Saving lives with the help of UAS
Doe fawns put their newborns in camouflage at the beginning of May each year to protect them from other wild animals. In the first three to six weeks, fawns rely completely on their camouflage and scentlessness, and they also show no flight behavior during this time. This type of camouflage would be sufficient against their natural enemies, but roe deer often seek shelter in grassland used for agriculture. However, mowing takes place there every year in May. Mowing is the technical term for harvesting grass and grain. Large mowing machines are used for mowing. This kills 90,000 deer and other wild animals every year.
In the past, several methods have been established to control the fields, so-called deterrence methods. For example, searching fields with dogs or hanging up plastic bags, but all methods have proved unreliable due to the special characteristics of fawns. Due to European regulations, the use of drones has often only been a limited option.
However, an exemption rule came into force on May 20, 2024, which considerably simplifies the use of drones for agricultural and animal welfare purposes.
This is how the rescue of fawns works:
- The drones used to rescue fawns are equipped with thermal imaging cameras. For larger agricultural areas, it is necessary to fly over the field several times, as this is the only way to carry out a complete scan. However, this requires the drone to be equipped with a GPS receiver. In order to locate the animals as accurately as possible, the scans are often carried out at night or early in the morning, when the temperature difference is at its most pronounced.
- When a fawn has been located, the drone hovers over it to signal to the rescue team where it is. In the best case scenario, the rescue team is equipped with radios to coordinate the search.
- When the rescue team arrives at the fawn, the farmer can decide whether to avoid the area where the fawn is lying when mowing or to release the fawn at the edge of the field. If he releases the fawn, however, the helpers must ensure that the young animals are not touched by hand. It is best to use tufts of grass or grain to prevent odor transfer through direct physical contact. Direct physical contact could alienate the fawn's scent, as a result of which its mother would no longer be able to find it or would expel it.
Even if it is primarily about saving fawns, it is not only the wild animals that benefit. Farmers also have real added value. After all, if an undetected animal carcass gets from the meadow into the loader wagon and on to the store, it can lead to life-threatening poisoning in the livestock. To prevent this, fawn rescue with drones is the fastest, most effective and also the gentlest method. Even large and confusing meadow areas can be flown over and reliably checked in a short time. Seen in this light, fawn rescue is a real win-win situation for both the wild animals and the farmer.
A large flowering area has also been created next to the runway of Hatten-UAS German Flight Center. You can find more information here blühfläche.de
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