skunkstripe
01-04-2008, 01:23 PM
It shouldn't surprise anyone that dogs can find animals in the woods. After all, isn't that what some hunting dogs are bred and trained to do? :rolleyes:
But this story is about training dogs to find rare and endangered species to help prevent them from being killed by forest fires. Still, the last line got me:
Land managers often have difficulty detecting forest carnivores because they tend to be elusive, solitary and on the go. Common methods for confirming a species at a site include using remotely-triggered cameras and barbed wire snares that snag hair. Both methods require the use of bait that can lure animals away from their typical range.
Scientists involved in the Vermont study, led by Robert A. Long, found detection dogs were three and a half times more successful at detecting species than cameras, the second best method. The dogs also only needed one visit per site to ensure a high probability of detection, an important consideration when long distances, difficult terrain and complex land ownership make research challenging.
...
Successful scat detection dogs tend to be high-energy mutts, with an excessive play drive. Often, they were difficult pets left at shelters. Handlers reward the dogs by playing tug of war with a favorite toy
more info here: http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/071211_dogs.pdf
But this story is about training dogs to find rare and endangered species to help prevent them from being killed by forest fires. Still, the last line got me:
Land managers often have difficulty detecting forest carnivores because they tend to be elusive, solitary and on the go. Common methods for confirming a species at a site include using remotely-triggered cameras and barbed wire snares that snag hair. Both methods require the use of bait that can lure animals away from their typical range.
Scientists involved in the Vermont study, led by Robert A. Long, found detection dogs were three and a half times more successful at detecting species than cameras, the second best method. The dogs also only needed one visit per site to ensure a high probability of detection, an important consideration when long distances, difficult terrain and complex land ownership make research challenging.
...
Successful scat detection dogs tend to be high-energy mutts, with an excessive play drive. Often, they were difficult pets left at shelters. Handlers reward the dogs by playing tug of war with a favorite toy
more info here: http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/071211_dogs.pdf