Aug 28, 05:00 PM

Florida Deploys Robot Rabbits in New Push to Track Everglades Pythons

Florida wildlife officials have begun using 120 robotic marsh rabbits to help locate and remove invasive Burmese pythons that are devastating the Everglades’ ecosystem. The solar-powered decoys, deployed this summer by the South Florida Water Management District in partnership with University of Florida researchers, emit heat, scent and subtle movements to mimic real rabbits and trigger motion-camera alerts when a snake approaches. The experiment targets a population that has eliminated an estimated 95 percent of the park’s small mammals and threatens birds, deer and even alligators. Detecting the well-camouflaged reptiles is the biggest obstacle, said Mike Kirkland, the district’s lead invasive-animal biologist; once located, contractors can capture and euthanize the snakes. Each robot costs about $4,000, bringing the pilot’s price tag to roughly $480,000, funded by the water district. Officials say early field tests are promising but caution that results are still preliminary. Burmese pythons, introduced through the exotic-pet trade and accidental releases, now number anywhere from the ‘tens of thousands’ to 300,000, according to government and academic estimates. More than 23,000 have been removed since 2000, including 294 caught during the state-sponsored Florida Python Challenge in July, when a $10,000 prize went to the hunter who bagged 60 snakes. Authorities view the robotic rabbits as a potential complement to bounty hunts and professional eradication programs.

#Florida #Burmese #Everglades #University of Florida #Mike Kirkland #Florida Python Challenge

Written with ChatGPT .

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