Dr. Javier Lenzi and researchers at the University of North Dakota investigated how feral horses in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park responded to drones.
The drone used had a 3-foot wingspan and a rear propeller, weighing just over 5.5 pounds. It was flown directly over the wild horses at nearly 400 feet off the ground. Video recordings were taken in 10-second intervals and analyzed to determine how the horses responded.
The researchers found that the horses did respond to the drone, but they did not exhibit any escape responses, which would be expected in lower-level aerial or ground surveys. The scientists reported increased feeding, traveling and vigilance behaviors, but decreased grooming and resting when the drone was flown overhead.
The researchers suggested that because the drone was so small and flown so high, it might have been perceived as low risk by the horses. They concluded that drones may be an appropriate tool for feral horse herd surveys as they don't disturb the horses as much as other population survey tools.
Read the study here.
Read more at Equine Science Update.
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