Following the Nose: Detection Dogs at the Front Line of Wildlife Crime

Wildlife crime hides itself well. Evidence is often buried, concealed or scattered across vast landscapes where human searches alone are slow and uncertain. In these situations, a specialist detection dog can turn suspicion into proof.

At Conservation K9 Consultancy (CK9C), wildlife detection sits at the core of what we do. With over 22 years of detection work, the past decade has focused on deployments across the UK. Our dog teams support investigations where locating evidence quickly, accurately, and ethically is critical.

When We Are Called Out

Wildlife crime work is rarely predictable. Call-outs can come day or night, often at short notice. Searches for bird of prey persecution, including locating bird carcass and hidden satellite tags from intelligence-led operations.

We work with the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit (UK NWCU) and other partner agencies, providing specialist dogs for searches nationwide. Our dogs are trained for open landscapes and complex environments, locating items that would otherwise remain undiscovered. Without physical evidence, prosecutions are difficult — detection dogs often determine whether a case can progress at all.

Dogs First, Always

A defining feature of CK9C is our dog-centred ethos. Of the thirteen dogs we have at present, only two are not rescues. Many arrived with labels — “unruly,” and “too difficult.” We see something else.

We believe in giving dogs purpose, gentle structure, and an outlet for their ability. When done properly, detection work provides exactly that. Rather than suppressing drive, we channel it — turning wilfulness into reliability. Allowing dogs to flourish as individuals creates the strongest teams. There is no single blueprint for success: matching the right dog to the right role is key.

What the Dogs Find - and How

In wildlife crime searches for example, our dogs may locate carcasses, poisoned baits, remains, satellite tags or associated evidence across farmland, woodland, upland moors and urban-fringe habitats. They operate in difficult weather and terrain, yet their systematic, scent-driven precision far outperforms any human team.

In Training, the principle is clear: to the dog, searching is a game. When they locate a target scent, they indicate clearly without disturbing evidence, allowing handlers to preserve scene integrity. Their accuracy and efficiency remain irreplaceable tools for investigators.

Henry and a Lifetime of Impact

Henry exemplifies how this partnership changes outcomes. In October, he received the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Animal of the Year Award for his lifetime contribution to conservation. His work covers wildlife crime detection, hedgehog research, bat mortality studies, pine marten scat detection and much more.

In his Wildlife Crime work Henry is joined by Twist and Gem, maintaining 24/7 call-out capacity. Being trusted at the forefront of investigations is a responsibility we take seriously. In 2025, Hen Harrier Action launched an appeal to fund extra searches and the third specialist dog to be trained (Gem) demonstrating a reflection of growing national demand for skilled, proven teams.

Beyond Wildlife Crime

Wildlife crime detection forms one of our foundations, but CK9C’s work extends far beyond it. Specialist Diversification keeps the skill base sharp and ensures sustainability. We have a busy team of extraordinary dogs that are trained to help with ecological surveys, research surveys and conservation monitoring for a mixture of species from protected to invasive species - animals such as water vole, otter, bats, birds, pine marten, mink, biosecurity for rodents, hedgehog, and some plant species.

We work with many different breeds such as cocker spaniels, springer spaniels, Labradors, and mixed breeds — fitting the role to the dog, not the dog to the role. While breed tendencies inform training, character always comes first.

Training, Standards and Due Diligence

Selecting the right dog is only half the equation. The quality and depth of training — for both dog and handler — determine success. Wildlife detection stands at the intersection of conservation, enforcement, and animal welfare. Handlers must understand canine behaviour, scent dynamics, search methodology and wildlife data handling. That competence can’t be achieved quickly.

No two-week course delivers the experience or ethical grounding needed for legitimate fieldwork. True competence takes months, often years, through mentoring, operational exposure and continuous assessment, it’s not a pet dog hobby.

Fast-track schemes may seem appealing but carry risks — to dog welfare, ecological outcomes and, of course, trust and credibility. Poorly prepared teams may miss data and evidence or jeopardise their dogs or the species we are searching for.

For land managers, conservation professionals and enforcement bodies due diligence when selecting dog teams is vital. Experience, transparency, competencies, welfare standards and operational understanding must guide those choices.

Why It Matters

From early years supporting anti-poaching teams in Gabon to current UK deployments, our mission remains constant: give wildlife a fighting chance. Detection dogs, ethically trained and properly prepared, represent a gold-standard resource in conservation.

When respected as individuals and supported by seasoned handlers rather than shortcuts, they become extraordinary partners. In the fight against wildlife crime, their noses find the truth — and that truth can make all the difference.

One moment that has stayed with me occurred during a wildlife crime search when we were called out to assist with a suspected offence. The search area was extensive, and due to the scale of the site, any discarded remains located needed to be quickly identified, logged, and assessed by supporting officers and search teams so that the wider search could continue efficiently.

During the operation, Henry indicated a carcass concealed within a dense grassed area. As per protocol, we called over the supporting team, who were only around three to five metres away, and then moved on to continue covering ground. Just moments later, we heard them calling out, confused, saying they couldn’t locate the remains we had reported.

I called back that it was exactly where they were standing. When it became clear that the remains were still difficult to see, I sent Henry back into the area. Within seconds, he lowered his nose, sniffed briefly, and sat neatly in front of one of the officers — indicating the remains positioned almost directly at their feet.

The officer looked down, paused, and then said, “There is no way we should be doing these searches without these dogs. That would be impossible to find.”

That moment made us smile. As advocates for the use of detection dogs, we are always aware that our passion for our canine colleagues could be seen as bias — after all, we work closely with them and value them enormously. But hearing those words from an experienced officer, in a real operational context, reinforced just how vital detection dogs are in wildlife crime investigations. It meant a great deal to us.

Louise Wilson is the founder and director of Conservation K9 Consultancy and a specialist detection dog trainer, handler and instructor with over 22 years’ experience in operational dog work in the UK and overseas. One of the early pioneers of conservation detection dogs in the UK, she has led wildlife crime and conservation projects for enforcement agencies and research partners, with a strong focus on dog welfare, professionalism, ethical training and evidence-led practice.

Please contact Conservation K9 Consultancy via email with any queries.
www.conservationk9consultancy.com 

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