Pest Control & Biosecurity Drone Services
Dawn and dusk thermal spotting of deer, goats and pigs for ground crews, wilding pine and weed mapping, and follow-up monitoring across the Waikato and King Country.
Who it is for
- Pest control contractors and ground hunting crews
- Catchment, landcare and restoration groups
- Councils, trusts and iwi environment teams
- Landowners dealing with wilding pines, weeds or feral animals
Flight overview
- Brief on the area, target animals or plants, and where your crew will be
- Landowner permission and airspace checks arranged before we fly; DOC land needs a DOC permit
- Daylight flights under CAA Part 101 only: daylight, visual line of sight, under 120 m, so thermal spotting is done at dawn and dusk
- Thermal and RGB passes with the Matrice 4T, relayed to your ground crew as we fly
Deliverables
- Dawn and dusk thermal spotting of deer, goats and pigs, with locations passed to your ground crew
- Wilding pine and weed infestation maps
- Before-and-after imagery to monitor results after control work
- Fence and exclosure line checks for damage and breaches
- Clear imagery and maps for funder and progress reports
Turnaround
Spotting results are passed on during the flight. Maps and monitoring packs usually land 5–10 business days after flight.
Coverage
Waikato, King Country, the Coromandel and the western Bay of Plenty edge. Wider North Island by arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
Do you do night thermal hunting?
No. We fly under Part 101, which means daylight only. Dawn and dusk are often still productive for spotting deer, goats and pigs on thermal, and we work alongside your ground crew rather than replacing them.
Can you spray weeds or drop bait?
No. We do not spray or drop bait. We map and monitor so your contractors know where to work and can show what changed afterwards.
Can you fly over DOC land or reserves?
Only with a DOC permit, which needs to be in place before the flight. We arrange landowner permission for private land and check the airspace for every job.
Will thermal find every animal?
No. Thick canopy, terrain and conditions all affect what thermal can see. It is a useful guide for ground crews, not a full count.
How far can you cover?
We keep the drone in visual line of sight and under 120 m, so large or steep areas are flown from several launch points or in stages. We plan this with you before the job.