What began as a quiet Saturday night turned into an unforgettable encounter for three seasoned python hunters in the Florida Everglades.
Justice Sargood and his fellow trappers were patrolling the remote backroads near Everglades City when a dark, slithering shadow appeared across the pavement. What they stumbled upon was nothing short of astonishing: a massive Burmese python — the largest they had ever seen in person.
“Got to get it, got to jump on it,” Sargood said. “Can’t let him go. Let him go eat a couple more deer and lay some more eggs. We can’t have that happening.”
The invasive snake, native to Southeast Asia but now thriving in South Florida’s fragile ecosystem, was a formidable sight. Weighing in at 105 pounds and stretching an incredible 16 feet, 8 inches.
“The length of that thing, it was incredible, massive , ” said Jan Giaenell, another member of the python-hunting crew, still stunned by the encounter.
Cellphone footage captured the intensity of the moment, showing the snake coiling and resisting as the group worked together to subdue it. Through teamwork and experience, they managed to wrangle the apex predator, a species known for devastating local wildlife populations.
Now the python’s massive frame was skinned, as flies buzzed around the now lifeless serpent, its sheer size was jaw-dropping, serving as a stark reminder of the invasive species' dominance in the region.
“Yeah, I’ll walk it out just to get the full length,” one trapper said, stepping heel to toe beside the snake’s body.
The dramatic catch, though complete, only deepened the hunters’ resolve. For these men, it wasn’t just a victory — it was motivation.
“This catch just fired us up even more,” Sargood said. “We’re not done. Not by a long shot.”
As state and local wildlife officials continue to battle the Burmese python’s spread, these hunters remain on the front lines — with experience, adrenaline, and a deep sense of duty to protect Florida’s native ecosystems.
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