Florida used robot rabbits to hunt Burmese pythons threatening the Everglades

Florida used an unusual tool to control the growing population of invasive Burmese pythons in the Everglades: solar-powered robot rabbits. In 2025, the South Florida Water Management District and the University of Florida teamed up to deploy robotic rabbit decoys designed to mimic real prey and lure pythons out of hiding using artificial intelligence (AI), heat signatures and scent simulation.The robots are part of Florida’s broader effort to remove Burmese pythons, which have disrupted native wildlife populations across the state. The devices use AI-powered cameras to detect approaching snakes and alert officials, who can then send trained python removal agents to capture and remove them. The technology is being used alongside the annual Florida Python Challenge and other removal programmes, not replacing them.​How Florida’s AI-powered robot rabbits work​The solar-powered robots are designed to imitate prey that Burmese pythons hunt.