On Nov. 21, 2024, scientists at the University of Florida (UF) announced they have developed a pioneering tool to bolster Florida’s defenses against invasive species: a DNA-based environmental monitoring test that can pinpoint where they’ve been, aiding eradication efforts.

Known as a tetraplex digital PCR assay, this method of testing allows researchers to use water or soil samples for rapid and precise identification of Burmese pythons, northern African pythons, boa constrictors and rainbow boas from environmental DNA — which scientists refer to as eDNA — collected in the wild. The test can identify four invasive snake species simultaneously.

That eDNA refers to genetic material shed by organisms into their surroundings. Published in the journal of Ecology and Evolution, scientists at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) tout this as a significant advancement in detecting invasive snakes and a strategic tool for protecting Florida’s ecosystems. The new assay aligns with ongoing efforts by state and federal agencies, which have invested more than $10 million from 2004 to 2021 to manage the Burmese pythons alone.