Ecology and Statistics Combined: WEST’s Approach to Wildlife Impact Assessment and Resource Monitoring
WEST applies scientific rigor and data-driven methodologies to wildlife research and monitoring, providing clients with the insights needed for effective conservation and regulatory compliance. Our experienced team of ecologists, botanists, statisticians, and biologists employ cutting-edge technology, field survey methodology, and analytics to study a diverse suite of wildlife species and their habitats.
Our Expertise
Big Game
WEST has decades of experience and expertise to help clients with big game research, management, planning, monitoring, and mitigation efforts.
Our expertise includes:
- Population survey and study design
- GPS data analysis, visualization, and application
- Resource selection and movement modeling
- Impact assessments
- Species-specific conservation strategies for development plans
This work supports informed big game management and development planning—reflecting WEST’s longstanding expertise in population analysis, movement modeling, and impact assessment.
Detection Dog Services
WEST’s detection-dog teams enhance traditional wildlife surveys, providing highly efficient carcass detection, and species identification in challenging field conditions.
Our expertise includes:
- Post-construction carcass detection at wind and solar facilities
- Wildlife presence/absence surveys
- Scat detection and habitat analysis
This work improves survey accuracy and efficiency—demonstrating WEST’s innovative use of detection-dog teams for wildlife monitoring in complex environments.
Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species
WEST’s experience extends to avian, terrestrial, and aquatic species that are either protected under federal and state laws or routinely raised as species of concern by wildlife agencies. Our team develops species-specific study designs to support project planning and impact assessment, long-term monitoring efforts, and conservation initiatives.
Our expertise includes:
- Endangered Species Act compliance
- Presence/absence surveys and population assessments
- Avoidance, minimization, and mitigation strategies
- Population assessments and habitat mapping
- Long-term monitoring
Our expertise encompasses a diverse array of species including bat monitoring through acoustic surveys and mist-netting, eagle risk assessments and mitigation strategies, and grouse conservation using advanced telemetry and habitat modeling. We also specialize in whooping crane conservation with habitat evaluations and impact assessments, as well as insect pollinators and seabirds.
Seabirds and Shorebirds
With deep expertise in coastal and pelagic bird ecology, WEST supports effective conservation and permitting strategies for seabirds and shorebirds. Our team has decades of experience conducting applied research to inform risk assessments, spatial planning, monitoring, and mitigation for species ranging from nearshore nesting birds to highly migratory oceanic birds.
Our expertise includes:
- Bird tagging (e.g. Global positioning system, very‐high‐frequency tag, platform transmitter terminal) and movement analyses
- Spatial analyses for density and habitat use
- Colony monitoring and nesting habitat restoration
- Aerial/vessel survey design and analysis
- Statistical modeling for take estimation
- Risk and vulnerability assessments
- Compensatory mitigation planning
This work advances seabird and shorebird conservation and compliance—highlighting WEST’s deep expertise in avian ecology, movement analysis, and mitigation planning.
Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Services
WEST utilizes cutting-edge Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) technology, including our own built-from-scratch UAS designed for wildlife detection, to conduct environmental surveys and research. By combining UAS and machine learning, WEST has developed advanced survey approaches that result in greater efficiency and/or effectiveness over existing survey methods.
Our expertise includes:
- Vegetation mapping and monitoring (landcover, wetlands, noxious weeds)
- Anthropogenic mapping
- Bird nest surveys
- Prairie dog burrow mapping
- AI-assisted wildlife counts and classification
- High resolution thermal imaging
- Wildlife detection
This work enhances environmental survey precision and efficiency—showcasing WEST’s innovation in UAS technology, machine learning, and wildlife detection.
Wildlife Image Analysis
WEST leverages advanced camera trap analysis, machine learning, computer vision, and statistical modeling to provide critical insights into wildlife behavior, population dynamics, and habitat use, supporting conservation and research questions.
Our expertise includes:
- Wildlife population monitoring
- Species-specific behavioral studies
- Impact assessments for development projects
- Machine learning integration
- Custom computer vision model development
- Secure data management
This work delivers key insights for conservation and development—highlighting WEST’s expertise in camera trap analysis, machine learning, and wildlife population modeling.
Wildlife Power Interactions
WEST combines infrastructure design knowledge with biological and landscape insights to provide upfront design input and comprehensive risk assessments. Following Avian Power Line Interaction Committee guidelines to manage avian electrocution, collision risks, and nesting, we proactively address infrastructure design and support reactive measures to support overall service reliability.
Our expertise includes:
- Avian and wildlife electrocution risk assessments for power poles and substations
- Infrastructure design reviews
- Avian collision risk assessments and line marking analysis
- Avian protection plan development
- Nest management
This work promotes wildlife-safe infrastructure and service reliability—underscoring WEST’s integrated expertise in risk assessment, avian protection, and design consultation.
Representative Projects
Discover WEST’s library of scientific publications and reports highlighting our work in environmental research, wildlife monitoring, renewable energy, and data-driven solutions.
Partner with WEST for Wildlife Research and Monitoring Services
Contact us to discuss your wildlife research and monitoring needs.
