptile would reach the top of a giraffe’s head if it were straightened out. The trappers also found 111 eggs in the mother snake’s nest nearby – another record.
Jaw-dropping video of Waleri’s valiant struggle with the powerful creature went viral on social media on Thursday.
“AN ABSOLUTE MONSTER”
“Around one o’clock in the morning, we stumbled upon this giant snake that I thought was just a good sized snake at first. Maybe 10 feet,” Waleri told the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. “Then we cruised up close to it and I realized it was an absolute monster. We wrestled this thing for about three minutes before I got a hold of the head.”
Waleri and his fellow hunters donated the animal to the conservancy so that local biologists could continue examining it for scientific research purposes.
“It’s the only snake I’ve seen that scared me enough where I just didn’t know what to do,” Waleri added. “It was a fight, and a good one. Definitely one to remember.”
Because people asked, here is the Burmese python caught by Brandon Rahe in Everglades City, found with a record 111 eggs. Follow his YouTube channel to find out more about his adventures. This is a different python than the 19-footer caught in Big Cypress National Preserve. pic.twitter.com/BgOEC4EGtG
— Florida Grand (@florida_grand) July 14, 2023
THE PYTHON PROBLEM IN FLORIDA
Burmese pythons are an invasive species that have become a major problem in the Everglades because they prey upon other wildlife native to the area. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) encourages members of the public to help remove them by humanely killing them.
“It’s pretty terrifying to know that these animals are so destructive and are in our ecosystem,” said Stephen Gauta, who helped Waleri subdue the beastly creature. “But knowing that we can go out there and take care of monsters like this and get them out of the everglades is something that makes you feel good.”
Gauta acknowledged the challenge of keeping up with the pace of reproduction is challenging, but hopes mitigation efforts will ramp up in the future.
“The longer we do this and the more people we get involved in the effort the more benefits we’ll see.”
