My 17'3 Foot Python

I caught this giant girl by myself in July of 2020.  She measured 17'3 and weighed 110lbs.  I caught her on US 41 between SR29 and the Oasis Center in Big Cypress.  She wasn't a record, but she was my personal best!  The record for the longest Burmese Python caught in Florida is 18'9. 

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This is the news clip of the catch!

https://abc-7.com/news/local/2020/07/27/local-python-hunter-partners-with-handbag-company/

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This is the YouTube Video of the catch! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTLZ2BqeKgw

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Here’s how it happened....

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I was going about 25 miles an hour down the highway around midnight.  I caught a glimpse of her in the treeline.  I pulled the truck over and jumped out.  Pythons are incredibly camouflaged and that’s what makes it so hard to find them.  I spotted her pattern through the grasses, and then I saw her head.  It was freaking gigantic.  I had never caught a python that big before, let alone by myself! 

 

I had my ‘head bag’ with me.  It’s a small black drawstring bag that fits right over the head of the snake.  It’s a method I came up with out of necessity.  I can’t over power a snake that big (most people can’t).  I had to be a bit creative to make the python easier to handle.  When I put the bag over the head, it calms them down and disorients them because they can’t see through it, or sense heat. I have an extra layer inside so they can’t bite.   I had to jump on her and hold on behind her head.  She fought to shimmy backwards into the swamp, but I dug my heels in...literally...I was using my legs to out muscle her.  I was able to put the bag over her head and she stopped fighting. 

 

So there I was, sitting on top of a python in a ditch on the side of the highway that sloped just enough so cars couldn’t really see me.  I had no idea how big this python was because I couldn't see the majority of her body.  I was gathering my energy to pull her up out of  the ditch but I had no idea how I would get her into the back of my truck.  Luckily I saw my friends drive by so I yelled out for them.  They pulled over and asked what the heck I was doing.  I told them I was sitting on a python and I needed their help.  They looked at each other like I was crazy and then they saw her.  They couldn't believe how big she was and that I caught her by myself.  They helped me pull her out and load her in the truck.  It was such an incredible night!! 

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