The 2026 Florida Python Challenge began Friday, giving participants 10 days to search for invasive Burmese pythons and compete for a share of $25,000 in prizes.

Large pythons have shared forests, grasslands and river systems across Asia for thousands of years, yet two of the region's most famous species are often mistaken for one another. The Burmese python and the Indian rock python belong to the same genus and were even treated as closely related forms of the same species for many years.

University of Florida researchers documented a surprising new threat to Burmese python eggs in the Everglades, adding to growing evidence that native wildlife is fighting back against the invasive species.

"I probably would have ridden right past it, but I saw movement."