Montana Elk Mystery Solved With GPS Tracking

Elk hunting is very popular in Montana, and the Lost Trail Wildlife Refuge near Kalispell never fails to disappoint. The lush forests of Montana are home to spectacular wildlife, including bears, wolves, moose, turkeys, bobcats and elk. The abundant population of wildlife make hunting a great part of the culture in the state. Elk hunting season occurs in the fall, when the local wildlife population is peaking. Hunters noticed that the elk seemed to disappear during the summer, but no one knew where they went. That is, until recently.

The mystery was solved by Stacy Courville, a wildlife biologist with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, with the help of GPS technology. Last February, she fitted three cow elk from the Hog Heaven area with GPS collars in order to track where they went during the summer. All three left Hog Heaven in April and travelled much further than anyone expected. One of the elk was tracked into Canada, around 60 miles from where it started.

“We knew they weren’t summering on the reservation,” said Courville. “I didn’t know we were collecting elk from that far north.” Many of the locals assumed the elk just moved a little further into the timber during the summer.

“The Lost Trail elk herd is one of the most popular hunts in Northwest Montana,” Jim Williams said, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region One wildlife manager. “Everyone had lots of theories about where they went … We always assumed they were in the timber somewhere, but lo and behold, they were wintering on the Flathead Nation.”

“Wildlife migrations are some of the greatest spectacles in nature,” Williams explained. “They are very variable. Some are very short, they can be extremely long, some are seasonal, some are one-way distances and some are two-way distances and others are just changes in elevations.”

Google+
Montana Elk Mystery Solved With GPS Tracking

GPS Technology Used In Tomistoma Crocodile Conservation

“Very little is known about this species,” explained zoologist Anthony Pine, regarding the endangered Tomistoma crocodile. “There’s not much long-term funding for research and conservation.” Pine studied zoology and marine biology at college in Queensland, Australia, but now focusses on raising awareness for the Tomistoma species.

As part of his effort to raise awareness, Pine gives talks at local schools. “It’s kind of scary that we don’t know enough to conserve it,” he told an honors biology class at John W. North High School in Riverside, CA.

The class’ teacher, Lara Soldmann, was thoroughly impressed with Pine’s lecture. “He easily and quickly conveyed to students how you can’t go into any place and just tell them to stop killing crocodiles,” she explained. “You have to try to take a team approach and help them understand the need for a more sustainable planet.”

The Tomistoma species can grow up to 16 feet. “It’s unique,” Pine said. “Its coloration is unlike any other crocodile.” They have dark brown blotches along their bodies, and their snouts are slender. “The species can be true giants … The largest egg and skull of any crocodile living today is from this species.” Unfortunately, there could be fewer than 2,500 Tomistoma crocodiles left on the planet.

In order to better understand the habitat of this species, Pine travelled to Malaysia. The trip was funded by The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, a United Arab Emirates-based charity. He explored swamps and rivers where the endangered species has been spotted with GPS tracking equipment. Among many saltwater crocs, Pine only saw one Tomistoma during his trip.

Although he didn’t see many Tomistoma, the trip was successful in other ways. Pine made important contacts in Malaysia who are interested in collaborating on more extensive study of the species and habitat. They may use GPS devices to track individual Tomistoma crocodiles in order to gather more information about what is needed to conserve this endangered species.

Google+
GPS Technology Used In Tomistoma Crocodile Conservation

GPS Technology Used in Canadian Forest Restoration Study

It’s incredible to think of all the different uses for GPS tracking today. Such a relatively new technology has revolutionized and aided so many aspects of our every day lives. We use apps that rely on the GPS technology in our devices, and emergency response teams use it to organize the fastest routes to help save lives. Another very cool way this technology is used is in wildlife research and conservation efforts. A current study hopes to help better understand the sensitive caribou population and their habitat.

Caribou and their forest habitats are in rapid decline in Alberta. Some herds are expected to die out within a generation if something isn’t done to intervene. One of the major hang-ups in aiding caribou recover their population is that they are notoriously adverse to human disturbance. Research shows that these animals will avoid even the slightest disturbance of their environment, including a narrow dirt path, by 500 meters. “We’re going to let the animals tell us when they’re no longer disturbed,” biologist and research supervisor Gordon Stenhouse said.

Carabou will be tracked with GPS collars. “We have all this incredibly detailed GPS data,” added Stenhouse. “We get a reading from them every hour as to where they are on the landscape.” In order to get an idea of how the animals are interacting with their environment, the area will be monitored with cameras on the ground, as well as high-tech laser imaging from space, called lidar. “You can measure tree heights. You can look at vegetation,” he said. “It helps us to understand how the vegetation is different on different lines.”

“The results of this work will probably be used to understand species at risk, their habitat needs and how resource development extraction may impact the needs of wildlife habitat,” Stenhouse said. “When we understand better what the animals do on recovered habitat, then we can better focus on restoration efforts.”

Google+
GPS Technology Used in Canadian Forest Restoration Study

Wolves and Cattle Protected with GPS Technology

Cattle ranchers in Washington have turned to GPS tracking to help protect their livestock from wolf attacks. There is a growing wolf population in the state of Washington, and many wildlife and environmental activists are working to keep up that trend. Unfortunately, cattle ranchers and wolves have always been at odds. With a growing number of wolves, more cattle disappear, costing ranchers their livelihood.

One tried and true method of dealing with troublesome wolves has been to shoot and kill wolves that are attacking cattle. In 2012, government trappers and gunmen killed seven wolves from the Wedge pack for repeated attacks on a cattle ranch in Stevens County. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife received 12,000 emails in protest, calling for nonlethal solutions.

“I can’t fight that,” said cattle rancher John Dawson about the public response. “You have to meet in the middle; you have no choice. We put most of our cattle in wolf territory for the summer. I’ve been trying to learn as much as possible about wolves so we can meet them at the door.”

The Dawson ranch ran a successful pilot program using GPS technology and traditional range riders. A range rider costs $15,000 to $20,000 for the five-month grazing period, and is paid for by the state and individual ranchers. The range riders patrol the cattle on horse and ATV, watching out for wolves. They are also provided with daily updates of GPS data from local collared wolves, provided by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. When they see a wolf or pack, they scare them off with loud noises.

“We wanted to do what we felt was scientifically right, what was supported by the evidence, what people knowledgeable about cattle and wolf behavior were telling us,” explained Jay Kehne from Conservation Northwest, an environmental group based in Bellingham, WA.

Google+
Wolves and Cattle Protected with GPS Technology

TomTom’s Runner GPS Watch

The TomTom NV company was originally founded in the Netherlands in the early 1990s as a provider of business-to-business order entry systems and readers for meters and bar codes. By the mid-1990s, the company had moved into the then-popular personal digital assistant device (PDA) market and led the market in that field by the end of the twentieth century.

In 2002, TomTom released its first GPS navigation product, TomTom Navigator, and their first truly portal navigation device (aka PND), the TomTom GO, came out in 2004.

Since then, according to their website, TomTom has become “the world’s leading supplier of in-car location and navigation products and services.” GPS navigation products available from the company include vehicular navigation hardware (both portable and built-in); apps for iPhones, iPads, and Android devices; customized devices; and, most recently, sports watches enhanced with GPS technology (the TomTom Runner GPS Watch, the TomTom Multi-Sport GPS Watch, and the Nike+ SportWatch GPS Powered by TomTom).

In August 2013, Mike Prospero of Tom’s Guide (www.tomsguide.com) published his review of the TomTom Runner GPS Watch. What did his findings reveal?

Of course, the watch provides GPS navigation while you run or cycle, plus an accelerometer and Bluetooth technology. It provides information on the user’s heart rate and calories burned and allows him to record information during his workout—and stores information from previous workouts that can be retrieved later. In addition, it can be synchronized to MapMyRun and other health-related sites.

The watch face shows not only the date and time but also information on battery life and data storage. The battery generally lasts from seven to ten hours if the GPS is turned on but lasts much longer if it is not activated.

In summary, Prospero praises the TomTom Runner GPS Watch as “a strong first effort, combining a light and water-resistant design with an intuitive interface.” The watch’s designers made sure the face was easy to read when running—a definite plus. Prospero suggests that it could be improved by having a better Bluetooth interface as well as allowing runners to have access to their split times.

TomTom continues to be headquartered in Amsterdam. The company sells its products in over 30 countries and employs well over 3,000 people. The company’s business units include Business Solutions, Automotive, Consumer, and Licensing.

Google+
TomTom’s Runner GPS Watch

Texas County Equips Vehicles with GPS Devices

If asked to identify the largest canyon in the United States, few American school children would have difficulty doing so—the answer is obviously the Grand Canyon, located in Arizona. Ask them to name the second largest canyon in the US, however, and most school children (and adults) would be at a loss.

But the residents of Randall County, Texas, just south of Amarillo, would know the answer. Why? Because Randall County encompasses the town of Canyon (the county seat) as well as the Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Palo Duro Canyon State Park, location of the United States’ second largest canyon.

In the interest of keeping its officers safe across the county’s sprawling and varied terrain, the Randall County Sheriff’s Office is installing GPS devices in its vehicles. The technology is being made available through Motorola Solutions Computer Aided Dispatch. Installation began in the summer of 2013, and the goal for complete implementation was October 2013. All officers received training on the new technology.

The office leadership says that the new GPS devices will increase safety for county officers and will also improve the department’s effectiveness. Safety will be improved because dispatch personnel will be able to locate officers and their vehicles no matter where they are—even if the officer leaves his vehicle. In addition, the GPS devices include a camera on the car’s dashboard that can be remotely activated in situations in which an officer is unable to respond to a radio call.

How will the technology increase department efficiency? Officers explain that currently, when they need to find out information on a suspect, they must call dispatch and wait for the dispatch officer to look up pertinent information and then radio back with the details. The new GPS technology will allow officers to access suspects’ information on-screen from inside their vehicles. Officers hope that having this ability will cut down on well over 50 percent of time spent in routine traffic stops and other activities. In addition, information uploaded into the GPS computer can later be downloaded onto other devices, such as department laptops, and used later without having to be physically transferred or re-entered.

Randall County residents are sure to benefit from this great technological step forward for their peace officers.

Google+
Texas County Equips Vehicles with GPS Devices

Tiny Telit: GPS Technology Downsizing

With the release of the smallest GPS receiver yet, GPS technology downsizing continues to amaze the world, presenting endless opportunities to developers as engineers solve enigmas that no one would have dreamed up a century ago. As major worldwide companies combine their efforts to offer GPS technology in a form that is affordable and applicable in countless contexts, the current receiver antenna, measuring less than 40 mm across, opens even more doors for the creative innovators exploring all the possibilities within a GPS technology directed world.

Retrofit Solution

According to new releases about the RAS 1575, the ability to retrofit a variety of GPS tracking systems are among the outstanding feature of this tiny new device. With the continual advances in GPS technology, updating remains a significant concern for those who are already dependent upon GPS direction and tracking for daily tasks and routines. Large systems, including those currently controlling significant traffic, can now receive the benefits of the latest as the tiny technology retrofits and updates.

Mobile Power

Since tiny usually means take-with-you, the latest also incorporates flexible, mobile powering. Powerful GPS technology now powered by USB connection expands the use and application of the technology to keep up with the expanding GPS market and the exploding mobile lifestyles of modern technology. Especially compatible with GPS devices developed to be worn or held, this latest in compact GPS technology has potential for markets spanning all the ranges of GPS uses. Embedding possibilities related to this new release are also found on the table of discussion as the antenna performs with pleasing results to manufacturers of many different products.

Stability Increase

Laura Burns, who heads a division of the business unit at Hirschmann Car Company, the manufacturer working with Telit on this new device, reports impressive improvement to the stability and accuracy of this newest GPS technology receiver. Applying experience from the past twenty years, according to Dominikus Hierl from Telit Wireless Solutions, this device signifies just the beginning of what both companies plan to continue to offer consumers interested in all types of GPS technology development.

Google+
Tiny Telit: GPS Technology Downsizing