Rahul Somvanshi
Solar-powered robotic rabbits now sit in the Florida Everglades, waiting to lure invasive Burmese pythons out of hiding. The South Florida Water Management District has deployed 120 units this summer at about $4,000 each, totaling approximately $480,000 for the experimental program.
“If we can see a statistically significant number of pythons that are coming to investigate these robotic rabbits and the pens, that would be a success, because right now, pythons do a great job of staying hidden,” says Mike Kirkland, lead invasive animal biologist for the South Florida Water Management District.
Python Numbers and Damage
Burmese pythons arrived in Florida through pet trade releases and escapes in the 1980s-1990s. Hurricane Andrew (1992) likely accelerated the problem when it destroyed some reptile collections, but the invasion resulted from multiple releases/escapes over years. Population estimates now range from tens of thousands to 300,000 snakes across South Florida.
These invasive reptiles have eliminated up to 95% of small mammals in parts of the Everglades. Female pythons lay 50-100 eggs per clutch, with adults typically reaching 10-16 feet. The record catch in 2023 measured 19 feet.
A 2015 study found pythons responsible for 77% of rabbit deaths in Everglades National Park. The snakes also prey on wading birds, deer, and even alligators, disrupting seed dispersal and the entire food web.
UF Researchers Lead Robot Rabbit Solution
The innovative project stems from collaboration between University of Florida’s Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, led by Professor Robert McCleery, and the South Florida Water Management District. Dr. Christopher Dutton, Assistant Professor at UF’s Department of Biology, spearheaded the technical development.
“Something we’ve been cooking up the last few months in the lab,” Dutton shared on social media, suggesting collaborations with technology companies Particle, Helium, and Voltaic Systems for the project’s electronic components.
The researchers modified toy rabbits by replacing the stuffing with technology that:robot
- Produces heat signatures matching a marsh rabbit’s body temperature
- Creates lifelike movements
- Runs on solar power
- Features waterproofing for Florida’s humidity
Each unit sits in a pen with cameras programmed to recognize python movement. When a snake approaches, the system alerts officials.
“If that python is detected, then it contacts someone like myself, who’s available 24 hours a day, and then I can deploy one of our many contractors to go remove it,” Kirkland told AP News.
Past Control Methods
The robot approach builds on recent trials using live rabbits as bait, which successfully attracted about one python weekly but proved impractical for large-scale use.
Previous control efforts included:
- Radio-tagged prey animals
- Python-sniffing dogs
- Tracking captured snakes with implanted transmitters
If the current mechanical versions prove insufficient, researchers plan to add synthetic scent compounds in a next phase of development.
“We want to capture all of the processes that an actual rabbit would give off,” McCleery told the Palm Beach Post.
Multiple Removal Approaches
The Florida Python Challenge, which concluded July 20, 2025, drew 934 participants from 30 states who removed 294 pythons. The top prize was $10,000.
Since 2017, python bounty hunters deployed by state agencies have removed over 16,000 snakes. Overall, more than 23,000 pythons have been eliminated statewide since 2000.
Despite these numbers, experts estimate only 1-3 pythons get caught for every 100 in the wild.
“Every invasive python removed makes a difference,” says Ron Bergeron of the South Florida Water Management District Board.
Technical Challenges
Creating effective robotic decoys required solving several engineering problems:
- Waterproofing while maintaining correct heat signatures
- Developing solar power systems that work in swamp conditions
- Programming cameras to distinguish pythons from other wildlife
- Ensuring remote control systems function in remote areas
While concentrated in the Everglades, pythons have been found as far north as Lake Okeechobee, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data.
Current Status
All 120 robotic units began field trials in summer 2025. The South Florida Water Management District describes the project as “in its infancy.”
Florida law allows humanely killing pythons on private land (with owner permission) and on designated public lands. Citizens spotting pythons should contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s exotic species hotline.
The robot rabbit project represents one component in the broader Everglades restoration efforts. The work has gained national attention, appearing in multiple news outlets including USA Today, highlighting the ingenuity of this approach to combating invasive species.
