Missing Pet Drone Searches
Lost your dog or cat?
When a pet disappears, every minute can feel like an hour.
Another Set of Eyes From Above
A missing pet can hide surprisingly well.
Bushland, long grass, paddocks, scrub, backyards and other difficult terrain can make ground searches challenging.
A thermal drone can give us an aerial perspective and, under suitable conditions, help identify heat signatures that may otherwise be difficult to see.
We can search for:
Missing dogs
Missing cats
Pets hiding in difficult terrain
Pets that have moved away from the original search area
Areas that are difficult to search on foot
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Tell us where your pet went missing, when they were last seen and what the surrounding area is like.
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We'll consider the location, terrain, weather, airspace and whether a drone search is suitable.
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Where conditions allow, we use thermal and visual drone imagery to search appropriate areas.
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Thermal imaging can show temperature differences and may help identify a warm animal against its surroundings.
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If something is identified, we can help determine where further ground searching should be focused.
Wild Hive Drones uses thermal drone technology to search areas that can be difficult to cover from the ground. Thermal imaging can help identify heat signatures in suitable conditions and may provide another set of eyes when traditional searching hasn't found your pet.
We search across Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast and surrounding areas, subject to safe and legal flight conditions.
Lost Your Dog or Cat?
When Can a Thermal Drone Search Help?
A drone search may be particularly useful when your pet has disappeared into:
Bushland
Long grass
Paddocks
Scrub
Large properties
Areas difficult to access on foot
Areas where a ground search has already been unsuccessful
The effectiveness of thermal searching depends on conditions, terrain, vegetation, weather, the time of day and the location of the animal.
What You Should Do While You're Waiting
If your pet has just gone missing:
Stay Calm
Try to establish the last confirmed location and direction your pet was travelling.
Search Nearby First
Check yards, sheds, under structures, vegetation and other likely hiding places.
Ask Neighbours
Your pet may have travelled further than expected.
Keep Identification Information Ready
Have recent photographs and identifying details available and consider posting to social media.
Tell Us the Last Known Location
The more accurate the starting location, the more effectively we can assess potential search areas.
Why Thermal Imaging?
A standard camera records visible light.
A thermal camera detects infrared radiation and displays differences in apparent temperature.
This can sometimes make a warm animal easier to distinguish from its surroundings.
However, thermal imaging is not magic and it cannot guarantee that a missing pet will be detected.
Vegetation, distance, weather, terrain and other heat sources can all affect the search.
Our goal is to give you another tool and another perspective when you're trying to locate your pet.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. Thermal imaging can improve the chances of detecting an animal in suitable conditions, but it cannot guarantee a result.
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Yes. We can assess missing-cat searches as well as missing-dog searches.
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Thermal imaging can be useful in different conditions, including at night, but the effectiveness of a search depends on many factors. We'll assess the circumstances before flying.
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Potentially. Bushland and difficult terrain can be suitable for aerial searching, but dense vegetation can also make thermal detection difficult.
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Availability depends on our location, current workload, weather, airspace and operating conditions. If your pet is currently missing, call us rather than waiting for an email response.
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The cost depends on the location, size of the search area, flight requirements and circumstances. Call us and we'll discuss the situation with you.
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Tell us your pet's species, size, colour, last known location, last known time, direction of travel and the type of surrounding area.
Your Pet Is Missing. Call Us.
If you're searching for a lost dog or cat and think a thermal drone could help, contact Wild Hive Drones as soon as possible.