Empty-Nest Mom Becomes Python Hunter

I never had a fear of snakes, but I also didn’t know much about them until I joined Florida’s Python Action Team.

It started in 2017, when a friend of mine said, “I’m going python hunting.” I didn’t even know Florida had pythons, but I soon found out that they’re an invasive species — they originally came here from Southeast Asia as exotic pets — and they’re outcompeting our native reptiles for food in the Everglades.

Well, I asked to tag along with my friend, and we had the time of our lives. We never caught a python, but we rode around and saw all this wildlife. It was amazing. Before I knew it, I was applying with the state fish and wildlife commission to become a python contractor. I earn a bounty of $50 or more for each python I catch — the fee is based on the length of the snake.

Anne Gorden-Vega earns a bounty for every python she catches.

Zack Wittman

When a python is attacking its prey, it will wrap itself around the animal to suffocate it. But the bigger the snake, the quicker they tire out. Anything bigger than 13 feet, I’m going to go over there, straddle it and then put my hands around its neck. Then I literally just lie on it while it thrashes around, trying to get away. Within five minutes, the snake is just exhausted. They don’t really fight you after that, and you can start feeding them into a bag.

The biggest python I ever caught was with another female contractor. It was 15 feet, 9 inches and weighed 100 pounds. I’m lying on this big snake and trying to catch my breath. I could hear the other contractor behind me, talking, and I told her, “You know, you can jump on at any time.” She goes, “I have been!” I thought, Oh my gosh, we’re in trouble. But we laugh about it now.

With this job, you get addicted to the adrenaline. No one’s in it for the money, believe me. I’m watching the moon come up, the bugs, foxes, coyotes, bobcats and some gators and crocodiles. It’s the greatest gig ever.

Anne Gorden-Vega, 64, the mother of two adult sons, is a ceramic artist in Miami and a contractor for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.