Robotic rabbits: Florida’s new weapon against Burmese pythons

Since the mid-1980s the Burmese python has been taking over Everglades National Park, reportedly a result of the pet trade. The non-native snakes are proving to be a major hazard for the native wildlife but scientists have a revolutionary new way to curb the numbers.

Researchers from the University of Florida have created 40 ‘fake rabbits’ in a bid to entice and trap the pythons. They are essentially furry toy rabbits, but equipped with motors and tiny heaters to replicate the appearance and movement of a march rabbit.

“We want to capture all of the processes that an actual rabbit would give off,” said Robert McCleery, a UF professor of wildlife ecology and conservation. “But I’m an ecologist. I’m not someone who sits around making robots.”

The creators have carefully sought to mimic every part of the rabbit’s natural movements, including how they shake and dart about the long grass. For more than a decade scientists were studying the actions of a group of rabbits to get the replicas as realistic as possible.

McCleery’s colleague Chis Dutton added 30 electronic components to a hollowed-out toy rabbit, creating the ‘fake rabbit’. The dummies are controlled remotely by researchers and are solar-powered, giving them a long lifespan.

After years of research the rabbits were finally placed into the habitat in July 2025 and the first stages of the real-world study are now live. Scientists hope that the rabbits will allow them to lure snakes to designated area where they can be trapped and removed from the environment. Already, the team is working on a robo-rabbit 2.0 which adds an odor to the stuffed rabbits.

Despite some of the cartoonish details, researchers are trying to find a solution to a very real problem. A study from the United States Geological Survey in 2012 found that the pythons had contributed to the population decline of raccoons, opossums, bobcats, foxes, marsh rabbits and cottontail rabbits.

The same study estimates that there are now tens of thousands Burmese pythons in the park. Scientists are going to need a lot of fake rabbits.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.