Other Wildlife Surveys · Year-round
Beyond deer: Pennsylvania's larger mammals
The same thermal camera, survey design, and reporting standard we use for deer, applied to coyote, red and gray fox, black bear, bobcat, and elk. Each survey is planned around the species and quoted per site.
What we survey
Native land mammals large enough to see from the air
| Species | Questions we answer | How we fly it |
|---|---|---|
| Coyote | How many use the property, where they travel and den, and activity near livestock, parks, or homes | Predawn and leaf-off, flown lower than a deer count, each animal confirmed with the zoom camera |
| Red and gray fox | Den sites and activity near poultry, gardens, or ground-nesting habitat | Flown lower than a deer count, because a fox is a much smaller heat signature |
| Black bear | Whether bears are using the property, and where, near homes, campgrounds, or orchards | Spring through fall. We don't fly over known or suspected winter dens |
| Bobcat | Whether bobcats are present and where they travel | Bobcats are secretive, so results are reported as presence and a minimum count |
| Elk | Herd size and location on private land in Pennsylvania's elk range | North-central Pennsylvania; travel quoted separately |
Raccoons, opossums, skunks, groundhogs, otters, weasels, and animals of similar size are too small to count reliably from survey altitude, and we don't survey birds.
How these differ from a deer count
Planned around the animal
- Before the flight
Fit the plan to the species
Altitude, line spacing, season, and time of night are set for the animal. Smaller animals mean lower flights and closer lines, so more flight time per acre.
- During the flight
Confirm every animal
Each heat signature is checked with the zoom camera before it counts, so a fox isn't logged as a coyote, or a deer as a bear.
- In the report
Honest numbers
Predators are fewer and range widely, so we usually report a minimum count and an activity map rather than a density, and say why.
- Same standard
Map, logs, method
Every report includes the detection map, flight and weather log, and written method. GIS files are available.
We survey for counts and management decisions only. The Pennsylvania Game Commission treats drone use in any part of hunting as unlawful, so we never share live or recent wildlife locations with hunters or trappers. We don't fly over known bear dens or circle active dens, and State Game Lands need written Game Commission authorization, which we request for you. Read the full method.
Pricing
Quoted per site
Price depends on the acreage, the species, the cover, and how low we need to fly. Tell us what you want to learn and where, and Dale will reply with a plan and a fixed quote within one business day.
- Farms checking coyote or fox activity near livestock and poultry
- Land trusts and preserves documenting which mammals use a property
- Townships and parks responding to resident reports of coyotes or bears
- Landowners in the elk range who want to know where the herd beds and feeds
Tell us what's using your land.
Describe the animals you're seeing and where. Dale will reply with a survey plan and a fixed quote.