Bionic Bunnies Set to Take on Burmese Pythons in Florida’s Invasive Species Battle

In a swampy battle against an invasive threat that has been raging since the 1980s, researchers in Florida are infusing a little technological know-how into an age-old problem. Having ravaged the Florida Everglades’ populations of raccoons, marsh rabbits, and other mammals by 85–100% in some areas, the Burmese python has proven to be a worthy adversary to those looking to remove it from the landscape. Despite bounty hunting and annual contests like the Florida Python Challenge, these large, slithering squatters still remain in large numbers throughout southern Florida and continue to treat the Everglades like their personal all-you-can-eat buffet. 

While hunting these massive snakes has resulted in nearly 16,000 of them being removed from the landscape since 2019, researchers are looking for other ways to draw these snakes out into the open, rather than having to send folks in to find them. 

In an effort to turn the tables on these snakes, researchers at the University of Florida are hoping that their new slightly unhinged gambit will tease them into plain sight. By using robotic rabbits that wiggle, warm, and woo snakes to their doom, researchers are betting that these bushy-tailed and waterproof robots will give them a much needed edge in Florida’s quest to evict the state’s slimy stowaways.

Having used live marsh rabbits as bait in the past, researchers found that enticing them with one of their favorite meals is a sure-fire way to attract large snakes like pythons. Go figure. 

“Years ago we were hearing all these claims about the decimation of mesomammals in the Everglades. Well, this researcher thought that sounded far-fetched, so he decided to study it,” said Ian Bartoszek, a biologist with the Conservancy of South Florida. “So, he got a bunch of marsh rabbits, put [GPS] collars on them, and then he let them go in the core Everglades area … Within six months, 77 percent of those rabbits were found inside the bellies of pythons. And he was a believer after that.”

But sadly, maintaining live animals is a labor-intensive strategy and considering that little fluffy bunnies were being sacrificed to the python Gods, ethical concerns started to bubble up. Facing a little push back on the live-bunny strategy, UF researchers and the South Florida Water Management District put their heads together and created a new, just as fluffy, but tech-driven solution: robo-bunnies.

These modified toy rabbits, retrofitted with motors and internal heaters, mimic the movements and body temperature of live marsh rabbits. Harnessing the power of the Florida sunshine, these bionic baits are completely solar-powered, remotely controlled, and waterproofed to endure South Florida’s humid and rainy conditions.

Led by wildlife ecology professor Robert McCleery and mechanically skilled colleague Chris Dutton, the project deployed 40 robo-bunnies across undisclosed locations in South Florida for a pilot study that was launched earlier this month. Each robot is equipped with a tiny camera programmed to detect snake movement, sending notifications to researchers who can verify via video feed if a python is approaching. Once lured, pythons can be captured and humanely euthanized, reducing their impact on the ecosystem.

“We know pythons are attracted to the heat and movement of live prey,” McCleery said.  “These robots replicate that without the logistical and ethical challenges of using live animals.” 

If the initial phase, which relies on heat and motion alone, proves insufficient, the team plans to enhance the robots with some bunny scent in a “Version 2.0” to increase their allure.

The robo-bunny initiative is part of a broader strategy to control the python population, complementing efforts like radio telemetry, DNA detection, and bounty programs. While promising, the project is in its early stages, and researchers caution that measurable results may take years. 

Whether these cyber-rabbits become a game changer, as researchers hope, will depend on their ability to entice and outsmart one of nature’s most formidable predators.