Hunter Battles Massive 17-Foot Python in Florida Everglades

In the heart of Florida’s Everglades, hunter Mike Kimmel faced a terrifying encounter that few could imagine. A massive Burmese python, estimated to be 17 feet long, lunged at Kimmel with a force that could overwhelm even the most experienced hunters. What began as a routine hunt for invasive snakes quickly turned into a life-threatening struggle that showcased both the dangers of the job and the wild power of these enormous reptiles.

The Start of a Deadly Encounter

Kimmel, a licensed python hunter from Martin County, Florida, had ventured alone to a spoil island deep in the Everglades. He was searching for the invasive Burmese python, a species that has caused serious ecological damage in the region. The late May rains had raised water levels, leaving mounds of high, dry ground, perfect spots for pythons to rest and hunt.

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He estimated the snake he spotted in the crunchy underbrush to be about 17 feet long. What Kimmel did not fully anticipate was the reach and power of the giant reptile. Confident in his experience but driven by the adrenaline of the hunt, he made a risky decision. Instead of grabbing the snake by its head, the safest approach, he attempted to seize its tail.

This proved to be a dangerous mistake. The python’s recurved teeth, designed to impale and hold prey, struck Kimmel’s arm, slicing a vein just below his elbow. Blood gushed in rhythm with his racing heartbeat.

“At that point, my main concern was not blacking out,” said Kimmel, 32, describing the harrowing incident. “Bleeding out crossed my mind, but I was really worried about losing consciousness.”

The Reality of Python Hunting

Florida’s Burmese python hunts have gained significant attention in recent years. Events such as the Python Bowl, along with celebrity appearances by Ozzy Osbourne and Gordon Ramsay, have made these hunts seem entertaining. However, Kimmel’s encounter serves as a stark reminder of the real dangers involved in capturing these invasive reptiles.

“Anytime you catch something bigger than 14 feet, it’s not a snake anymore; it’s a monster,” explained Donna Kalil, a 57-year-old licensed python hunter with the South Florida Water Management District. “I like to say I do a dangerous thing in a very careful way.”

Kalil has personally captured around 300 pythons, mostly as part of a program run by the South Florida Water Management District. This program pays hunters a minimum wage for up to 40 hours a week, with additional bonuses based on the length of the snake. For instance, a python measuring up to 4 feet brings in an extra $50, with $25 added for each additional foot. Hunters can also earn $200 for capturing a python guarding a nest with eggs.

Kalil’s largest catch measured 15.5 feet. Though she has been bitten multiple times, none of her wounds have drawn the volume of blood that Kimmel’s did.

Dangerous Hunts in the Everglades

Kalil recalled one of her scariest experiences during a nighttime hunt. She was on a levee when she spotted an 18-foot python in the water below. Approaching cautiously, she crept down the bank, only for the snake to turn on her in the darkness. She fired a .44 magnum loaded with snake shot bullets that barely penetrated the python’s skin. “Seeing a snake that big face-to-face was truly spooky,” she said.

Another time, Kalil tried to capture a 13-foot python by its head. The snake was so strong that it yanked her off the levee, causing her to fall five feet to the bottom. Despite the fall and pain, she never let go of the snake, demonstrating the physical strength and determination required for this dangerous work.

Mike Kimmel: The Python Cowboy

Unlike Kalil, Kimmel often hunts alone. On the morning of June 8, he navigated his 14-foot Jon boat through the still waters of the Everglades, checking multiple islands for python activity. When he came across the 17-foot snake, he set up cameras to record the capture, both for water management district records and for his social media followers.

Instead of grabbing the snake’s head, Kimmel reached for its tail, testing his own skill and bravery. The python immediately showed its power. “I dug my heels into the limestone to stop it, and there was a tug of war,” Kimmel said. “From there, it did what I wanted it to do – come back and strike at me because it gives me the opportunity to get its head.”

Despite dodging several strikes, Kimmel was bitten. In a Facebook post after the incident, he wrote: “She got me son, I got her though. Damn, I’m leaking everywhere.” Using a cloth snake bag, he tied up his bleeding arm without releasing the python.

Kimmel, known online as the “Python Cowboy,” had previously won this year’s Florida Python Bowl by catching eight snakes. He has also made a name for himself capturing and eradicating other invasive species, including green iguanas, Egyptian geese, and feral hogs. His work with pythons, however, is what has earned him social media fame, especially videos showing him capturing multiple pythons at once or discovering nests full of eggs.

Other Hunters and the Risks Involved

Kimmel is not the only hunter to achieve recognition through the South Florida Water Management District program. Since its start in 2017, about 3,000 snakes have been removed from the Everglades. Jason Leon, who once served as a district hunter, captured the state’s record-longest python—an 18-foot, 8-inch snake—before the program existed. He now conducts guided python hunts using airboats and ATVs.

Leon warns about the dangers of handling these massive snakes: “If that snake had bitten Kimmel in a main artery, he could have easily bled out. I’ve been wrapped several times, and if your arm or leg goes dead, you lose circulation and control.”

Dusty “Wildman” Crum, famous for his barefoot serpent wrangling, has also faced terrifying encounters. One episode of the Discovery Channel show Guardians of the Glades captured him fighting a 16-foot snake he feared would kill him. Crum noted that he and Kimmel often hunt alone despite the dangers because of their stubbornness, but Kimmel was able to step in to assist him when necessary.

Bringing in the Catch

After his bite, Kimmel was able to lift the python, even with a wounded arm, and secure it in a crate. Although the exact length and weight of the snake remain uncertain due to coronavirus-related delays at district check-in stations, rough measurements with kinks in the body put it at around 17 feet, close to the district record of 17 feet, 5 inches. Kimmel believes the snake may weigh as much as he does—between 130 and 140 pounds.

Despite the danger, Kimmel emphasized respect for the snakes: “I love snakes, and they need to be respected, not feared. They need to be taken for what they are—a wild animal that can hurt you.”

Mike Kimmel’s encounter with the 17-foot Burmese python is a vivid reminder that hunting invasive snakes in Florida is not a game or a show. These reptiles are powerful, unpredictable, and can easily inflict serious injury. While media and celebrities may glamorize the hunts, hunters like Kimmel and Kalil put themselves at real risk every time they enter the Everglades. Their work is vital for protecting Florida’s ecosystem, but it comes at a steep personal cost—one that requires skill, courage, and respect for the dangerous wildlife they pursue.