State officials have encouraged the capture and humane killing of Burmese pythons since the non-native species took root in south Florida and began to proliferate in the Everglades, with few natural predators to curb their population growth.

Florida Python Challenge has slithered to its conclusion, with professionally-categorized python purger Ronald Kiger crowned its victor after removing 20 Burmese pythons from the Florida Everglades.

A winner was announced Tuesday in Florida's annual Python Challenge, a competition that tasks hunters with removing invasive Burmese pythons from the south Florida wilds.