Python Hunters Capture Puerto Rico's Largest Reticulated Python

A reticulated python measuring an estimated 18 feet was captured in Puerto Rico after it was spotted strangling a pet cat behind a house, according to a report by Sean Joseph of OutKick, published October 19, 2026. The outlet described the animal as the largest reticulated python documented in Puerto Rico to date.

What triggered the hunt for the python?

The search began after witnesses saw the snake wrapped around a pet cat in a residential area, OutKick reported. That sighting prompted python hunter Kevin Pavlidis and the group Proyectos Retic to respond and begin tracking the animal from the yard where it was first seen into surrounding jungle terrain. The report does not specify the cat's condition or location within Puerto Rico, and no additional outlet has independently confirmed those details.

How large was the snake found in Puerto Rico?

OutKick reported the python's length at approximately 18 feet, describing it as the largest reticulated python on record for the island. The report does not cite a specific prior record length for comparison, nor does it name an agency or museum that verified the measurement. Reticulated pythons are among the longest snake species documented worldwide, but the source material provided does not include a species-wide reference length or a formal record-keeping body for Puerto Rico captures.

How did Proyectos Retic track and capture the python?

Pavlidis and Proyectos Retic followed the snake from the site of the cat incident into nearby jungle, according to OutKick's account. The report characterizes the pursuit as a tracking operation but does not detail the equipment, number of people involved, or duration of the search. No information in the source material addresses the method used to physically restrain or remove the animal once located.

Why does Puerto Rico have reticulated pythons at all?

OutKick's report refers to the captured animal as an invasive snake, consistent with the species' non-native status in Puerto Rico. The source material does not provide a population estimate, an origin date for the species' presence on the island, or details on broader removal programs beyond identifying Proyectos Retic as the group involved in this capture.

What should Puerto Rico watch next?

The original report leaves several questions open that future coverage or official statements could resolve.

• Whether a wildlife agency or independent body verifies the 18-foot measurement and confirms the record claim.
• What happened to the python after capture, including whether it was relocated, euthanized, or examined.
• Whether Proyectos Retic or local authorities report additional reticulated python sightings in the same area.
• Whether the pet cat's owner or veterinarian provides any update on the animal's condition.

HTT News found no additional published source corroborating the capture beyond the OutKick report at the time of this writing. Readers should treat the record claim as sourced to that single account pending further confirmation.