‘It Was Insane’: Florida Hunter Wrestles Record-Breaking 202-Pound Burmese Python Carrying 200 Eggs
THE EVERGLADES, FL — In a harrowing encounter that local officials are calling a “monumental win” for Florida’s ecosystem, a professional snake hunter recently survived an epic wrestling match with a massive, 202-pound Burmese python. The struggle, which took place in the dense wilderness of Big Cypress National Preserve, resulted in the capture of the second-heaviest python ever recorded in the state.
Carl Jackson, a 43-year-old full-time contracted hunter with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), described the January 13 encounter as a fight for survival.
“It was like riding a slow horse,” Jackson said of the moment he grabbed the reptile. “It was insane.”
A Family Battle in the Brush
The encounter began when Jackson spotted the 16-foot, 10-inch female slithering through the brush. Jackson, who moved to Florida from Utah last year specifically to join the state’s fight against invasive species, was not alone. He was accompanied by his wife, Tasha, and their two children, Ryker Young, 20, and Jazzlyn Bateman, 16. In a stroke of timing, his family members had become certified assistants in the FWC’s Python Action Team just one day prior.
The training was put to an immediate, brutal test. As Jackson lunged for the snake’s head, the python—a nearly 17-foot muscle of constriction—coiled itself around his body multiple times. Jackson was dragged 10 to 15 feet across the rough terrain, through red and black anthills, as the snake fought to tighten its grip.
“Locked is a mild term,” Jackson recalled.
With the help of his family, Jackson was able to uncoil the beast. Working as a unit, they managed to subdue the python and humanely euthanize it, adhering to state protocols designed to manage the invasive population that has decimated Florida’s native wildlife.
200 Eggs: A Global Impact
While the weight of the snake made headlines—falling just short of the 215-pound state record set in 2022—it was the discovery made during the post-capture examination that truly stunned experts. The female was carrying an astonishing 200 eggs.
For Jackson, the weight of the snake was secondary to the biological impact of the catch. “That means more to me because that is 200 potential deer and native animal eaters that were eliminated,” he said.
Invasive Burmese pythons have no natural predators in the Everglades and have been linked to a 90% decline in native mammal populations, including raccoons, bobcats, and marsh rabbits. A single reproductive female of this size can consume hundreds of native animals throughout her lifespan.
The Front Lines of the Python War
Jackson’s success is part of a larger, state-wide offensive against the reptiles. Since arriving in Florida, Jackson has personally removed 91 pythons, including one 17-foot, 10-inch specimen.
Florida’s “Python Action Team” and the “Removing Invasive Constrictors” (PATRIC) program have become essential tools for the FWC. As of early 2026, contracted hunters have removed over 20 tons of pythons from the Everglades region. Despite these efforts, experts estimate that tens—if not hundreds—of thousands of pythons remain hidden in the inaccessible reaches of the swamp.
“This capture is a testament to the dedication of our hunters,” an FWC spokesperson stated. “Every large reproductive female removed is a victory for the future of the Everglades.”
As Jackson recovers from the scrapes and bruises of his “insane” ride, he remains undeterred. For him and his family, the hunt is not just about the thrill; it’s about reclaiming the Florida wilderness from a monster that doesn’t belong.
