Florida released robotic rabbits to lure and kil*** invasive pythons, and the first test results are stirring serious controversy. Wildlife officials planted the decoys in the Everglades, hoping the predators would strike and reveal their hiding spots.
Burmese pythons, native to Southeast Asia, have been established in the Florida Everglades since at least 2000, after arriving largely through the exotic pet trade and a suspected release during Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The snakes, which can grow longer than 18 feet and weigh more than 200 pounds, found an ideal habitat with abundant prey that had no natural defenses against them.By 2012, researc…
Florida sent robot rabbits into the Everglades to lure deadly pythons, but the hunters soon realized the machines were triggering something unexpected. The robotic decoys mimicked real prey movements, drawing massive snakes out of hiding.
For two days in the Florida Everglades, a set of robotic decoys designed to attract Burmese pythons appeared to work as intended. The devices, shaped to resemble rabbits and equipped with heating elements, scent emitters, and motion-activated cameras, drew in several large snakes. On the third day, an alligator approached one of the decoys and destroyed it in a single bite.The incident highlighted…