Ask any researcher working with animals in the wilderness what the one thing they wish they could improve about their jobs, and every answer will likely come back the same. Those studying the wild want a better real-time view of their subjects. While professionals in this field do their best, it can be difficult for someone researching deer or moose to capture everything they want about the creatures. However, this may be changing with the help of SMS services.
Researchers at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are launching an initiative to capture 150 moose – 100 adults and 50 calves – and implant tracking devices and mortality implant transmitters into their subjects. These devices won't hurt the animals, but they should provide answers to a number of questions researchers in the area have been asking.
According to an article in the Bismark Tribune, the moose population is slowly dying, with many lives ending unexpectedly due to unknown causes. Researchers hope their project will help identify why moose are dying and provide resources needed to formulate adequate solutions to save the population.
Lou Cornicelli, the DNR wildlife research manager, told the news source that the mortality implant transmitters are synched up with several mobile phones owned by researchers in the area, and that the death of a moose containing the transmitter will trigger a message that will be sent to their devices.
"It actually sends a text message to researchers saying, 'Hey, I'm likely dead'," Cornicelli said.
This is one of many ways professionals can benefit from text messaging, because they can receive information in real-time. Organizations can implement services like this to improve virtually every aspect of their operations.
