GPS Tracking

A phenomenal Amount of Data on Migrating Habits is being Gathered

Maritime Wildlife Tracking is Very Telling

We have heard of tracking wildlife in the wilderness and the interesting things being discovered there, but now, going submersible on the back of a great white shark is proving to be just as exciting.

In New Zealand, a great white shark named Grim, has been tagged with a GPS Tracking device that follows his every move.  The dorsal fin holds the device which provides the data updates every time the shark breaks the surface of the water.

What GPS Reveals

What researchers are watching is how far Grim roams and the locations to which he visits and even his feeding habits.

Surprising to those monitoring Grims’ adventures is the distances that he covers.  In just 11 days, he had traversed more than 1,100 kilometers through the ocean.

Other important data from other devices that are attached to similar marine wildlife in the program include depth, temperature, and even light levels which are useful for long distance mapping of the ocean floor.

Much like mapping that is done on dry ground; GPS Tracking of the ocean floor is helping maritime scientists study locations of sea-going creatures and underwater plant life.

Curiosity Persists

It all goes back to assisting in our understanding of how things work in our world.  And GPS Tracking is one of the best methods of satisfying our curiosities.

Some of the goals that are met with these kinds of programs include: (more…)

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Using GPS Tracking for Wildlife Purposes is On the Rise

Award Shows that Advocacy of One Person is Valuable

Source acquired via VOA News, June 3, 2010, Africa – Iain Douglas Hamilton has just been awarded the Indianapolis Prize for “Outstanding Achievement in Animal Conservation.” The prize of $100,000 is awarded annually to one person who demonstrates outstanding achievement within the area of animal conservation. Hamilton founded the organization “Save the Elephants.”

Elephants Assisted via GPS Tracking

In addition to founding Save the Elephants, Hamilton is constantly working to end the ivory trade. By using GPS tracking devices to track elephants in Africa and Asia, Hamilton has been able to keep a watchful eye on those herds in danger. Hamilton was surprised to learn that he had been granted the award, and he intends to use the money for a variety of good causes.

Hamilton hopes to “…recognize some of the people who have been working with me (him) long and loyally, who are sort of unsung heroes in conservation…” Hamilton told press that “it’s very rare to have a chance to actually have a sum of money at one’s disposal that one can use in an unrestricted way.” Even though Hamilton’s efforts to save the elephants have been heroic, he may be fighting a losing battle between humans and elephants. (more…)

More Reason to Use for Wildlife Benefits

Helping Animals Who Get Into Trouble

Source acquired via Hampton Roads, May 6, 2010, Chesapeake Bay – Just off the coast of Chesapeake Bay, a humpback whale got tangled in a large fishing net. Noticing the whale, fishermen called an aquatic rescue team that attempted to track the whale using a GPS-equipped buoy. While the GPS part of slowing a whale down using buoys is a new idea, the use of buoys is actually an old whaling trick. (more…)

Researchers Study Travel Patterns of Animals

Keith Miller, 22, hasn’t danced with wolves, but he’s followed them with a GPS tracking device.

The Central Michigan University grad student spent the summer working as a research assistant in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Yellowstone has one of the largest and rarest ecosystems in the nation. Hundreds of endangered or threatened species live there. Grizzlies, wolf, bison and elk are plentiful in the park’s grasslands and woodlands.

Miller, who says he has a love of the outdoors and a deep desire to conserve it, was part of a GPS tracking crew that monitored the park’s grizzly bear population. The crew spent months documenting where the bears traveled, slept and killed their prey. The most exciting part, according to the student, was collaring the bears with GPS tracking devices. Researchers had to trap bears, tranquilize them, put GPS tracking collars around their necks, and release them.

The GPS tracking devices placed on the grizzly bears are only temporary. The GPS tracking units are built to come loose and drop off shortly after the batteries die. Other GPS tracking collars have an automatic release mechanism, so the researcher can trigger the collar to drop off.

Wildlife Tracking Similar to Vehicle Tracking

GPS tracking of wildlife is similar to vehicle tracking. In fact, wildlife tracking evolved from vehicle tracking devices.

Vehicle tracking has been around for public use for about a decade. At first, vehicle tracking was used by police, businesses like trucking companies, taxicabs, bus fleets, and later, personal vehicle tracking. But GPS tracking applications quickly expanded as GPS tracking units became smaller and lighter. It didn’t take long for scientists to learn that vehicle tracking could be adapted to track animals in the wild.

There are two types of vehicle tracking: passive vehicle tracking and real-time vehicle tracking. Both fix on the exact location of an object using satellite signals. (more…)

NORTH OGDEN, UT – A 41-year-old North Ogden, Utah man feels he is being unfairly punished for just trying to make a living killing bobcats.

Unfortunately, the hunter was the one who was nabbed and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) sees things quite differently.

Jared Beal, a veteran bobcat trapper, is in court, facing multiple counts of “wanton destruction of protected wildlife” for well-exceeding the bag limit during bobcat season in 2007-2008. Wildlife officials obtained a warrant to place a GPS tracking device on Beal’s truck. It followed him around and recorded as the hunter set and checked more than 35 trap sites in three of the state’s counties: Weber, Box Elder and Tooele. The GPS tracking record, showing the days and location of his vehicle’s every stop, was admitted into court as evidence in his trial.

After removing the vehicle tracking device and examining the data, investigators convinced a judge to issue another warrant to search Beal’s home. Thirty-one bobcat pelts were found in the house. UDWR’s limit last bobcat harvest was six animals.

Unable to dispute the proof of excessive hunting, Beal’s lawyers are arguing that placing the GPS tracking device on his truck, and searching his house, were illegal. Motions were filed to suppress the warrants. Beal’s lawyer did not argue that police illegally installed the GPS tracking device when his truck was parked on his private driveway. But he said authorities crossed a fine line into invasion of privacy when the GPS tracking unit followed Beal into his garage and the safety of his home. (more…)