The Department of Environment and Conservation has fitted devices in 10 olive pythons, 10 water pythons, four black-headed pythons and one king brown snake in the East Kimberley.

The department's principal research scientist, David Pearson, said the aim was to see if large snakes would be killed by cane toads, as they make their descent towards Perth.

Laboratory trials had already demonstrated that various reptile species were susceptible to cane toads, he said.

"We don’t know how wild snakes will react when they encounter their first toad,” Dr Pearson said.

"Using radio transmitters, we can closely follow individual snakes during the arrival of toads to see if they will ignore the toads or if they will be tempted to try one.

"Cane toads are toxic to most native predators so if they attempt to eat a large toad, death is likely."

Mammals, lizards, snakes and threatened land snails have shown to be at risk of population declines due to toads.

Already scientists are tracking several snakes near Lake Argyle.

"Toads arrived in our Lake Argyle study area several weeks ago and we are locating the snakes regularly," Dr Pearson said.

"So far, none of the snakes has been lost to toads, but the temptation to try a toad will no doubt increase as toad numbers grow."

Dr Pearson, DEC technical officer Bill Stewart and University of Sydney researchers plan to "teach" wild blue tongue lizards and two species of goannas to avoid toads.

"Using a bait of toad pieces with a nausea-inducing chemical, it is hoped that the first experience of a native predator with something tasting like a toad will be unpleasant but not lethal," Dr Pearson said.

"This could then teach them not to be tempted by the toads, allowing various native species to survive and build up populations after the toad invasion."