Florida used robot rabbits to hunt Burmese pythons threatening the Everglades

In 2025, Florida employed a novel approach to combat the invasive Burmese python population in the Everglades: solar-powered robot rabbits. The South Florida Water Management District and the University of Florida collaborated to deploy these robotic decoys, designed to lure pythons out of hiding using AI and scent simulation. These robots work alongside the annual Florida Python Challenge and other removal programs, not replacing them.

The robotic rabbits operate using AI-powered cameras to detect approaching pythons and alert officials. Once alerted, trained python removal agents can be dispatched to capture and remove the snakes. The robots are strategically placed at sites across South Florida known to be python hotspots, aiming to monitor areas challenging to survey through conventional methods.

Burmese pythons, introduced to the Everglades in the 1970s, have become a significant threat to native wildlife. Estimates suggest between 100,000 and 300,000 of these pythons now roam Florida's subtropical regions. Their presence has led to drastic declines in native mammal, bird, and reptile populations, including significant drops in raccoon and opossum numbers.

Florida also conducts the annual Python Challenge, where professional and amateur hunters participate in a 10-day competition to remove the snakes. In 2026, the challenge saw 907 participants from across the globe remove 280 Burmese pythons, contributing to the overall removal of over 1,600 snakes since 2017. The robotic rabbit program aims to complement these efforts, adding another method to the ongoing battles against the invasive species.