Scientists are experimenting with robotic rabbits in hopes of luring the destructive invasive Burmese Pythons in Florida
👩🔬 Wildlife biologists in Florida are doing everything they can to eliminate invasive Burmese pythons, from organizing public hunts and hiring bounty hunters to installing tracking devices...
🤖 Now, in the fight against these destructive snakes: robotic rabbits! 🐇
🐰 Scientists from the University of Florida are deploying so-called ‘robot rabbits’ throughout southern Florida in the hope that they will lure Burmese pythons out of their hiding places so that they can be killed. By luring pythons to rabbit-like robots, biologists can save time that would otherwise be spent searching the swamps.
🐇🤖 The animatronic rabbits are equipped with motors and internal heaters to mimic the behaviour and body temperature of live swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus palustris).
🐍 In the past, scientists conducted experiments involving placing live rabbits in pens to lure invasive snakes. Live rabbits did indeed attract snakes effectively, luring about one per week, but caring for and managing the small mammals was labour-intensive. Scientists wondered whether robotic rabbits could perform the task just as well.
🐍 If the initial experiment fails to attract pythons, the researchers plan to conduct a second round of tests with the addition of realistic rabbit scents to the mechanical creatures.
The South Florida Water Management District is funding the robotic rabbit experiment, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has paid for related research in the past. 🐇
👉 If you want more information, I encourage you to read the references:
https://eu.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2025/07/11/python-challenge-robot-bunny-new-weapon-to-fight-invasive-in-florida/84535055007/
More interesting facts from the world of herpetology on my new page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573408584356
Photo credit: Robert McCleery
#nature #conservation #herpetology #Burmesepythons #florida #snakes #rabbits #ecology #invasivespecies
Naturalist, traveler, French-Polish herpetologist, interested in biodiversity and the conservation of herpetofauna. I have always been passionate about observing and studying amphibians and reptiles, especially different species of lizards in many countries. This has allowed me to gain experience in scientific research by collaborating with other specialists, attending numerous conferences and writing papers on herpetofauna. I participate in numerous monitoring and conservation programmes. Member of the IUCN SSC Monitor Lizard Specialist Group. Addicted to Natural History.
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Thanks for sharing. I do have some concerns to raise here.
1) The use of robot rabbits is certainly a much smarter way to control invasive Burmese pythons. The use of live animals is unnecessary and unethical ESPECIALLY in this time and age.
It shouldn't have been a matter of how expensive and time-consuming was to use live rabbits as snake lures, but rather a matter of how much unnecessary suffering and harm was involved in previous experiments. Just because rabbits aren't an endangered species, it doesn't make them less worthy of respect and protection. I am 100% against the sacrifice of animals for human benefit (or knowledge) or for other species!
I applaud all individuals, activists and scientists developing alternative methodology, working to rid the sciences of non-consenting subjects. This requires structural change and constant action to rid the sciences, and society, of speciesism.
2) I know that Burmese pythons have very few predators in Florida (which is one of the reasons this invasive species has taken over), but is hunting them down the best way to reduce them in number? What's your take on this as an herpetologist?
1. I totally agree.
2.
Pythons are a huge problem for biodiversity there. These robots are only an extreme and, at the moment, very limited method of eliminating them.
Unfortunately, the most effective methods are cash rewards and organized “hunts”:
https://myfwc.com/news/all-news/python-challenge-winners-825/#:~:text=The%20winners%20of%20the%202025,60%20Burmese%20pythons%2C%20winning%20%2410%2C000.