Conservation detection dog Oakley having a ball patrolling Lake BG
August 18, 2024 7:17 PM Subscribe
Conservation detection dog Oakley having a ball patrolling Lake Burley Griffin for invasive weed. Oakley, the six-year-old border collie, is a conservation detection dog who sniffs out noxious alligator weed in Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin.
It's late and I should be going to bed instead of typing this, but I am wondering who paid for Oakley to become a "conservation detective dog" who can sniff out invasive plants.
Also I am wondering if there are any "conservation detection dogs" in the US and guessing that the answer is "no" for reasons related to the previous answer.
posted by Aardvark Cheeselog at 9:08 PM on August 18 [1 favorite]
Also I am wondering if there are any "conservation detection dogs" in the US and guessing that the answer is "no" for reasons related to the previous answer.
posted by Aardvark Cheeselog at 9:08 PM on August 18 [1 favorite]
Incorrect! I am a consulting environmental biologist, and I have worked alongside conservation detection dogs in the U.S. They get paid through the same funding streams that pay my salary, such as detecting endangered species, whether to monitor conserved populations or to detect them in areas where projects are planned that could harm them.
posted by agentofselection at 9:35 PM on August 18 [10 favorites]
posted by agentofselection at 9:35 PM on August 18 [10 favorites]
1) At a guess, at least partially the Environmental Restoration Fund (since they have partnered with Skylos Ecology for other projects) and the NCA (National Capital Authority) who manages one of the wetlands where Oakley works and the lake in the article (they've previously used goats).
2) Yes, there are! Take a look at the news articles from the K9 Conservationists org, which includes projects in California, Oregon and Colorado just from this year.
3) Nobody asked, but I have had it up to here with this ongoing stream of positive nature/conservation posts from Australia! Gestures at the soles of his shoes, indicating the ongoing need for more of this sort of thing and hoping that Oakley thinks I'm smearing alligator weed there and needs some pats.
posted by 1xdevnet at 9:39 PM on August 18 [1 favorite]
2) Yes, there are! Take a look at the news articles from the K9 Conservationists org, which includes projects in California, Oregon and Colorado just from this year.
3) Nobody asked, but I have had it up to here with this ongoing stream of positive nature/conservation posts from Australia! Gestures at the soles of his shoes, indicating the ongoing need for more of this sort of thing and hoping that Oakley thinks I'm smearing alligator weed there and needs some pats.
posted by 1xdevnet at 9:39 PM on August 18 [1 favorite]
I'm a little bleary this morning (catching up on, like, everything at work on a Monday after a week off), and I first read this as "conversation detection dog".
The image I had in my head of border collie ears perking up at the sound of people talking was adorable.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:44 AM on August 19
The image I had in my head of border collie ears perking up at the sound of people talking was adorable.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:44 AM on August 19
What an extremely good dog!
If you are delighted every time you hear about a happy little dog with a job -- like I am -- may I recommend the podcast Dogs With Jobs? They interview the handlers, not the dogs, of course. ;) Though the dogs can often be heard barking a hello in the background.
posted by fire, water, earth, air at 3:28 AM on August 19 [2 favorites]
If you are delighted every time you hear about a happy little dog with a job -- like I am -- may I recommend the podcast Dogs With Jobs? They interview the handlers, not the dogs, of course. ;) Though the dogs can often be heard barking a hello in the background.
posted by fire, water, earth, air at 3:28 AM on August 19 [2 favorites]
The best part of working dogs is they don't think they're working at all.
posted by tommasz at 6:09 AM on August 19 [2 favorites]
posted by tommasz at 6:09 AM on August 19 [2 favorites]
I just realized I implied that the conservation dogs get paid the same way I do. This is not true. The dog's trainers and handlers are paid the same way I am. The dogs are typically paid in frisbee time, praise, and enthusiastic snuggles.
posted by agentofselection at 1:45 PM on August 19 [1 favorite]
posted by agentofselection at 1:45 PM on August 19 [1 favorite]
> I just realized I implied that the conservation dogs get paid the same way I do. This is not true. The dog's trainers and handlers are paid the same way I am. The dogs are typically paid in frisbee time, praise, and enthusiastic snuggles
And of course this is the meaning I took from your earlier comment. Thanks for that. Do any of those "funding streams" you mention include Federal program funds?
posted by Aardvark Cheeselog at 2:21 PM on August 19
And of course this is the meaning I took from your earlier comment. Thanks for that. Do any of those "funding streams" you mention include Federal program funds?
posted by Aardvark Cheeselog at 2:21 PM on August 19
I'm not a dog trainer, I've just crossed paths with them, so take the following with a grain of salt:
I know that the USDA runs the National Detector Dog Training Center to train dogs to detect pest species. I assume this is focused on agricultural pests, but it can sometimes also produce dogs that detect invasive species for removal from natural environments. For an example, see this case study on removal of nutria from Chesapeake Bay, which included USDA-trained dogs.
The dogs that I have met which work on endangered species detection have worked for private consultants. I don't know to what extent their training is privately-funded. I have seen a number of case studies on their use, and I think these case studies received at least some USDA funds, but I don't know how much. (Here's one such example, but note the study is by someone trying to sell the dogs' services).
To use my own work as a parallel: I get federal funding for some projects (usually surveys on federal lands), but more often the funding for my work is private. However, it is driven by federal regulations. If someone wants to comply with the Endangered Species Act they may hire me to survey their property. The dollars are private, but the mandate causing them to hire me is public. I assume that is often the case for detection dogs, too.
posted by agentofselection at 3:59 PM on August 19 [2 favorites]
I know that the USDA runs the National Detector Dog Training Center to train dogs to detect pest species. I assume this is focused on agricultural pests, but it can sometimes also produce dogs that detect invasive species for removal from natural environments. For an example, see this case study on removal of nutria from Chesapeake Bay, which included USDA-trained dogs.
The dogs that I have met which work on endangered species detection have worked for private consultants. I don't know to what extent their training is privately-funded. I have seen a number of case studies on their use, and I think these case studies received at least some USDA funds, but I don't know how much. (Here's one such example, but note the study is by someone trying to sell the dogs' services).
To use my own work as a parallel: I get federal funding for some projects (usually surveys on federal lands), but more often the funding for my work is private. However, it is driven by federal regulations. If someone wants to comply with the Endangered Species Act they may hire me to survey their property. The dollars are private, but the mandate causing them to hire me is public. I assume that is often the case for detection dogs, too.
posted by agentofselection at 3:59 PM on August 19 [2 favorites]
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