Florida hunter captures record 18-foot invasive python in Puerto Rico

The snake was captured in the Mango Bajito area of Barrio Nuevo, Naranjito. (Image: Snakeaholic)

A Florida-based python hunter has captured an 18-foot-4-inch reticulated python in Puerto Rico after the snake was reportedly spotted strangling a pet cat behind a house. Kevin Pavlidis, known online as Snakeaholic, joined members of Proyecto Retic to track down the enormous reptile in Naranjito, where it had escaped into vegetation after homeowners scared it away from the animal.

The team located the snake after around 20 minutes of searching and successfully captured it. Measuring approximately 5.59 metres, the python was described by local media as the longest live-captured reticulated python recorded in Puerto Rico. The incident has renewed attention on the island's invasive snake population and concerns about the threat these non-native predators pose to pets and native wildlife.

Florida python hunter tracks down 18-foot python in Puerto Rico

Kevin Pavlidis, a Florida-based snake hunter who goes by the name Snakeaholic, responded after receiving reports of a reticulated python attacking a pet cat behind a house in Naranjito, a municipality in central Puerto Rico. According to reports, the homeowners managed to scare the snake away before it could consume the cat, and the reptile moved down a mountainside into nearby vegetation.Pavlidis worked with members of Proyecto Retic, a team involved in locating and removing invasive reticulated pythons on the island.

He said it took around 20 minutes to track down the snake in the vegetation. The team eventually located it hidden in a bush, secured its head and pulled it out before completing the capture.The reticulated python measured 18 feet and four inches, or approximately 5.59 metres. Photographs shared after the capture showed several people standing shoulder-to-shoulder while holding the snake, illustrating its extraordinary length.Local newspaper El Nuevo Día reported that the capture set a record for the longest live-captured reticulated python in Puerto Rico. Reticulated pythons are among the world's longest snake species, with individuals capable of growing considerably longer than many other constrictors.

Reticulated pythons are an invasive species in Puerto Rico

Reticulated pythons are native to South and Southeast Asia but are considered an invasive species in Puerto Rico. They are large constrictors that kill prey by wrapping around it and squeezing, and can feed on a range of animals, including mammals and birds.Their presence on the island has raised concerns about predation on native wildlife, pets and livestock. Pavlidis has said that he and Proyecto Retic are working to remove the snakes and limit their spread. However, the full size and distribution of the wild population remain uncertain, and the island's situation should not automatically be equated with Florida's better-known Burmese python problem.

What happened to the python after its capture?

Reports said the snake was euthanised following its capture. Pavlidis has explained that restrictions on reticulated pythons in Puerto Rico limit the options for keeping or relocating them. Removing invasive snakes is intended to prevent them from continuing to reproduce and preying on native animals.The incident also drew attention to the risk these large reptiles can pose around homes, particularly in rural areas where pets and livestock may be vulnerable.