Deep in the Florida Everglades, a vast and difficult landscape, scientists are trying a new way to find invasive Burmese pythons; they are looking from above. Researchers are testing small drones fitted with radio tracking equipment or cameras to locate snakes more efficiently, follow their movements across difficult terrain, and cut the cost of searching from the ground. One female python released after tagging measured 16 feet and weighed 147.9 pounds. In this article, you will learn how the technology works, why pythons are so hard to track, what the scientists hope to gain, and what important questions remain unanswered. The trials could help wildlife managers refine detection methods and improve efforts to control a population that threatens native Everglades wildlife.
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