Drones in Conservation: Pioneering Non-Lethal Solutions for Wildlife Management

In recent years, drone technology has soared (see what we did there) beyond initial applications, finding their way to new and impactful roles in wildlife conservation. Specifically, drones are revolutionizing how we manage the balance between wildlife and human activities (like ranching). Among the promising uses of this technology, at least in our opinion, is the non-lethal management of wolf-livestock conflicts.

Understanding Drone Technology

Before we go any further, let’s take a look at what drones are and how they operate. Drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are operated remotely, providing opportunities to access geographic areas that are more challenging and/or risky for human crews.

Equipped with cameras, infrared sensors, and GPS, drones can collect real-time data from a bird’s-eye view, monitoring vast expanses of terrain at once. Talk about efficiency…

Drones & Wildlife

Drones offer a variety of applications in wildlife conservation management, revolutionizing the way we monitor and protect various species and their habitats. For example, drones can be deployed to:

Monitor Animal Movements: Drones have the ability to track the movement patterns of many species of wildlife, wolves included. This gathering of data helps monitor habits that, in turn, help to predict behaviors;
Mitigate Conflict: Upon detecting potential or active conflicts, drones can intervene directly. This has been done, successfully, through non-invasive methods involving sound, dispersing wolves away from livestock without causing harm;
Assess Habitat: Drones have the unique ability to provide detailed images of habitats for conservationists to evaluate, helping them understand environmental factors that might influence wildlife behaviors.

What are the Benefits?

Traditional wildlife management methods often involve lethal forms of control. This disrupts ecological balance and ultimately leads to negative outcomes for all species. With the use of drones, we can:

Save Predators & Livestock: Successful non-lethal mitigation is a win/win. Drones provide a way to prioritize coexistence, aligning with both conservation ethics and livelihood preservation;
Save Money: The initial expense of drone technology can be off putting, however over a longer period of time, it is the most cost effective way to monitor wildlife in conflict mitigation and habitat assessment;
Avoid Wildlife Disruption: Unlike human intervention, drones maintain a safe distance from wildlife. This minimizes the stress on wildlife and reduces the impact that humans have on their natural behaviors.

Drones in Action

In 2022, USDA & Wildlife Services (National Wildlife Research Center) conducted a study using drones to haze wolves as a means of wolf-livestock conflict mitigation. This study revealed that drones were highly effective at deterring conflict, with depredation levels nearly 23 times LOWER than without the use of drones.
As drone technology continues to evolve, its applications in conservation work will likely expand and offer even more opportunities to manage wildlife with less intrusion. We’re not going to lie – it is going to be an ongoing challenge to balance technological integration with ethical considerations to ensure conservation efforts remain inclusive of the needs of ALL stakeholders (wildlife included).

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