98-pound python is second largest snake ever captured in Florida

A python captured last month in south Florida is the second largest ever captured in the state, wildlife officials said. Related video above: Florida is looking to hire 50 new citizen python huntersThe Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Python Action Team members Cynthia Downer and Jonathan Lopez captured the large adult female python weighing 98 pounds, 10 ounces, on Sept. 22 at Big Cypress National Preserve. In addition to being the largest snake ever captured by the team, it is also the largest ever captured in Big Cypress. The snake is the second-largest python ever caught in the wild in Florida, only 4 inches shorter than the longest wild python ever captured in Florida.Capturing large adult females is critical because it prevents them from potentially adding an average of 30 to 60 hatchlings to the population each time they breed, FWC officials said.

A python captured last month in south Florida is the second largest ever captured in the state, wildlife officials said.

Related video above: Florida is looking to hire 50 new citizen python hunters


The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Python Action Team members Cynthia Downer and Jonathan Lopez captured the large adult female python weighing 98 pounds, 10 ounces, on Sept. 22 at Big Cypress National Preserve.

In addition to being the largest snake ever captured by the team, it is also the largest ever captured in Big Cypress.

FWC

The snake is the second-largest python ever caught in the wild in Florida, only 4 inches shorter than the longest wild python ever captured in Florida.

Capturing large adult females is critical because it prevents them from potentially adding an average of 30 to 60 hatchlings to the population each time they breed, FWC officials said.