Canine scent detection dog sniffs out invasive spotted lanternfly at a vineyard in New Jersey

USGS researchers at the USGS New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit are investigating invasive spotted lanternfly in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

Human visual surveys, drones, and environmental DNA (eDNA) are common search methods, but detection dogs may offer the greatest detection potential in forest and agricultural settings. This detection dog, trained in 2020, is able to detect specific targets via scent and alert handlers to locations of the target. Detection dogs have demonstrated cost-effectiveness.

Using canine scent detection dogs is a promising strategy for enhancing the likelihood of early detection of spotted lanternflies and other invasive species. This study uses a multiscale modeling approach and has broad applications for dogs searching for various invasive, threatened, or endangered species across diverse habitats and geographic locations.