Wesley Sarmento, a pioneering bear manager in Montana, has made significant strides in managing human-bear conflict through the innovative use of drones. His recently published research in the journal Frontiers in Conservation Science highlights the effectiveness of drones as a crucial tool in deterring grizzly bears from populated areas, thereby enhancing safety for both wildlife and local communities.
SCI Foundation is proud to support this project by providing Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks with drones to assist with human-bear conflict.
Since 2017, Sarmento has been at the forefront of bear management, addressing the challenges of coexistence between large grizzly bears and local communities. “Human-wildlife conflict can result in harm to people and their livelihoods and frequently ends in decreased tolerance for species and/or removal of animals,” Sarmento stated in his research.
His study focuses on various non-lethal methods to deter bears from human settlements, aiming to prevent conflicts. Sarmento’s research reveals that drones significantly outperform other hazing methods.
“Drones successfully deterred bears from people in 91% of events, which is likely due, in part, to the increased ability to pursue bears in the prairie. With drones, I could pursue grizzlies across canals, muddy fields, seeded cropland, and fence lines that would have hindered our efforts with other techniques,” he explained.
“Even at night, I could locate bears from a distance with the thermal camera and then fly in closer to move them away from towns, homes, and livestock. Drones were highly maneuverable and capable of precisely directing a bear exactly where I wanted it to go, all performed from a secure location,” Sarmento noted.
The research indicates that bears can learn to avoid areas where they have been hazed, a process known as “aversive conditioning.” The findings suggest that drones are not only effective in scaring bears away but also contribute to long-term behavioral changes in the animals.
As the research continues to unfold, Sarmento hopes that the use of drones will play a crucial role in reducing human-bear conflicts in the future.
For more information, refer to Sarmento’s article, “Drones outperform dogs for hazing bears: A comparison of carnivore aversive conditioning tools,” published in *Frontiers in Conservation Science*. [Read the full article here.]
