Conservation detection dogs, Australia-wide.

Why use a detection dog?

Many of the species that matter most on a project are the hardest to see. They are nocturnal, cryptic, live at low density or leave only small signs behind. A dog works by scent rather than sight, so it can pick up a single scat under leaf litter, a nest chamber below the sand or a den hidden in dense cover that a person would walk straight past.

That means stronger presence and absence data, more ground covered per day and fewer surprises once clearing or construction begins. Surveys are non-invasive. The dog indicates the find and never touches the animal, its scat or its nest.

• Higher detection rates for cryptic and low-density species
• Large areas covered quickly, including dense and difficult terrain
• Non-invasive survey with no trapping or handling of animals
• Works day or night and complements camera, spotlight and thermal drone surveys
• Every find GPS-logged, photographed and verified by the handler

What our dogs find

Each dog is trained on the scent of real samples from its target species and practised regularly to keep that skill sharp. Our core targets are below, and we can scope a survey for other species on request.

• Koala scats, for pre-clearance surveys, habitat mapping and koala management plans
• Active red fox dens, for predator control and protection of threatened species
• Quoll scats and latrines, including spotted-tailed and northern quolls
• Freshwater turtle nests on riverbanks, sandbars and wetland margins
• Feral cat signs and rabbit warrens for pest management programs
• Bandicoot, bettong and other small mammal scats and diggings
• Threatened reptile and frog sites where scent survey suits the species
• Other targets on request. Tell us the species and we will advise what is achievable

Koala detection dogs

Koalas are easy to miss in tall canopy, and where they live at low density a visual search can wrongly suggest they are absent. Scat detection dogs search the base of each tree and the surrounding leaf litter, so you get a clear picture of where koalas are using the site. Results feed straight into your pre-clearance survey, koala management plan or offset reporting, and pair well with our Koala Spotters and thermal drone surveys.

Fox den detection

Foxes are one of the biggest threats to Australian native wildlife, including ground-nesting birds, small mammals and turtle eggs. Our dogs locate active dens across farmland, coastal dunes, creek lines and reserves, so control effort goes exactly where it is needed. Each den is mapped with GPS and photographed for your pest control program or land manager.

Quoll surveys

Quolls range widely, avoid people and are often present long before anyone sees one. They use shared latrine sites on rock outcrops, logs and creek lines, which a trained dog can pick up from a distance. Dog surveys give a reliable, non-invasive way to confirm quoll activity on a project site or across a conservation area.

Turtle nest detection

Freshwater turtle nests are buried and almost invisible once the female has covered them. Our dogs find nests along riverbanks, sandbars and wetland edges, so they can be protected from predators, flagged before works begin or managed under the right permits. This is valuable for river works, dam projects, bank stabilisation and community conservation programs.

Stock-proof, insured and ready to work

Our conservation dogs are stock-proof. They are trained and tested to work calmly around cattle, sheep, horses and other livestock, so landholders can trust them in working paddocks and across grazing country. Dogs stay under the handler's control at all times and work to a clear plan agreed with the landholder or site manager.

Fauna Spotters Pty Ltd is fully insured for detection dog work, and certificates of currency are supplied with your quote. Our handlers complete your site induction, follow your safety rules and carry the same first aid, communication and remote area equipment as the rest of our field crews.

• Stock-proof dogs, tested around livestock
• Fully insured, with certificates supplied before mobilisation
• Experienced handlers with field ecology and site safety training
• Site inductions, SWMS and daily prestart checks completed
• Hygiene and washdown protocols between sites to limit the spread of weeds and disease
• Access to reserves and private land arranged with the land manager before we arrive

Dog welfare comes first

Our dogs are working partners, not equipment. They are trained with reward-based methods, kept fit and healthy, and worked in short searches with regular rest and water. In hot weather we search in the cooler parts of the day and adjust or pause the survey when conditions are not safe for the dog. Healthy, happy dogs search better and give you more reliable results.

How a detection dog survey works

Every survey is planned around your project, your target species and the conditions on site.

• Scoping: we confirm the target species, survey area, timing and what your approval or program needs
• Survey design: search areas, transects or tree-based plots are set and loaded onto our field app
• Field search: the dog and handler work each area systematically, with the search track recorded by GPS
• Verification: each indication is checked, photographed and logged by the handler
• Reporting: maps, find records, search effort and findings are delivered through your client portal

Available Australia-wide

Our conservation dog teams travel to projects in every state and territory, from urban development sites and road corridors to remote mine leases, farms, river systems and national parks. We plan travel and accommodation into your quote and can combine a dog survey with our Fauna Spotter Catchers, ecologists and thermal drone surveys so the whole fauna scope sits with one team.

Survey work involving threatened species may need state or federal approvals. We confirm what is needed for your site and species when we scope the job, so the survey stands up in your compliance file.

Who we work with

• Civil, mining, renewables and infrastructure projects
• Land developers and planning consultants
• Councils, catchment groups and natural resource management bodies
• National park and reserve managers
• Farmers and landholders running fox and feral animal control
• Researchers, universities and conservation organisations

Frequently asked questions