While the Sierra Club prefers a minimally invasive approach, wildlife conservation these days can be a high-tech enterprise. Using the same tiny sensors and data transmitters that power our consumer electronics, biologists can track animals’ locations and behaviors in unprecedented detail, ideally helping the creatures survive in environments increasingly dominated by humans.

In the cliffside nests of critically endangered vultures in India, fake eggs packed with electronics will soon be able to log movement and rotations as mama birds fuss over them. These e-eggs will also collect data on temperature, humidity, and light exposure; a relay station will upload the information. Conservationists will then use this data to help mimic natural conditions in captive breeding programs. 

The tech company Microduino is collaborating with the International Centre for Birds of Prey on this project.

European brown bears are making a comeback in the Italian Alps, but those that raid beehives and farmyards are in danger of being shot. To prevent conflicts, wildlife managers outfit “problem bears” with transmitting collars. When a bear approaches a forbidden zone, sensors trigger sirens and flashing lights to scare the animal away.

Conservation biologist Francesca Cagnacci is leading this project.

Every winter, fish hatcheries in California’s Sacramento River release young Chinook salmon to join the wild fish migrating to the sea. Hundreds of those farm-raised smolts have tiny acoustic transmitters implanted in their bellies that send out regular pulses of sound. Underwater microphones dangling in the river detect the signals as the fish swim by, and a base station uploads the information. Water managers can protect the salmon by closing irrigation gates and turning off pumps until a migrating school has passed. 

This project is run by NOAA Fisheries.