Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 1
(continued)
Consideration
Issue
Management
Windspeed:Extreme It is more difficult for dogs
to locate sources of scents in
extreme wind conditions
Allow the dog freedom to follow
scents. Maintain constant spacing
along transects. Encourage the dog
more frequently. Use road kill to
stimulate success and monitor
performance
Temperature: Extreme
cold(<8°C
approximately)
Scents are reduced in cold
conditions
Reduce the distance between
transects to allow the dog to cover
more ground and be closer to the
source of the scent
Temperature: Mildly
cooltowarm(<30°C
approximately)
As scents warm up they
become more readily
detected
Maintain recommended transect
distances (dependent upon wind and
precipitation)
Temperature: Extreme
heat(>34°C
approximately)
Scents are readily detected in
hot weather
Maximise distance between
transects.Commencesurveyworkat
first light to minimise the dogs'
exposure to extreme temperatures
Dogs can become too hot and
lethargic to work
Topography: flat
Scents are readily carried
from one side of the survey
area to the other
Maximum transect spacing
Topography: Undulating
Scents may be not be
uniformly detected across
the site
Ensure transects encompass
depressions as well as rises
Topography: Steep
Steep sites may reduce
exposure to scents depending
upon the interaction with the
wind
Ensure transects are crossing the
direction of wind from the survey
area
Vegetation:low(<5cm) Detection is based on vision
and scent
Maximum transect spacing
Vegetation:mediumto
tall grass
Dogs may be below the
optimum scenting area and
vegetation may reduce the
exposure of the scent to wind
Ensure the dog has the freedom to
“hop/bounce” through the survey
area to reach the scents above the
vegetation height
Vegetation:denseheath
land
Vegetationmayreducethe
exposure of the scent to wind
Ensure dogs are adequately target
trained to eliminate confounding
scents. Reduce transects to cover
more terrain
Scented vegetation (i.e.
flowers) may increase the time
to find target scents
Vegetation:Trees/Scrub Reduction in wind speed
Reduce distance between transects
Target Species
Large carcasses are more
readily detected then small
carcasses
Maximise transect spacing for large
carcasses. Reduce transect spacing
for micro bats/small birds
Carcassesfromspeciesnot
of interest (ie. lambs, rabbits)
can provide additional scents
Ensure dogs are adequately target
trained to eliminate confounding
scents
