collar sensor

Researchers have developed a collar-mounted sensor that measures wildfire smoke exposure in animals, allowing scientists to study how air pollution from fires affects animal health. The device could provide new data on respiratory and broader health impacts on wildlife and domestic animals as wildfires become more frequent, an area where little direct measurement has previously been possible.

Researchers are using collar-mounted sensors on wild animals to track how wildfires change their movements, habitat use and survival. The approach, described in Methods in Ecology and Evolution, offers detailed data on animal behaviour before, during and after burns, as scientists seek to understand the growing impact of fires on ecosystems.