Alberta West News: Using drones to track feral pigs in the snow in Alberta

Current regulations, technical strategies, and operational guidelines for using drones to track feral pigs in Alberta's winter conditions follow below.

Executive Summary

As of December 2025, Alberta has classified wild boars as a "pest in all circumstances," instituting a strict eradication strategy that prioritizes professional control over recreational hunting. Drones have become a central asset in this effort, particularly during winter when snow cover amplifies their effectiveness.

The most successful tracking method combines thermal imaging (leveraging high contrast between pig body heat and cold snow) with the "Judas Pig" technique (tracking a collared sow to locate larger groups). While visual tracking of track patterns in snow is a viable secondary method, it is less reliable than thermal detection. Operators must adhere to strict winter flight protocols—pre-heating batteries and using robust airframes like the DJI Matrice 300 RTK—to mitigate the approximate 30-50% loss in battery efficiency caused by Alberta’s sub-zero temperatures.

1. Strategic Context: Alberta’s "Eradication" Mandate

Before deploying drones, it is critical to understand the regulatory shift that occurred in late 2025. The province has moved from management to eradication.

Status: Wild boars are now a regulated pest.
Hunting Ban: Recreational hunting is largely prohibited because it scatters "sounders" (herds), making them harder to trap.
The Drone's Role: Drones are not used for hunting support but for intelligence gathering. They identify sounder locations to inform professional trapping operations or whole-sounder removal.
Reporting: All sightings should be reported via the "Squeal on Pigs" program rather than acted upon individually.swikblog+1

2. Detection Methodologies in Snow

A. Thermal Imaging (Primary Method)

Thermal detection is the gold standard for winter tracking in Alberta. The temperature differential between a wild pig (~38°C) and the winter landscape (-10°C to -30°C) creates a "high-contrast" target that is instantly recognizable.

Why it works: In winter, deciduous trees have lost their leaves, reducing canopy obstruction. While dense conifers can still block heat signatures, the "leaf-off" condition generally increases detection probability significantly compared to summer.prairiehogcountry+1
The "Judas Pig" Synergy: A key strategy involves capturing a sow, fitting her with a GPS collar, and releasing her. She will naturally seek out other pigs. Operators then use thermal drones to pinpoint her exact location and count the size of the sounder she has joined.prairiehogcountry
Operational Tip: Look for "heat clusters." Pigs huddle together for warmth in the snow, creating a large, unified heat signature that is easier to spot from 60–100 meters altitude than individual animals.

B. Visual Tracking (Secondary Method)

Snow serves as a "canvas" that records animal movement. While thermal finds the animal, visual feeds find the history of movement.

Track Patterns: Unlike deer, which walk in straight, efficient lines, wild pigs often have a waddling, erratic gait. Their bodies are lower to the ground, creating drag marks in deep snow that deer do not leave.hunter-edyoutube
The "Moonscape" Effect: Pigs root for food under the snow/frozen ground. From a drone, look for areas where the white snow cover has been aggressively disturbed or turned over to reveal dark earth—often described as looking like a "moonscape" or "rototilled" field.hunter-ed
Distinction:
- Deer: Heart-shaped tracks, narrow path, straight line.
- Pigs: Round/oval tracks, wider straddle, meandering path, potential "wallow" depressions.

3. Operational Execution: Flying in Alberta Winters

Operating drones in Alberta's winter requires modifying standard flight procedures to prevent hardware failure.

Hardware Recommendations

Platform: Enterprise-grade drones like the DJI Matrice 300 RTK or Mavic 3 Thermal are standard. The M300 is rated for operation down to -20°C and has an IP45 rating, offering resistance to moisture/snow.enterprise-insights.dji+1
Sensors: A radiometric thermal camera (e.g., DJI Zenmuse H20T) allows you to spot heat signatures and switch to a high-zoom visual camera to confirm the species.

Cold-Weather Protocols

Battery Chemistry Limits: Lithium-polymer (LiPo) batteries lose chemical reactivity in the cold. Expect flight times to decrease by 30–50%. A 30-minute rating may effectively become 15–18 minutes of safe flight time.coverdrone+1
Pre-Heating is Mandatory:
- Keep batteries inside your vehicle or jacket pocket until the moment of use.
- Target a battery core temperature of >15°C to 20°C before takeoff. Many enterprise drones have self-heating battery functions; ensure this is activated.dji+1
The "Hover Warm-Up": After takeoff, hover at eye level for 60–90 seconds. This allows the battery to generate internal heat and lets you verify that control stick inputs are responding correctly (grease in motors can thicken in extreme cold).uavcoach+1
Avoid Moisture: While some drones are water-resistant, icing on propellers is a major crash risk. Avoid flying in active heavy snow or freezing fog, which can alter the aerodynamic profile of the blades.

4. Summary of Indicators

Feature	Wild Pigs (Target)	Deer/Elk (Distraction)
Thermal Signature	Large, clustered "blobs" (huddling behavior).	Individual, scattered points.
Track Shape	Round/oval, blunt toes. Dewclaws often visible (wider).	Heart-shaped, pointed toes.
Trail Pattern	Meandering, erratic, "waddling" width.	Straight, single-file, efficient.
Ground Disturbance	"Rototilled" earth, rooting craters, wallows.	Clean tracks, minimal soil disturbance.

Recommendation

If you locate a sounder using these methods, do not engage. Record the GPS coordinates, the number of individuals, and the direction of travel. Submit this data immediately to the Alberta Invasive Species Council or the "Squeal on Pigs" app to facilitate professional trapping.

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Sunday, December 7, 2025

Using drones to track feral pigs in the snow in Alberta