A feral student named Cameron was captured by a team of UW scientists and the Middle/High School, and we collared him with a device used to track animals for research, e.g. detecting home-range. The collar had a transmitter that sent out a radio wave. Cordell carried a receiver and antenna, and he would hear intermittent clicks depending on proximity of target.
Cameron rejoined his herd of Jonah and Eli, who welcomed him with open paws, and the teens quickly disappeared into a spruce-replanted meadow. We did not worry about the large transmitter around Cameron's neck hampering his social connections; the herd might pick at it when cleaning each other, or maybe chew on it, but they would not see the foreign object as a problem and ostracize Cameron (or worse, like in
Red Dawn 1984).
The receiver's range varies with thickness of habitat; in an open
field, the range would be about 2km. Both the receiver and the
transmitter are powered by 10V batteries. Pictures of the device are below. We found it useful, as we were able to come within twenty feet of the feral students before time was called. New models come with GPS, mitigating the need for monitoring, but the price difference between ours and a GPS model is over $4500!
Thanks to Prof. Randy Kyes and Dr. Prensri Kyes for these new tools in dealing with truancy.
Let me introduce you to the prey:
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| Cameron and Jonah: Who's the alpha? |
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| This is called an Eli. Don't eat him. He looks sour. | |
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| Captured by Dr. Prensri Keyes. |
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| Collared by Dr. Prensri Keyes. |
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| Who will be the victor: the hunter or the wildlife? |
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| It's nature versus technology! |
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| GET'M, CORDELL!! |
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| Time's up. Standoff. |
