Florida researchers used 90 robotic rabbits to catch Burmese pythons. What happened next even scientists couldn't believe

In Florida’s Everglades, researchers are turning to an unlikely weapon in the fight against one of the region’s most destructive invasive predators: robotic rabbits. Designed to look, move and even feel like real prey, the solar-powered “robo-bunnies” are being tested as a way to lure elusive Burmese pythons out of hiding. The unusual strategy addresses one of the biggest problems facing wildlife officials. The snakes are not necessarily difficult to remove once found; the real challenge is finding them in the vast, dense wetlands.

Why are Robotic rabbits being used?

Burmese pythons are native to Southeast Asia but have established a major invasive population across South Florida. They are powerful predators with a broad diet, consuming mammals, birds and reptiles. The US Fish and Wildlife Service says the snakes can grow to 20 feet, live for more than 25 years and produce clutches of up to 100 eggs. Their cryptic behaviour and ability to move through difficult terrain make them particularly challenging to detect.

Researchers from the University of Florida and the South Florida Water Management District therefore came up with a simple idea, use one of the python’s favourite meals as bait without putting a real rabbit at risk.

How the ‘robo-bunnies’ work

The robotic rabbits are modified toy rabbits fitted with electronics, motors and heating systems. They are designed to reproduce some of the characteristics of a real marsh rabbit, including movement and body heat. According to Smithsonian Magazine, researchers also planned to add realistic rabbit scents to the devices to make them more convincing to the snakes. The rabbits are placed inside or near monitored enclosures and equipped with cameras. When a python approaches, researchers receive an alert and can send a contractor to remove the snake. The devices are solar-powered and can be controlled remotely, meaning they can remain in the field without researchers having to monitor them constantly.

Why not use real rabbits?

The idea was inspired by earlier research involving live rabbits. A University of Florida-led study found that live mammalian lures could increase the chances of detecting Burmese pythons. Researchers used domestic rabbits because native marsh rabbits are an important part of the snakes’ diet. But using live animals comes with obvious practical and welfare challenges. A 2025 US Geological Survey study also found that rabbit-derived scents, including urine, faeces and hair, did not increase python detections in its field experiments. That makes the robotic approach particularly interesting because researchers can combine movement, heat, cameras and potentially scent in one device.

The bigger problem is the Burmese pythons

The fight against Burmese pythons is not simply about removing a non-native snake. Scientists have documented major effects on native wildlife. A USGS study found that nearly 80% of radio-tracked marsh rabbits that died in Everglades National Park had been eaten by Burmese pythons. Researchers said the snakes had become the dominant predator of marsh rabbits in the study area. The USGS describes Burmese pythons as one of the most difficult invasive-species management problems in the world because of the combination of their resilience, camouflage and the inaccessible Everglades environment.

How do robot rabbits actually catch pythons?

The technology is still experimental, so researchers are not presenting the robo-bunnies as a guaranteed solution. In 2025, Florida released 120 robotic rabbits as part of the experiment. Each device cost about $4,000, according to reporting by the Associated Press. Mike Kirkland, lead invasive animal biologist with the South Florida Water Management District, summed up the central challenge: “Removing them is fairly simple. It’s detection.”

Florida has tried numerous methods to control the invasive species, from organised hunting competitions to trained detection animals. The robotic rabbits represent a very different approach, using technology to exploit the snake’s natural hunting behaviour. Whether the machines can make a meaningful impact on Florida’s python population remains to be seen. But in an ecosystem where simply finding the predators is half the battle, a fake rabbit that can quietly wait in the swamp could prove to be an unexpectedly useful tool.