Regulations for Conditional Snakes and Lizards

The following species, including their taxonomic successors, subspecies, hybrids or eggs, are now listed as conditional snakes and lizards:

• Indian or Burmese python (Python molurus)
• Reticulated python (Python reticulatus)
• Northern African python (Python sebae)
• Southern African python (Python natalensis)
• Amethystine python (Morelia amethistinus)
• Scrub python (Morelia kinghorni)
• Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
• Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus)

Pythons can be humanely killed on private lands at any time with landowner permission - no permit or hunting license required - and the FWC encourages people to remove and kill pythons from private lands whenever possible.

The FWC wants the public to help destroy invasive species such as the Burmese python and has removed obstacles to killing pythons year-round. Burmese pythons and other nonnative reptiles may be humanely killed without a permit or hunting license at any time throughout the year, except by use of traps or firearms (unless provided for by specific area regulations) on the following Commission-managed areas. Do not enter areas posted as “Closed to Public Access.”

• Allapattah Flats WMA
• Allapattah Flats SGA
• C-23/24 Reservoir SGA
• CREW WEA
• Dinner Island Ranch WMA
• Dupuis Dove Field SGA
• Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA
• Fisheating Creek
• Frog Pond North SGA
• Holey Land WMA
• J. W. Corbett WMA
• John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland WEA
• John G. and Susan H. Dupuis Jr. WEA
• Picayune Strand WMA
• Rocky Glades SGA
• Rotenberger WMA
• Southern Glades WEA
• Spirit-of-the-Wild WMA
• STA 1 West SGA
• STA 2 SGA
• STA 3/4 SGA
• STA 5 SGA

Live pythons may not be removed from these areas. However, python skins or meat may be kept and/or sold. PLEASE NOTE: Burmese pythons from Everglades National Park have been found to have very high levels of mercury; therefore, meat from pythons harvested in Florida may not be recommended for human consumption.