Conservation Detector Dog Program
Conservation Detector Dog Program
Detect, protect.
Detect, protect.
Southern Queensland Landscapes offers a comprehensive feral animal detection and control service to private landholders, government and business agencies through its Conservation Detector Dog Program.
About
About
Established in 2013, the program is comprised of a qualified, experienced pest animal technician teamed with a highly trained Conservation Detector dog who can detect specific target species including foxes, wild dogs, feral cats and rabbits, and their scats and dens within a landscape.
Tom Garrett specialises in pest animal control programs and application and is the handler for English Springer spaniel ‘Rocky’. Rocky represents a ground-breaking conservation management tool with proven effectiveness in feral animal control when applied in conjunction with traditional management practices.
Sourced and originally trained by Australia’s renowned conservation dog trainer, Steve Austin, Rocky is one of the first conservation canines to be owned and skills offered as a commercial service by a natural resource management organisation in Queensland.
Rocky
Rocky's job is to track the scent of identified pest animals and help Tom establish population densities so that appropriate control methods can be applied. Rocky is particularly valuable in areas where control methods have been applied and there are few animals remaining, and in areas where the terrain makes it difficult for pest technicians to operate alone.
When in the field, Rocky wears a GPS unit so his location can be recorded against what he finds, enabling Tom to produce detailed reports and if required, undertake appropriate, targeted control of the pest.
Download the capability statement and check out the video to learn more about what Tom and Rocky can do.
"We manage the Wreck Rock Turtle Monitoring Project north of Bundaberg and have had the pleasure of working with Tom for several years.
He has gone out of his way on many occasions to assist us and given much of his personal time to advise and assist with not only work related to his contract but with work related to our project as well.
Because of Tom’s unselfish devotion and passion for caring for the environment, we have gained valuable knowledge, skills and advice for our passion."
-- Bec McLachlan, TurtleCare Volunteers Queensland Inc.
Meet the Conservation Detector Dog Handlers
Project Delivery Officer
Tom Garrett
Tom has experience in natural resource management since 2009.
Tom is skilled in client engagement and pest species management which takes him and Rocky to many different parts of Queensland under contract for companies and councils detecting the presence or absence of pests.
Project Delivery Officer
Agaba Hanington
Agaba is a decorated former Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger and an experienced conservationist.
Agaba is a passionate wildlife lover who is interested in natural resource management and community conservation projects.
Related Projects
Related Projects
Environment - Regional Land Partnerships
Supported through the Australian Government's National Landcare Program.
