guess who successfully tracked a genet, with no prior training or instruction? my darling doofus did!! (i myself have been professionally trained in wildlife tracking, though.)
cannot express how proud i am of this dog & how far she's come in showing her intelligence & abilities over the last year.
(not a photo of where she tracked, but just look how chuffed she is with herself on this hike!)
last night, she absolutely lost her mind over something in the garden, but i had to call her in, since i didn't want her bolting into the forest or down the gorge in the dark to chase whatever it was (she's very good at dropping her prey drive/interest when asked), & heaven forbid it was a nefarious character that was armed (we've been having such issues in the area lately, unfortunately).
she did it again when i let her out this morning, i checked the area she was particularly & repeatedly interested in...& ta-da, there was genet spoor! (did i accidentally step on the only identifiable tracks before i could take a photo? yes, i did.)
she's also done really well when my friend with actual trained, actively working conservation detection dogs comes to visit.
but all of this really hammers home just how held back she was by my former partner's menace of a jack russell (look, i loved that little shit like my own baby, but he was still a terror, that i spent years training & managing/improving/maintaining his behaviour/personality).
she really seemed so dof (dumb) & empty-headed before; she would completely biff catching treats/toys, wouldn't hardly play, was generally desperate, etc., all because that little dog with napoleon syndrome would bulldoze his way to get at anything first, even if he initially wasn't interested, & not stop until he "won" & she gave up.
to think, that i could have trained her years ago, had another avenue of conservation involvement, & further enriched this dog's life...
Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge Utilizes Dogs
For Detecting Avian Botulism
Dogs have a great sense of smell, which wildlife biologists believe may be able to help save endangered waterbirds in Hawai‘i. Dogs are currently being trained at the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge to sniff out endangered ducks (Koloa maoli) that have died from avian botulism. Since 2011, avian botulism has killed over 1,200 endangered waterbirds at the Refuge.
Koloa maoli - Hawaiian Duck
Photo by Brenda Zaun, USFWS. Public domain.
A Conservation Partnership
The pilot project, which is being conducted in partnership with U.S. Geological Survey’s Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, will test the efficiency of trained canines compared with people conducting avian botulism surveillance at Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge.
It’s not yet known how effective this approach will be or if the dogs will be able to pick up the scent from large, densely-covered loʻi kalo, especially taking into account highly variable weather patterns and other factors, but so far the pilot program shows promise.
“Along with maintaining good water quality in the lo‘i kalo (taro fields) and managed wetlands, if you can detect the first case of avian botulism more effectively, you then have an opportunity to stop the outbreak quickly,” said Heather Tonneson, Refuge Manager of the Kaua‘i National Wildlife Refuge Complex of the USFWS.
“We are encouraged by the success we have witnessed so far and very thankful for all the help and support for this project that we have received from our partners, volunteers, and the kalo permittees who farm on the Refuge.”
A trained scent-detection canine sits near dog trainer and USFWS biologists at Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge. Dogs are being trained to sniff out the endangered ducks (koloa maoli (Anas wyvilliana) and Laysan ducks (A. laysanensis)) that die of avian botulism.
Photo by Michelle Reynolds / USGS-PIERC. Public domain.)
“It is so exciting to be part of this pilot project,” said Kyoko Johnson, dog trainer and owner of Country Canine. “Not only do we utilize the sniffing capabilities of dogs to help wildlife, but the dogs really enjoy doing their job.”
Dog trainer stands with scent-detection canine at Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Michelle Reynolds / USGS-PIERC. Public domain.)
What is Avian Botulism?
Avian botulism is caused by poisoning from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum (type C) and, like wildfire, the disease can rapidly spread from bird to bird. The bacteria can thrive in warm, stagnant, nutrient-rich conditions, where invertebrates, a favored food of the birds, concentrate the toxin. Undetected carcasses that remain hidden under kalo and other plants produce more toxin which spreads to other healthy birds that feed in infected areas over a very short time period. In addition to implementing timely water management techniques, such as managing water levels, circulation, and temperature, researchers think using trained detector dogs will allow rescuers to respond more quickly and effectively to avian botulism outbreaks; therefore, saving more bird lives.
Koloa maoli - Hawaiian Duck
Photo by Christopher Malachowski / USFWS
The Refuge has also been working on a number of other projects and partnerships to help reduce the occurrence of avian botulism, including increased water flow and quality monitoring, revision and distribution of avian botulism response protocols, in-depth analysis of existing data to characterize hotspots and factors that cause or exacerbate the disease, and water infrastructure mapping and improvements to the main irrigation system. Working closely with kalo farmers, Refuge maintenance staff were able to design, procure, and install major water infrastructure improvements in numerous loʻi kalo and surrounding ditches this last several years, which has already resulting in an immediate decrease in the number and intensity of outbreaks within those areas.
About Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge
With its patchwork quilt of loʻi kalo and wetland management units, Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge is the oldest of Kaua‘i’s three national wildlife refuges. The 917-acre Refuge was established in 1972 to recover threatened and endangered species, including endangered waterbirds that rely on the Hanalei Valley for nesting and feeding habitat.
