Bill Booth’s Journey on Swamp People: Serpent Invasion – From Python Hunts to a Quiet Exit

Bill Booth made his memorable debut on Swamp People: Serpent Invasion in Season 1, where he emerged not just as a cast member, but as a central figure in the show’s mission to control Florida’s exploding python population. Known in Florida for his years of professional snake hunting, Booth joined a cast of seasoned gator hunters and outdoorsmen, quickly distinguishing himself with his calm under pressure, methodical tracking style, and tactical precision.

Before his television career, Booth had already built a reputation as a skilled emergency responder and outdoor expert, serving as a firefighter for two decades and earning certifications as a diver and Coast Guard captain. These experiences shaped the disciplined, measured persona viewers came to know on screen. Over the course of his appearances, Booth contributed to some of the show’s most intense missions—many in remote, dangerous areas of the Everglades—and demonstrated a quiet but unwavering dedication to ecological preservation. His journey on the show not only showcased his individual expertise but also helped frame the python crisis as a serious environmental threat rather than mere entertainment.

The Beginning: Season 1 and the Birth of a Team

Bill’s first appearance came in Season 1, Episode 1 (“Man vs. Snake”), which aired on March 12, 2020. He was introduced as the only full-time professional python hunter among the team, joining forces with Troy and Chase Landry, Bruce Mitchell, and Zak Catchem. The group formed an elite task force combining gator-hunting instincts with scientific methods and cutting-edge technology. Bill’s reputation in Florida as a go-to python hunter was already well-established, and his knowledge quickly became indispensable to the team.

Early episodes saw Booth teaming up with Bruce and Zak to investigate high-risk zones like the infamous Everglades Triangle and an abandoned Cold War rocket silo. These areas were known not only for their dense python populations but also for their remoteness and eerie atmosphere. From the outset, Bill demonstrated a calm, strategic approach—balancing risk with reward, and relying on tracking patterns, habitat knowledge, and behavioral cues of the snakes.

Rising Stakes and Expanding Territory: Season 2

By Season 2 (2020–2021), Bill Booth had cemented his place as a key figure on the team. He returned to hunt alongside Troy and Chase Landry, venturing into even more isolated and treacherous terrain. In episodes like “Outlaw Country” and “Gators and Ghost Towns,” Booth took part in extended missions that pushed deep into the wetlands, following the migration routes of massive pythons. These excursions often required overnight stays in the swamp, and one misstep could have left the crew stranded without backup.

Bill’s tactics evolved during this season. He worked closely with drone pilots, thermal scanners, and sometimes even dogs brought in to sniff out pythons. The show documented his measured decision-making and situational awareness, especially during team challenges like the one in “Python Gamble,” where crews competed to see who could catch the most and largest snakes.

A New Partnership and Deeper Threats: Season 3

In Season 3 (2023), Bill returned to the Everglades with a new partner—Tes Lee, a fellow Florida native and passionate hunter. Their dynamic became a core part of the season’s narrative, with the two navigating unfamiliar territory together and developing a synchronized hunting style. Tes brought a tenacity that matched Bill’s methodical mindset, and together, they tackled episodes like “The Snake Pit,” “Snakin’ Ain’t Easy,” and “Mad Woman Woods.”

This season saw Booth and Tes confronting both environmental and emotional challenges—raging wildfires, nocturnal snake strikes, and even rumored supernatural zones. They explored areas previously untouched by other teams, including abandoned rock quarries, citrus groves plagued by pythons, and isolated stretches of islands where breeding females had gone unchecked.

Despite the hardships, Bill maintained his seasoned calm. Whether he was fending off aggressive snakes alone—as seen in “Snakin’ Ain’t Easy”—or teaming up with Tes for critical missions near secluded campsites, he continually adapted his strategies. His efforts reflected not just brute hunting skill, but a long-term conservation mindset. As pythons disrupted the delicate ecological balance of the Everglades, Booth worked to eliminate them before they could threaten more native species.

Final Battles and Strategic Impact

Bill’s storyline reached a crucial peak in the Season 3 finale, “The Final Battle” (April 27, 2023). As the python breeding season neared its peak, Booth and Tes were deployed to a secluded stretch of island chains where the presence of large female pythons posed an urgent threat to the ecosystem. Their mission was not just to capture individual snakes but to disrupt the reproductive cycle of these invasive giants.

The terrain was treacherous—thick mangroves, unpredictable currents, and suffocating heat tested both hunters physically and mentally. Yet, Booth’s experience navigating the Everglades allowed them to move efficiently, identifying tracks, nesting spots, and heat signatures with expert precision. Together, he and Tes executed a high-pressure operation that contributed significantly to the season’s python control objectives.

Although Bill Booth did not appear in Swamp People: Serpent Invasion Season 4 (2024–2025) or Season 5, the circumstances surrounding his departure from the series remain unaddressed by both the network and Booth himself. His absence has sparked considerable interest among fans, many of whom continue to search for updates or clues regarding his potential return. Despite this curiosity, Booth has chosen not to make any public statements about his status with the show. His social media presence has also remained quiet in relation to Serpent Invasion, suggesting a respectful disengagement from the series without formal acknowledgment.