Creating an Effective Solution

Creating an Effective Solution

Cameras help address an invasive species epidemic

These days you hear a lot about the use of surveillance equipment is all avenues of life from banks to airports to your front porch, but a significant area that can often be overlooked is the agricultural, livestock and wildlife industry. The very advancements that have increased the use of security systems in all verticals have made impressive improvements in the invasive species abatement industry. According to the National Conservancy, invasives (plants, fish, and animals) have contributed to the decline of 42 percent of all threatened and endangered species in the United States.1

What are invasive species? The Department of Agriculture (USDA), defines invasive species as plants, animals or pathogens that are nonnative to the ecosystem and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause harm to the land, native animals, and human inhabitants.

Currently, the United States spends upwards of $120 billion a year attempting to control the population of some of the worst invasive species such as, feral goats, rabbits, and hogs. Yes, I said hogs— feral or wild ones.2

A Southern Challenge

Feral hogs are destructive, invasive pests that are mostly found in the southeast and south-central part of the United States (Texas, Okla., Mo., Ark., La., Ala., and Miss.). In 2015 alone, they caused $1.5 billion worth of damage.3 Feral hogs searching for food can dig up to 18 inches deep, damaging cropland, pastures, residential yards, creek banks, and pond dams. They can strip the soil of vegetation, making it vulnerable to erosion and the loss of nutrients. Feral hogs also carry diseases that can be transmitted to pets, livestock, and human beings.

According to the National Feral Swine Mapping System, in 1982 hogs were found in 17 states. By 2004, they were in 28 states and by 2012, they were in 36 states. Hogs are continuing to increase in population and area.4 Their population is difficult to control, as one hog can produce two or three litters per year. To keep the population steady, 70 percent of the population must be eliminated each year.5 How can the surveillance industry and Dahua Technology, in particular, assist with improving this environmental concern? This case study takes you through one manner in which this is accomplished with portable traps and a live view from security cameras.

The Game Changer

The collaboration between Cellular Data Solutions, a Dahua Technology dealer partner, and Bull Creek Outdoors who provides their innovative trapping system, called Game Changer with Dahua Technology’s 2MP Network Cameras produced an innovative, industry-changing solution.

“Our solution using Dahua’s 2MP IR fixed mini-dome cameras,”president of Cellular Data Solutions Chuck Denton said. “And the end users internet device (phone, laptop and tablet) has revolutionized trapping of these invasive species.”

The customers for these types of traps are landowners, federal and state agencies, USDA, and local fish and game agencies or services in each state affected by the epidemic. The system is striving to become the No. 1 trap system on the market.

When hog traps are set up in areas where feral hogs are active, Dahua IR Fixed Mini Dome Network Cameras are mounted to the corral trap or mounted on a nearby tree limb. If a suitable tree is not nearby, they can be mounted on a fence post or structure that offers clear visibility. The data from the camera is transmitted in real time using the cellular network from Cellular Data Solutions to property owners.

Updates come through text messages and e-mails, with an immediate alert when a hog has entered the trap. When notified, the end user can view a live video of the trap to ensure that the hog is completely inside. The end user, when satisfied with the number of feral hogs in the trap can remotely close the trap in real time from any internet-connected device using Dahua’s IVS solution.

Denton chose the IR Fixed Mini Dome Network Camera for features such as Smart IR technology, Edge analytics with tripwire and object detention features, excellent image quality, and intelligent and efficient event reminders. The cameras are also weatherproof and vandal-proof.

Featuring Dahua’s Starlight Technology, the camera is ideal for applications with challenging lighting conditions. Its low-light performance delivers usable video with minimal ambient light. Even in extreme low-light conditions, Starlight Technology is capable of providing color images in near complete darkness, such as those often found on remote farms and properties, and game and fish reserves.

Trapping the Hogs

The trapping of these feral hogs has been transformed with the Bull Creek corral traps fitted with Dahua cameras.

“Trappers historically set-up two or more homemade pens to trap hogs, now with Bull Creek’s mobile corral traps and Dahua cameras the trappers can set-up our trap in 20 minutes or less and can trap three times as many hogs with fewer traps.” said Dennis Bayles of Bull Creek. “By having the capability of triggering the trap remotely through your cell phone or other internet enabled device, the trapper can leave the corral open for 24 to 48 hours to ensure all of the herd (sounder) is captured.”

Denton says he has been delighted with the cameras, especially with the Advanced Intelligent Functions that the camera provides, including Tripwire and Intrusion features. This gives trappers clear images inside and outside the corral trap.

“Hogs are intelligent and if the traps are closed too soon capturing the balance of the herd becomes more difficult and costly for the trappers,” Bayles said.

“These are very resilient cameras. The whole corral trapping system can be broken down and reset over and over again in a two week period of trapping,” said Denton. “Dahua’s surveillance solution assists Bull Creek, the trappers, property owners and government agencies in combatting a serious environmental issue. The security industry needs to continue to think outside the box, to help find ways for our technology to assist in all aspects of life and wildlife to the betterment of our ecosystem.”

This article originally appeared in the May 2018 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • Live From ISC West: Day 2 Recap

    If it’s even possible, Day 2 of ISC West in Las Vegas, Nevada, was even busier than the first. Remember to keep tabs on our Live From ISC West page for news and updates from the show floor at the Venetian, because there’s more news coming out than anyone could be expected to keep track of. Our Live From sponsors—NAPCO Security, Alibi Security, Vistacom, RGB Spectrum, and DoorKing—kept the momentum from Day 1 going with packed booths, happy hours, giveaways, product demonstrations, and more. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • Visiting Sin City

    I’m a recovering alcoholic, ten years sober this June. I almost wrote “recovered alcoholic,” because it’s a problem I’ve long since put to bed in every practical sense. But anyone who’s dealt with addiction knows that that part of your brain never goes away. You just learn to tell the difference between that insidious voice in your head and your actual internal monologue, and you get better at telling the other guy to shut up. Read Now

  • On My Way Out the Door

    To answer that one question I always get, at every booth visit, I have seen amazing product technology, solutions and above all else, the people that make it all work. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • Return to Form

    My first security trade show was in 2021. At the time, I was awed by the sheer magnitude of the event and the spectacle of products on display. But this was the first major trade show coming out of the pandemic, and the only commentary I heard was how low the attendance was. Two representatives from one booth even spent the last morning playing catch in the aisle with their giveaway stress balls. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • PDK IO Access Control Software

    PDK.IO Access Control Software

    ProdataKey now allows for "custom fields" within the interface of its pdk.io software. Custom fields increase PDK's solutions' overall functionality by allowing administrators to include a wide range of pertinent data associated with each user. 3

  • Tyco Kantech EntraPass security management software

    Tyco Kantech EntraPass security management software

    Johnson Controls, the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, and architect of the Open Blue digital connected platforms, has released the newest version of the Tyco Kantech EntraPass security management software. 3

  • Unique Oversized ID Card Printer

    Unique Oversized ID Card Printer

    Idesco Corp. is announcing its card printer – the XCR100 2.0 printer- that allows customers to personalize oversized ID cards on demand. The printer is ideal for assisting healthcare organizations find the right badging solution. As healthcare facilities continue to combat the spread of COVID-19, issuing oversized ID cards has helped identify staff clearly while adding an extra layer of security. The XCR100 2.0 printer is the only dye-sublimation printer on the market that can personalize CR100 cards (3.88" x 2.63"). The cards that are 42% larger than the standard credit card size. The printer can produce up to 180 full cards per hour in color, and up to 1,400 cards per hour in monochrome. An optional flipper is available to print dual-sided badges in one pass. Contactless encoding comes as an option to help healthcare facilities produce secure access badges on demand and the card printer features a 2-year warranty. 3