Dogs have become an invaluable resource in
the fight to keep invasive species out of new areas.
Photo credit: Debra Hamilton, CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife
Transcript of the Audio Podcast:
Some unlikely partners join the fight against invasive species… on this CurrentCast.
Zebra and quagga mussels… these marauding mollusks hitch a ride on boats, invade new areas, and compete with native species for resources.
So in pristine areas, preventative boat inspections are key. But who can quickly conduct an effective search?
Whitelaw: “Humans are limited by their eyes. Dogs are not limited in that way. They’ve got an amazing nose.”
That’s Alice Whitelaw, Co-Founder of Working Dogs for Conservation. In Flathead Lake, Montana, her group’s dogs sniff each boat entering the lake. If they find a mussel, they alert a conservation officer and are rewarded with a ball.
photo credit: Debra Hamilton
As this program proves, when it comes to fighting invasive species, a dog could become your local lake’s best friend.
Support for CurrentCast comes from the Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas. Learn more online at CurrentCast.org.
Learn More:
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“Dogs sniff out hidden aquatic hitchhikers” from Valley Journal
- “Combatting Aquatic Invasives” from Working Dogs for Conservation
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“Conservation Canine Joins the Fight Against Invasive Species” from Flathead Beacon
“Tia and Alice at work” – Photo credit: Debra Hamilton, CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife
“Tia and Alice at work” – Photo credit: Debra Hamilton, CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife
“Lean Green: A nose for conservation” from MSNBC
