Officials in Florida have invested in a range of methods to address the population of invasive Burmese pythons in the Everglades, including an experimental effort involving robotic decoys designed to attract the snakes. The program used artificial rabbits equipped with heating elements, scent emitters, and cameras to lure pythons into monitored areas where removal teams could be dispatched.

The Everglades spans roughly 1.5 million acres of wetland. Burmese pythons, which are native to Southeast Asia, became established there largely through the pet trade. During the 1980s and 1990s, young pythons were sold as pets, but many grew to lengths of 15 to 20 feet, leading owners to release them into the wild. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 also damaged reptile facilities, which likely contributed to the release of additional snakes.

The warm climate and abundant prey allowed the python population to grow substantially. A single female can lay up to 100 eggs. In 2022, researchers captured a female in Big Cypress National Preserve that was nearly 18 feet long and contained 122 developing eggs. Pythons are ambush predators that can remain still in the water for long periods, making them difficult to detect. Estimates of the current population range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands.

The presence of pythons has had a measurable effect on native wildlife. In areas with established python populations, populations of raccoons, opossums, and marsh rabbits have declined sharply, with some studies reporting drops of more than 90 percent. Pythons have also been found with the remains of deer and various bird species, including endangered wood storks, in their digestive systems.

Early control attempts involved public hunting events. A 2013 Python Challenge attracted hundreds of participants but resulted in 68 snakes removed. A subsequent program paid licensed hunters to search at night, and trained detection dogs were later introduced. The dogs could locate pythons by scent but were too few to cover the vast territory.

Researchers also tested the use of live marsh rabbits in secure enclosures. The rabbits attracted pythons, but ethical concerns prompted a search for an alternative. The robotic decoys were designed to replicate a rabbit’s body heat, scent, and movement. About 120 units, each costing around $4,000, were placed across the Everglades.

According to accounts of the program that have circulated online, the decoys did attract large pythons during the first two days. On the third day, however, an alert revealed that an alligator had struck one of the units. Alligators and pythons compete for similar prey, and the decoys appealed to both. The reports suggest that alligators subsequently damaged many of the decoys, and pythons began avoiding areas where alligators gathered.

Some versions of the story also claim that data collected from the decoys’ sensors and cameras revealed patterns in how pythons move through the wetlands. According to this account, researchers used the data to identify travel routes and potential nesting areas for large females. Those specific findings have not been confirmed by official sources.

The core approach, however, is real. Researchers continue to test robotic decoys, tracking technology, and data analysis as tools for managing the python population. These efforts have not yet produced a way to meaningfully reduce the number of pythons in the Everglades, and the species continues to spread beyond the boundaries of the national park.