The race is on to protect Florida’s native wildlife by killing as many Burmese pythons as possible – and potentially bring home a share of $25,000.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the American flamingo is one of the largest species of flamingo and averages some 5 feet tall. A survey conducted in 2024, spotted around 100 American flamingos in the wild around the Sunshine State.

One of the largest flocks of flamingos in a decade was recently spotted in the Everglades by avian ecologist and restoration scientist Mark Cook.

Florida Python Challenge starts Friday in South Florida, and participants can win thousands of dollars in prizes.

One of the largest flocks of American flamingos in the last decade was spotted in the Everglades recently, the South Florida Water Management District said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

In pursuit of immigration enforcement, the DeSantis administration quickly seized Everglades land to construct the center. A fleet of trucks transported crucial equipment into the sensitive area. Meanwhile, environmentalists sued to prevent the facility from operating, citing potential ecological damage. See the stories below.

Florida Python Challenge begins July 11, bringing hunters to the Everglades to remove invasive Burmese pythons that threaten native wildlife in south Florida's ecosystem.

A new report says the Everglades support $31.5B in economic value annually and over $1T in ecosystem services over the next 50 years.