CJO - Abstract - Detection and accuracy rates of dogs trained to find scats of San Joaquin kit foxes (<em>Vulpes macrotis mutica</em>)

Animal Conservation (2003), 6 : 339-346 Cambridge University Press

Copyright © 2003 The Zoological Society of London

doi:10.1017/S136794300300341X

Published online by Cambridge University Press 29 Oct 2003

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Detection and accuracy rates of dogs trained to find scats of San Joaquin kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis mutica)

Deborah A. Smith ^a1^c1, Katherine Ralls ^a2, Aimee Hurt ^a3, Brice Adams ^a4, Megan Parker ^a5, Barbara Davenport ^a6, M. C. Smith ^a7 and Jesus E. Maldonado ^a8
^a1 Department of Ecosystem Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington DC 98195, USA
^a2 Conservation and Research Center, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington DC 20008, USA
^a3 Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, USA
^a4 Department of Biology, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana 70504, USA
^a5 Wildlife Biology Program, School of Forestry, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, USA
^a6 PackLeader Dog Training, Steilacoom, Washington DC 98388, USA
^a7 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, LaConner, Washington DC 98257, USA
^a8 Genetics Program, National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC 20008, USA

Article author query

smith da [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

ralls k [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

hurt a [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

adams b [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

parker m [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

davenport b [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

smith mc [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

maldonado je [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Abstract

Specially trained detection dogs have been used to locate faeces (scats) for faecal analyses but their effectiveness has not been quantified. We evaluated detection and accuracy rates of dogs trained to find scats of endangered San Joaquin kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis mutica). Four dogs found from 0.43 to 5.37 presumptive kit fox scats per km of transect searched in two field sites where kit foxes and coyotes (Canis latrans) but not non-native red foxes (V. vulpes) were present. The unusually low detection rate (0.43 scats per km) by one dog (probably due to excessive panting in hot weather) was still similar to the average scat detection rate of two experienced humans. DNA tests of 1298 scats showed that all dogs were 100% accurate at distinguishing kit fox scats under our field conditions. Because red foxes are sympatric with kit foxes in some areas, we also conducted controlled discrimination experiments to see if trained dogs could distinguish between scats from kit and red foxes. Four dogs were 100% accurate at choosing a kit fox scat when red fox scats were present (n = 64 trials), but were less accurate at ignoring red fox scats in trials where a kit fox scat was absent.

(Received October 21 2002)
(Accepted April 30 2003)

Correspondence:
^c1 All correspondence to: Deborah A. Smith. Tel: (206) 543-7232; Fax (206) 543-3254; E-mail: debsmith@u.washington.edu