Florida scientists used female Burmese pythons as live lures to find invasive males in Everglades

Florida scientists placed caged female Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) as live lures to attract invasive male pythons in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem.

A study in Southeastern Naturalist analyzed over 3 million camera-trap photos via AI and found only three python detections at cages with female lures and one at empty control cages over 90 days.

Researchers suggested captivity stress may have prevented captive females from releasing pheromones needed to attract wild males, limiting detection.

An earlier study in Management of Biological Invasions tested rabbit scent lures and found only 11 python sightings (4 near scent, 7 near soil) across 21 sites over 84 days, failing to improve detection.