Creating an Effective Solution
Cameras help address an invasive species epidemic
- By Jennifer Hackenburg
- May 01, 2018
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.