Detection Dogs Help Conservationists Sniff Out Data
TRACKING ENDANGERED SPECIES, NOSING OUT INVASIVES, AND HUNTING DOWN ANIMAL SCAT ARE JUST A FEW WAYS THAT WORKING DOGS ARE REVOLUTIONIZING ECO-RESEARCH.
IN A DENSE Salvadoran rainforest, a conservation detection dog named Niffler is engrossed in a peculiar training exercise. Like a determined scavenger-hunt participant, his mission is clear: locate carnivore scat samples that his handler, Kayla Fratt, co-founder of K9 Conservationists, has hidden along a trail.
Niffler searches tirelessly for his target, signaling his find by laying in front of the sample, paws and nose framing it on three sides. This critical exercise is not just a game — it’s Niffler’s final test to prove he’s ready to join Fratt and her team in their upcoming large-scale research effort.
In the fight to save Earth’s flora and fauna, some researchers have found an unexpected but effective ally: dogs. Equipped with keen noses and unparalleled tracking skills, these fourlegged research assistants are revolutionizing data collection.
DETECTION DOGS
made their conservation debut in New Zealand in the 1890s, helping to sniff out kākāpō, a species of flightless, critically endangered parrot. Since then, the roles of conservation detection dogs have been expanded and refined to meet specific research needs.
Conservation efforts hinge on reliable data, especially when tracking elusive flora and fauna. Humans, for the most part, rely on their
eyesight, and while we might detect nearby scents, our canine counterparts have a major advantage. Humans have roughly 6 million sensory receptors; dogs boast over 100 million. Some dog breeds, like sheepdogs and beagles, take it to the next level, with over 200 million and 300 million receptors, respectively.
It’s not just receptor numbers that set dogs apart. They also have more receptor types, allowing them to pick up on a wide variety of scents. A section of the canine brain is also responsible for analyzing odors around 40 times larger than that of humans.
Experts think that altogether, dogs’ scent detection ability is 1,000 to 10,000 times stronger than our own. This allows dogs to pick up scents that are virtually undetectable to humans, from distances up to a mile and a half away.
WHILE ALL their jobs require sniffing, conservation detection dogs are generally employed for one or more specific tasks. These working canines can be charged with locating rare, elusive or endangered species. Species with declining populations, like the U.K.’s greater crested newt, can be notoriously difficult to find, especially when they are buried underground or otherwise well hidden.
Dogs have also proven instrumental in targeting invasive flora and fauna. For instance, zebra mussels are invasive pests that cause significant damage in North American waterways. Detection dogs can sniff out these mussels on boat hulls, allowing inspectors to eliminate the mollusks and curtail their spread.
Another role for these canine research assistants — like Niffler — is tracking down animal feces. DNA analysis of these smelly treasures can reveal information about an animal’s diet or, if there are enough samples, the status of a population.
Researchers also train these skilled dogs to find dead animals, which is particularly important in assessing the impacts of wind farms on flying species. And lastly, the dogs can find dens, roosts, and nests of various species, providing valuable insight into animal behavior while identifying areas that might need protection.
All dogs have a knack for sniffing, but not every canine is cut out for the working dog life — in fact, most dogs aren’t right for the job, explains Fratt. Though research doesn’t pinpoint a single breed as superior, the bond between handler and dog introduces a layer of personal preference in the selection process.
For Fratt, the first step is to find a dog physically capable of the work. To her, a conservation dog should be able to navigate diverse terrains, be it dense forests or open fields. Dogs with short legs or snouts probably won’t do as well, and breeds with thick fur can be magnets for ticks and burrs. “I personally prefer working with dogs that are small enough that I know I can carry them out of the field if I need to,” says Fratt.
Regardless, the contributions of detection dogs extend far beyond the data they help to collect. Since people are naturally drawn to dogs, they can also serve as ambassadors for conservation, raising awareness about environmental issues wherever their paws take them.
Experts think that altogether, dogs’ scent detection ability is 1,000 to 10,000 times stronger than our own.