Drones Offer Innovative Solutions to Treat Invasive Species

As people and goods travel across the globe, they often unintentionally introduce foreign species that can disrupt and damage new environments.

These invasive species, whether carried by the wind, ocean currents, or human activities like travel and trade, can cause serious damage to ecosystems, economies, and even human health. Once introduced, they often outcompete native species, leading to the decline or extinction of local plants and animals and permanently altering the balance of the ecosystem. Combating invasive species presents significant challenges, particularly in hard-to-reach areas where traditional control methods prove insufficient. KCI’s team of ecologists supports land managers by utilizing drone technology to improve the identification and monitoring of these threats, helping to enhance control efforts with greater efficiency and accuracy.

While some areas can be accessed on foot, by all-terrain vehicles, or by boat, others are nearly impossible to reach without expensive helicopters. Drones offer a cost-effective alternative, allowing ecologists to reach sites nestled on steep hillsides, in sensitive ecological zones, or within wetlands. With a fleet of nearly three dozen drones, our team efficiently inspects sites, creates detailed maps, and develops and implements targeted treatment plans. This technology not only saves time and resources but also makes it possible to assess large areas that would otherwise be off-limits.

Drones also enhance the safety and precision of invasive species control. By reducing the need for staff and volunteers to come into contact with hazardous herbicides, drones enable a more strategic and safer approach. KCI’s team is uniquely equipped for this work, as each drone pilot is also a trained ecologist with expertise in various environments. Beyond holding a standard drone license, these pilots have completed the rigorous process to become commercially licensed herbicidal applicators. This dual expertise allows them to interpret ecological data accurately while navigating the complexities of drone operations.

Once the initial mapping is done, KCI’s pilots create a treatment plan. Unlike traditional methods that often apply uniform treatment across a site, the drone-based approach allows for greater precision. The team can fly an entire field with an imagery drone, process the data, and leverage AI tools to help identify specific pockets of invasive species. Based on this data, they outline precise treatment zones, or digital boundaries, which are uploaded into the spray drone’s flight controller. The pilot and team then review these zones, making small adjustments to improve efficiency, accuracy, and avoid obstacles. While the drone can operate in auto-flight mode, pilots retain full control, allowing them to make real-time adjustments as needed to ensure safe and effective treatment.

With drones, KCI can treat up to 10 acres per hour, ensuring that every inch is covered and meticulously recorded. The system keeps track of the areas treated, the specifics of the treatment, and the amount of herbicide used. This data is then compiled into a comprehensive post-flight report, complete with a map of the flight path, environmental conditions, and herbicide application. The drones’ programmable flights can be easily replicated, making it simple to monitor progress over time. This is especially valuable in conserving natural areas, as it allows the team to revisit and assess previously treated sites with precision.

In collaboration with private landowners, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, KCI used drones to restore critical habitats on the towering bluffs of southwestern Wisconsin, nearly 500 feet above the Mississippi River. The project aimed to support habitat initiatives for pollinators and species of special concern. The area includes a mix of prairie, oak savanna, oak forest, maple-basswood uplands, floodplain forest, and marshes. Prairies, particularly those in the upland sections of the Mississippi River, are among the most endangered natural communities. After invasive cedar trees were removed through cutting and controlled burns, the drones were used to reseed the steep bluffs with native prairie species, ensuring soil stability and promoting the regeneration of a diverse habitat.

Our team also partnered with the WDNR to treat invasive species in wetlands across eight state-managed natural and wildlife areas. Working closely with WDNR conservation staff and property managers, KCI ecologists used aerial herbicide applications to target invasive cattail and phragmites. Wisconsin has three main types of cattails, one native and beneficial, and two invasive. Phragmites, a tall, perennial grass common in wetlands, is another formidable invader. If left unchecked, these species can cause severe damage to valuable native habitats. Through careful herbicidal treatment, KCI helped to neutralize the threat posed by these invasive plants.

In Green Bay, Wisconsin, KCI collaborated with Ducks Unlimited, a nonprofit dedicated to wetland and wildlife conservation, to treat invasive species in the 20-acre Ken Euers Nature Area. This large wetland, designed to manage nutrient runoff and provide wildlife habitat, had been overrun by invasive phragmites. After a preliminary reconnaissance flight, the team identified additional areas of infestation and adjusted their drone flight plan accordingly. The drones successfully treated all the phragmites without harming unaffected areas.

Looking to the future, KCI’s pilots are working with the firm’s in-house Technology team to develop methods for automating the identification of invasive species using AI. This innovative technology has the potential to further enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of restoration and conservation efforts.