Podcast Summary: The Origins Foundation Podcast

Episode 614 – Mike Kimmel || The Python Cowboy
Date: January 6, 2026

Overview

This episode features Mike Kimmel, widely known as “Python Cowboy,” a renowned trapper and conservationist from South Florida recognized for his work removing invasive species—especially pythons—from the Florida Everglades. Mike shares his unique experiences hunting invasive reptiles, the importance of species management, his background, and reflections on wildlife, conservation, and public perceptions around hunting in Florida. The discussion places a spotlight on the blend of tradition, hands-on science, and stewardship that underpins his work.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Getting to Know Mike Kimmel (“Python Cowboy”)

• Background

  • Born and raised in South Florida; calls himself a "Florida cracker," a term he explains as affectionate and historic rather than derogatory.
  • His father was a sailor, leading to a childhood spent sailing from Florida to South America and the Caribbean (09:18-09:47).
  • Early passion for wildlife; began volunteering with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) as a teenager, helping with nuisance alligator removals (13:58-14:24).

• Professional Profile

  • Owner/operator of Martin County Trap and Wildlife Rescue.
  • Bridges the gap between trapping/removal and guided hunting experiences for clients (13:39-13:55, 34:20-35:19).

2. Life as a Gladesman

• Describes the culture and history of the Gladesmen—hunters and trappers of the Everglades.
• Discusses the history of man-made islands and airboat trails in the Everglades, as well as the eviction of traditional campsites (03:27-04:54, 05:09-06:01).

3. Wildlife Management in Modern Florida

• Alligator Management

  • Explains that passive “leave it alone” approaches are no longer viable due to urban encroachment and landscape changes:

    “In this day and age we live in, there is no more just leaving them alone. Look at Florida. I mean, we've encroached so much into the wildlands that we have to manage it.” (18:00-18:17)

  • Management prevents overpopulation, aggressive territorial behavior, and dangerous conflicts in communities (18:17-19:29).
  • Describes state/private land alligator tag systems, surveys, and economic sustainability—hunting can be a vital conservation and financial tool (16:02-17:10).

• Bear, Python, and Iguana Management

  • Controversially short bear hunting season led to misunderstanding about its need and value for population control (19:35-20:52).
  • The same principles apply to invasive pythons and iguanas—public misunderstanding is common, often arising from lack of education (20:59-22:06).
  • Mike stresses that education and public engagement are crucial to supporting management programs.

4. Invasive Species: Challenges and Realities

• Iguanas

  • Florida’s iguana population is now self-sustaining in the wild; pet trade restrictions have inadvertently removed a form of free management by trappers (23:26-25:36).
  • Efficient trapping techniques discussed—nets, nooses, and baited traps—with decline in outside trappers after new laws.

• Pythons and Monitors

  • Details the spread and difficulty of python removal; describes the Burmese python as the main species of concern (29:16-29:50).
  • Tells of his experience rescuing alligators from huge pythons, highlighting one video that went national and sparked his social media presence (30:18-33:55).
  • Explains the use of detection dogs—mainly German Wirehaired Pointers and Drahthaars—and their specialized training to sniff out snakes and other invasives (37:51-39:19, 43:09-44:12).

5. Hunting as Conservation and Social Education

• Public and Online Perception

  • Mike shares stories of confronting public misconceptions head-on, both in real life and on social media (21:07-22:46).
  • Highlights the importance of patience and education:

    “When I have a moment to explain it to them … a lot of times they end up thanking me for what I'm doing.” (21:07-22:06)

  • Even self-identified vegans and animal rights advocates have expressed appreciation after understanding the reality (22:46-23:10).

• Guided Hunts and Experiences

  • Describes the evolution of guided hunts for clients—how difficult and specialized invasive species hunting can be (35:19-36:47).
  • Notes the challenges of night-time python hunts and shooting iguanas from moving boats—“Even the best shooters that come out struggle.” (35:28-35:51).

6. Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

Wild Encounters

• Catching a 17ft, 135lb Python:

  “17 Ft 7 inches. 135 pounds and it bit the hell out of me.” – Mike Kimmel (03:19)

• Python vs. Alligator Rescue:

  “I have to bear hug this bundle up out of the water … the alligator head is also loose. So ... then I body slam it down as hard as I could, like WWE on that thing ... The snake starts to uncoil.” – Mike Kimmel (31:14-32:24)

On the Necessity of Management:

• “You leave them alone. The alligators are their own worst enemy ... spill out into our communities, our residential areas ... obviously become a problem and a danger.” – Mike Kimmel (18:19-18:49)

On Dealing with Critics:

• “To me … that’s how I built my page … when I would go through and answer every single comment … I built a very loyal following. I'll have tree huggers and vegans in my comments rooting for me.” – Mike Kimmel (22:13-22:48)

Nature of the Work:

• “It's different, you know? Yeah, it's. People ain't used to shooting big reptiles.” – Mike Kimmel (50:15)

7. Python Dogs & New Discoveries

• Detection Dog Breeds

  • Details on breeding, selection, and training of python dogs (37:51-41:52).
  • Points out the difficulty and importance—dogs can find underground nests and save countless hours of human searching.

• Nesting Behaviors

  • Recent groundbreaking observation: pythons are reusing nesting sites, especially underground dens, changing the field strategy (43:34-46:09).

Additional Noteworthy Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |------------------------------------- |---------------| | Largest python caught | 03:14-03:30 | | History of Everglades camps | 05:26-06:01 | | Alligator management & surveys | 16:00-17:10 | | Public resistance to hunting | 17:43-19:29 | | Bear hunt controversy | 19:35-20:52 | | Social media and public education | 21:07-22:46 | | Restrictions on iguana trapping | 23:26-25:36 | | Iguala and python territory | 28:12-29:37 | | The genesis of “Python Cowboy” | 33:43-34:20 | | Python/alligator rescue story | 30:18-33:55 | | Using detection dogs | 37:51-39:19 | | Discovery of underground nests | 43:34-46:09 |

Where to Find Mike Kimmel

• YouTube and Instagram: @pythoncowboy
• Merchandise, Leather Goods, & Guided Hunts: pythoncowboy.com
• Guided Adventure Inquiries: pythoncowboyhunts@gmail.com (49:22-49:40)

Tone & Atmosphere

The conversation is friendly, candid, full of humor, and infused with the heat and wildness of the Florida swamps. Mike’s practical, boots-on-the-ground philosophy balances with thoughtful perspectives from the hosts, providing a vivid and grounded insight into living and working with wildlife at the intersection of human expansion and nature.

Closing Takeaways

• Sustainability and science drive the mission.
• Education—both through conversation and social media—is essential to changing perceptions.
• Wildlife management is necessary due to human impact, and hunting can play a responsible, beneficial role.
• Mike’s journey shows how conservation, entrepreneurship, tradition, and outreach can all reinforce one another for healthy ecosystems and communities.

Notable Final Quote

“There’s only going to be certain things in this world that are, like, truly fun to hunt, has a purpose, has sort of invasive species purpose to it. That iguana has a conservation benefit to it … you can do something with it. It's not just a waste.”
– Co-host / Interviewer (49:40-50:12)