Drones, dogs and DNA the latest weapons against invasive species
RICHMOND, B.C. — Field technicians on the hunt for invasive species used to go on foot, by canoe or relied on satellite photographs taken from outer space.
But an ecologist who dispatched a drone to detect invaders in a British Columbia wildlife area is now recommending more remote-controlled robots do the difficult work.
“With a drone we’re looking at pixel sizes that are teeny tiny. The resolution is amazing. You can literally zoom in and see all the petals on that flower,” said Catherine Tarasoff, an adjunct professor at Thompson Rivers University.
“I’ve gotten past the steep learning curve and see the unlimited possibilities.”