During a night search in Everglades National Park on July 18, licensed hunters Rahm Levinson and Tom Rahill captured a 16 ft. 5 in Burmese python — the longest recorded in this year’s Florida Python Challenge. Shortly afterward Rahill discovered a nearby nest with 96 live hatchlings; only two eggs failed to hatch. Rahill won the $10,000 top prize for the most pythons removed during the eight‑day event, while Levinson earned $1,000 for the longest catch. The challenge, running since 2017, has helped remove over 1,600 pythons from South Florida.
Veteran Hunters Bag 16‑Foot Burmese Python in Everglades; 96 Hatchlings Found
Photo Credit: YouTube
An overnight hunt during the Florida Python Challenge turned dramatic on July 18 when licensed hunters Rahm Levinson and Tom Rahill captured a 16‑foot, 5‑inch Burmese python in Everglades National Park — and shortly afterward discovered a nearby nest filled with hatchlings.
Big Catch on a Night Ride
The two veterans were riding e‑bikes along an overgrown trail when Levinson noticed something large coiled in the brush. After pausing to plan their approach, the pair restrained the snake, secured it in a bag and measured it at 16 ft., 5 in. That capture earned Levinson the $1,000 prize for the longest individual catch in this year’s challenge.
"I was in the front on my bike, with lights on looking for snakes. Tom was behind me on his bike, and while going along I happened to glance over into the brush and saw a big snake," Levinson told Outdoor Life.
A Nest and Nearly 100 Hatchlings
About 15 minutes after the female was collected, Rahill located a nest near the capture site and recovered 96 live hatchlings; only two eggs failed to hatch. Because large females can produce many offspring, removing a gravid adult has outsized benefits for the fragile Everglades ecosystem.
Rahill’s total removals during the eight‑day event also earned him the $10,000 top prize for capturing the highest number of Burmese pythons this year.
Conservation Context
Burmese pythons have dramatically reduced populations of small mammals and ground‑nesting birds across South Florida, placing additional strain on native ecosystems. The Florida Python Challenge, which began in 2017, has helped remove more than 1,600 pythons to date and granted competitors access to critical habitats including Everglades National Park, Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area and Holey Land Wildlife Management Area.
Licensed hunters — working day and night — continue removals outside the contest because the snakes breed quickly and are notoriously difficult to spot in dense wetlands. Levinson cautioned that while the night’s haul was significant, "There are plenty more big ones crawling around out there, too."
Community and Therapy
Both hunters are part of SwampApes, a Broward County organization founded by Rahill that partners with military veterans coping with PTSD to remove invasive pythons as a form of outdoor therapy and community engagement.
While the Python Challenge is a high‑profile element of Florida’s response to the invasion, ongoing licensed removal and habitat protection remain essential to reduce the pythons’ long‑term ecological impact.
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