Conservation K-9 Program

Overview

Alberta’s Conservation K-9 Program is part of the Aquatic Invasive Species program. The program employs sniffer dogs at watercraft inspection stations to inspect watercrafts entering Alberta to ensure they are not transporting zebra and quagga mussels.

K-9 teams also conduct routine inspections of shorelines and water infrastructure, including docks and boat launches, at lakes across the province to ensure they are mussel-free.

Check out the videos below to see Alberta’s conservation K-9s at work sniffing watercrafts and shorelines for invasive mussels.

The K-9 teams also help to fight other invasive species that threaten Alberta. In 2017 and 2018 teams deployed in Fish Creek Provincial Park in Calgary to learn to detect the invasive plant Thesium arvense. As well, teams have collaborated with the Wild Boar Control Program to assist with monitoring wild boar-at-large.

Check out the videos below to learn more about our K-9 team’s work to detect Thesium arvense and wild boar.

Canine deployment in Alberta

Alberta’s K-9 teams have been trained by  Working Dogs for Conservation and Lt. Lynette Shimek of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Initial training involves 140 hours of a specialized handler and canine boot camp where the handlers were matched with their canines. 

The canines learned to detect the odour, pinpoint the exact location, and display an alert. The handlers are trained to watch the dogs for changes in behaviour and how to methodically guide the dogs around the boat. At the end of the training, the successful teams pass external certification to the standards used by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for the detection of Dreissenid mussels.

The teams are now deployed provincewide and focus their attention on dog supported watercraft inspections at the highest risk border stations in the province.

Meet the dogs

Our dogs come from different backgrounds, but share the desire of a special toy as their paycheck. They are fully integrated into the lives of their handlers – by working, living and playing together, the dogs and handlers form a strong bond that makes them a better team in the fight against invasive species. Keep an eye out for the dogs hard at work at watercraft inspection stations and lakes across the province during the summer months.

Right now, two new Conservation K-9 teams are undergoing assessment and completing an extensive training camp in the United States. We are excited to introduce them later this year.

Active working dogs

Hilo

Hilo began his career training to be a guide dog in California, but decided he would rather move to Alberta to sniff out invasive species instead. While on shift, Hilo is very methodical and careful, which is quite at odds with his joyful and fun-loving personality when he’s off the clock! Hilo is also a great ambassador for the K-9 and AIS programs, happily showing off his sniffing skills for anyone who wants to watch. 
 

Retired dogs

After years of dedicated service protecting Alberta’s natural environments, these Conservation K‑9s have officially earned their retirement. 

They spend their golden years in the loving homes of their handlers to enjoy a well‑deserved life of rest, play and family time after a career spent protecting Alberta’s environment and waterways.

Diesel

Diesel loves retirement just as much as he loves to meet people, so now he does both. Working across the province in his nine years of deployment Diesel now travels around to educate people about invasive mussels. Diesel loves to share his passion for searching out all invasive species and then show you his squeaky tennis ball which he now gets whenever he wants. 

Seuss

Not happy being left at home, Seuss is a focused and devoted partner at work. He loves the challenge of sniffing out tiny invasive mussels on boats and shores. A serious guy when it comes to his job, he has a goofy side that comes out when he is trying to convince someone to play with him.

Watch the video below to see the Conservation K-9 Unit Dogs in action as they sniff watercraft for invasive quagga and zebra mussels.

• When the nose, knows – the dog squad sniffing out invasive species (November 13, 2019)
• Alberta’s top dogs are on the trail of an invasive weed (September 22, 2016)
• Alberta's Conservation K-9 team and partners commended for efforts in keeping waters free of foreign mussels (April 6, 2016)
• Province gears up to protect Alberta waters from invasive species (March 18, 2016