Wildlife Conservation In High Fawning/Calving Areas Using Thermal Imaging as a Precision Agriculture Tool

Josh PorterSOIL 4213

Spring 2011

Porter Seed and Cattle • Located in the mountains of Western

Colorado• 3600 deeded acres– 1200 head of yearling cattle– 1275 acres irrigated (pivot, big gun)– 799 acres farmable– 1800-2300 tons of grass/alfalfa hay (pasture mix)– Peas and Barley for winter feeding

Picture of rolled baler here800th acre

Why Thermal Imaging

o Late October- Early December

Gestation Period

o 190 days-210 days

1st Cutting

• 1st or 2nd week in June

• Mid-late October (breeding season)+ 200 days= 1st Cutting

Problems for farmersA permanent solution for wildlifeProblems customers (horse, dairy)Health problems for livestock

PROBLEMS

• Killing fawns/calves at early growth stages

• Botulism C1 or “forage poisoning” in livestock

• Spoiling High $ hay with animal carcasses($225-250/ton)

• Depleting deer/elk populations

Recommendations

• Locate wildlife in front of implement using a thermal imaging sensor

• Notify operator of wildlife location

• After locating animal, operator makes decision

Faun-a Finder thermal imaging sensor

Alarm

Alarm signaled when spike in temp is detected

Wildlife presence

Visionary Concept

“Faun-A” Finder• Thermal imaging components• Alarm linked into “streaming” monitor system • Spike in temperature detected on monitor• Operator determines the next step

Goals of Thermal Imagining as a Precision Agriculture Tool

• Decrease amount of wildlife fatalities• Decrease percentages of forage poisoning• Promote wildlife awareness• Ensure a balanced ecosystem

Sensing Technology Availability

Wildretter (Game Guard)

Thermal Imaging

Beneficial to wildlife

Helps ensure the safety of feed stocks

Visionary approach to the inevitable (precision agricultures future)

Precision Agriculture

Precision Agriculture

Fauna Finder