Bobcat
Founding Member
FWC dog smells something fishy
BY TIMOTHY O'HARA Citizen Staff
tohara@keysnews.com
Eddie is not your typical state wildlife officer.
His nose for tracking down evidence far exceeds that of his fellow Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) colleagues. He doesn't carry a gun, but has no fear of single-handedly taking down the most dangerous criminals -- armed or unarmed. He does not require a fat paycheck, benefits package or two weeks' paid vacation a year.
A rolled-up white hand towel, a few pats on the head and affirmation for a job well done is all he needs.
Eddie, a 2-year-old yellow Labrador retriever, is the latest edition to the Florida Keys FWC force. He is partnered with Officer Ryan Smith. Both have undergone extensive training and are certified by the U.S. Police Canine Association in wildlife detection and tracking, FWC spokeswoman Katie Purcell said.
Eddie, who started on patrol in October and will be used throughout the Keys, can sniff out lobster, stone crab, snapper, grouper and other fish species and will be used to capture unscrupulous fishermen who take fish and marine life out of season or exceed daily bag limits.
Eddie's sense of smell is 44 times greater than that of his FWC human counterparts, Smith said. When officers board a fishing vessel, the crew suspected of poaching or exceeding bag limits often hide the fish and marine life in various sections of the boats. Eddie's sense of smell and training will allow officers to uncover the evidence much quicker, Smith said.
"He uses his nose like we use our eyes," Smith said. "He lives to work."
His heightened sense of smell also allows the agency to use Eddie to sniff out evidence such as guns, knives and cellphones, and to track down suspects who are on the run. This will allow Eddie to be used by other agencies for manhunts, Smith said.
"He can track down anything that has been used in the course of a crime," said Smith, with whom Eddie lives.
The FWC dogs are not aggressive and are also skilled at tracking people who have gotten lost in the woods, Purcell said. When not in the field, Eddie will travel to schools and community events and be used as an outreach and education tool, Smith said.
Eddie and Smith are among five FWC teams that recently completed training and have reported to their respective regions.
Two additional teams are currently in training. The FWC has 12 canine teams throughout the state, Purcell said.
The FWC exclusively uses Labrador retrievers, Chesapeake Bay retrievers and German short-hair pointers. All of the dogs are donated, either by individuals, shelters or guide dog services. The FWC trainers meet the dogs and handpick ones to use for the program, Purcell said.
tohara@keysnews.com
BY TIMOTHY O'HARA Citizen Staff
tohara@keysnews.com
Eddie is not your typical state wildlife officer.
His nose for tracking down evidence far exceeds that of his fellow Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) colleagues. He doesn't carry a gun, but has no fear of single-handedly taking down the most dangerous criminals -- armed or unarmed. He does not require a fat paycheck, benefits package or two weeks' paid vacation a year.
A rolled-up white hand towel, a few pats on the head and affirmation for a job well done is all he needs.
Eddie, a 2-year-old yellow Labrador retriever, is the latest edition to the Florida Keys FWC force. He is partnered with Officer Ryan Smith. Both have undergone extensive training and are certified by the U.S. Police Canine Association in wildlife detection and tracking, FWC spokeswoman Katie Purcell said.
Eddie, who started on patrol in October and will be used throughout the Keys, can sniff out lobster, stone crab, snapper, grouper and other fish species and will be used to capture unscrupulous fishermen who take fish and marine life out of season or exceed daily bag limits.
Eddie's sense of smell is 44 times greater than that of his FWC human counterparts, Smith said. When officers board a fishing vessel, the crew suspected of poaching or exceeding bag limits often hide the fish and marine life in various sections of the boats. Eddie's sense of smell and training will allow officers to uncover the evidence much quicker, Smith said.
"He uses his nose like we use our eyes," Smith said. "He lives to work."
His heightened sense of smell also allows the agency to use Eddie to sniff out evidence such as guns, knives and cellphones, and to track down suspects who are on the run. This will allow Eddie to be used by other agencies for manhunts, Smith said.
"He can track down anything that has been used in the course of a crime," said Smith, with whom Eddie lives.
The FWC dogs are not aggressive and are also skilled at tracking people who have gotten lost in the woods, Purcell said. When not in the field, Eddie will travel to schools and community events and be used as an outreach and education tool, Smith said.
Eddie and Smith are among five FWC teams that recently completed training and have reported to their respective regions.
Two additional teams are currently in training. The FWC has 12 canine teams throughout the state, Purcell said.
The FWC exclusively uses Labrador retrievers, Chesapeake Bay retrievers and German short-hair pointers. All of the dogs are donated, either by individuals, shelters or guide dog services. The FWC trainers meet the dogs and handpick ones to use for the program, Purcell said.
tohara@keysnews.com
