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Using K9s to Survey for Desert Tortoise: 

Using K9s to Survey for Desert Tortoise Mary E. Cablk and Jill S. Heaton

Credits: 

Credits US Army Redlands Institute, University of Redlands Working Dogs for Conservation Cindee Valentin US Fish and Wildlife Service Bureau of Land Management Desert Tortoise Conservation Center

Background: Dogs for Wildlife: 

Background: Dogs for Wildlife Contraband – illegal poaching, import/export Scat dogs – Fox, Bear, Lynx, Wolf, Whale* Wildlife dogs – birds (dead), cougar*, seal* Wildlife dogs are not hunting dogs No standards or certification – no guarantee on quality or safety No certified live animal detection dogs * anecdotal

Study Overview: 

Study Overview Quantify accuracy of dogs – surface, burrows Evaluate efficacy for environmental conditions Compare results of using dogs with using humans …Under realistic field conditions

Study Progression: 

Study Progression Training on residual scent Introduction to live animals Research phases I & II Introduction to animals in burrows Burrow trials Mark recapture surveys – human vs dog

Scat vs Live Animal: 

Doesn’t move Doesn’t respond Doesn’t reward Consequence of non-preservation = low Hunt/prey/play drive acceptable Moves Responds Rewards Consequence of non-preservation = extreme Brings out drive that inanimate target cannot bring out Scat vs Live Animal

Safety, accuracy, reliability: 

Safety, accuracy, reliability TES are legally protected Illegal to “take” – to harm, harass, kill Survey coverage Can’t always verify right/wrong answer

An uncertified dog is an unproven and unreliable dog – an unknown entity: 

An uncertified dog is an unproven and unreliable dog – an unknown entity

Field Trials – Surface Animals: 

Field Trials – Surface Animals

Field Trials – Surface Animals: 

Field Trials – Surface Animals Plot corner Weather station ‘wild’ tortoise Tethered tortoise

Field Trials – Surface Animals: 

Field Trials – Surface Animals 0.5 ha plots 87% accuracy 2.0 ha plots 95% accuracy Overall 91% accurate Dogs did not indicate on other fauna 112 total encounters with tortoises in trials 184 encounters with tortoises overall

Field Trials - Burrows: 

Field Trials - Burrows Overall 90% accurate Dogs did not indicated on burrows containing other fauna 164 total burrow encounters 68 tortoises in burrows

Mark recapture – People vs K9s: 

Time: 2 – 2.5 hrs Count: 94 (40) Time: 2 – 3 hrs Count: 105 (50) Mark recapture – People vs K9s

Mark recapture – People vs K9s: 

Mark recapture – People vs K9s Size: 110 – 280mm 6 in burrows 7 in shrubs Size: 30 -280mm 10 in burrows 19 in shrubs

Lessons from the Field: Creating/Selecting the dog: 

Lessons from the Field: Creating/Selecting the dog Any detection dog is not a Wildlife dog Hunt + play drives are ideal Prey drive = not acceptable Team required – understand target, understand drive, understand goal

Lessons from the Field: Program status: 

Lessons from the Field: Program status Wildlife dog program in research phase (DoD, USFWS, USGS BRD, BLM) Can be done and will be highly useful when deployable teams certified Additional research requested by USFWS: Burrow research under search conditions Accuracy of finding juveniles/neonates

Rich – the following slides are for your benefit during Q/A: 

Rich – the following slides are for your benefit during Q/A

There is a need for accurate, reliable, safe means of locating target wildlife species: 

There is a need for accurate, reliable, safe means of locating target wildlife species

Species are elusive: 

Species are elusive

Surveys are difficult, expensive, time consuming: 

Surveys are difficult, expensive, time consuming

Dogs…: 

Dogs… Fast, efficient, accurate Rely on scent and visual cues Cost effective Reliable if trained and handled properly

Training – learning the ‘layer’: 

Training – learning the ‘layer’ Residual Scent Training Aids

Training – learning the ‘layer’: 

Training – learning the ‘layer’ Highly controlled situation First on-leash Recognition and independent alert  off-leash

Transition to live animal: 

Transition to live animal Adults Juveniles Surface Burrows

Field Trials – Surface Animals: 

Field Trials – Surface Animals ‘wild’ tortoise Tethered tortoise

Field Trials – Surface Animals: 

Field Trials – Surface Animals 20.2 meters 20 meters

Field Trials – Surface Animals: 

Field Trials – Surface Animals

Detection distances: 

Detection distances 0.5m – 62.8m Exact straight-line distance calculated Independent of size, age, or sex of animal Independent of trial or wild animals Independent of time of day or environmental conditions

Field Trials - Burrows: 

Field Trials - Burrows