Florida scientists are using opossums to secretly track invasive Burmese pythons in the Everglades-and it's working.

KEY LARGO — Biologists A.J. Sanjar and Michael Cove part a curtain of vegetation and stride into the shadows of a dense forest in Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge to check on a line of possum traps.

Some of Florida’s opossums may soon start dying for a noble cause. A few select marsupials fitted with tracking collars may begin to lead scientists to invasive Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) slithering through the Everglades.

Scientists are using possums equipped with tracking devices to locate invasive Burmese pythons in Florida. When a possum stops moving, its collar signals its location, often indicating it has been eaten by a python.

Here's what we know about the 2026 Florida Python Challenge, how the yearly hunt works and a little bit about last year's winner.