Drone Surveys

Mountain lions and snow leopards are elusive and solitary creatures, and notoriously difficult to study using traditional methods, such as on-the-ground tracking or camera traps. Drones, equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal sensors, allow researchers to cover vast, rugged terrains in remote regions where snow leopards live. But the objective isn’t to survey snow leopards but rather their prey, wild ungulates that are easier to detect. The research team used the Colorado State University Drone Center to test and vet methods prior to site studies in Mongolia. Two trips in 2019 and 2022 proved successful in detecting ibex and argali, the primary prey of snow leopard. A third project is scheduled for 2025 that will test more advanced drones in more rugged terrain.

As the technology continues to evolve, RMCC aims to expand its use of drones to for wildlife conservation. In 2024, the Drone Center and RMCC conducted a challenging survey of bobolinks in western Colorado. They were able to detect and monitor nesting birds through fledging, a notable achievement given the very small thermal target.