Animal relocation system and method

An animal relocation system and method comprising a perimeter net system a trapping net system, and a flushing device, wherein the flushing device channels the animal through the perimeter net system and into the trapping net.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a system and method of animal relocation. More specifically, this invention relates to a system and method of animal relocation for animals located inside an enclosed structure using a net system and various flushing techniques.

Description of the Background Art

Any place of business that sells food or medicine has an interest in preventing wildlife from entering and either eating its goods or contaminating its goods. Such contamination can have serious health implications for the business' customers. Similarly, there are FDA programs, such as the Retail Food Safety Initiative, and local health department requirements in place to reduce the amount of foodborne illness in this country.

Animals such as birds tend to search for areas to roost that are high up and away from predators. The rafters of big box stores, warehouses, and other structures containing exposed support beams provide areas inside of those types of structures that make for preferred bird roosting areas. Birds may also take up residence in buildings with drop ceilings. However, the presence of a bird inside the structure interferes with the welfare of the food and medicine inside these structures which necessitates removal of the bird. These structures can have large footprints that can range from a couple thousand to over a million square feet. Without the proper technique, it could take several hours or even days to remove a bird from the structure.

There are many known techniques used to capture birds. Traps contain the possibility of harming the bird and all efforts should be made when capturing a wild animal to produce the least amount of harm. Using loud noises or impersonating the bird's natural predators may also scare the bird into leaving if the overall area is small enough; otherwise, the bird will simply move to another roost and continue troubling the structure. Nets, such as mist nets, remove a large chance of harming the animal but it can be difficult to get the bird into the net without considerable effort. The present system and method describe a technique using nets that quickly and painlessly results in the capture of a bird stuck inside a structure.

Different species of birds that tend to enter structures include sparrows, wren, starlings, mockingbirds, and finches, among others. Each species of bird has different flight and personality characteristics. Sparrows can be aggressive and can appear in groups. Wrens tend to run in pairs and stay low, generally on the floor, as they are not accustomed to being in high places unless there is cover. Starlings are carnivores, meaning they tend to stay near packaged meat when indoors, and are smart problem solvers with great vision who can identify nets. Mockingbirds eat fruit and have simple flight paths but are not afraid of humans or other species. Finches are extremely difficult to catch because they have great eyesight and can stop full flight in midair while looking for a way out or hiding spot. Each bird has its own idiosyncrasies and requires individual handling. The present system and method provides a streamlined approach to make it easier to catch any type of bird residing within an enclosed structure.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improvement which overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies of prior methods and provides an improvement which is a significant contribution to the advancement of bird relocation art.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system and method for relocating birds residing within a structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system and method for relocating birds which will greatly reduce the likelihood of harm that could be inflicted on the bird.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system and method for relocating birds which greatly reduces the time it takes to remove a bird from a large enclosed structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system and method for relocating birds to increase compliance with Food and Drug Administration food safety regulations and reduce the health hazards associated with wild birds.

Another object of this invention is to provide a conservation-sensitive bird relocation system and method.

The foregoing has outlined some of the pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For the purpose of summarizing this invention, this invention comprises an animal relocation system and method comprising at least one enclosed building, an animal, at least one perimeter net system comprising between one and two nets and further comprising, a first telescoping pole having a first end and a second end, the first end of the telescoping pole having a hook, at least one removable connector attached to the hook, a plurality of connectors attaching a net having a first net side and a second net side to a rope and a pulley at the first net side, the rope and pulley connected to a support and a support beam by a cleat, a second telescoping pole having a first end and a second end connected to the first telescoping pole by a plurality of connectors attached to the net, and at least one trapping net system further comprising between one and three nets arranged to force the animal into the perimeter net system through use of a flushing device.

The disclosed system and method has several important advantages. For example, the disclosed system and method allows for the humane retrieval and relocation of birds within an enclosed structure. This system and method also greatly reduces the time necessary to relocate the bird.

Another advantage is that the disclosed system and method can be modified based on the size of the enclosed building where the animal is located.

Another advantage is that the disclosed system and method can be used in buildings as large as one million square feet or larger.

Another advantage is that the disclosed system and method essentially cuts the area inside an enclosure needed to capture an animal by half.

Another advantage is that the disclosed system and method reduces the time necessary to capture and release an animal inside and enclosed building.

Another advantage is that the disclosed system and method can be modified based on the animal currently in the enclosed building since different animals have different movement tendencies.

Another advantage is the disclosed system and method provides for an improved animal capture procedure whereby the space the animal could escape during an attempted capture is greatly lessened due to the arrangement of the perimeter net system and trapping net system.

Another advantage is the disclosed system and method increases compliance with FDA food safety regulations in enclosures where said regulations apply.

Another advantage is the disclosed system and method reduces health hazards from animals being present in an enclosed building.

Another advantage is the disclosed system and method improves the security of food resources in those enclosed buildings where food is present.

Another advantage is the disclosed system and method is a humane conservation-sensitive animal removal technique.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A animal relocation system10and method is shown in the flowchart ofFIG. 1. The relocation system10comprises a perimeter net system12and a trapping net system14. Each net system comprises at least one net16attached to a telescoping pole18ending at a distal end20with a hook22. The hook has a removable connector24which connects a rope26and pulley28forming a rope and pulley system30having at least one connector32to connect the net16to the telescoping pole18. The rope and pulley system30are secured to a support, preferably by a cleat or similar means.

The method generally comprises first determining the square footage of the enclosure36so the proper setup is installed100, installing the perimeter net system12of the animal relocation system10based on the layout of the enclosure36and the square footage determination200, installation generally comprising for each net16attaching the net16to the rope and pulley system30using the connectors32,210, attaching the hook22to a hanging member40or portion of ceiling42,220, and then lifting the net16into position230, using a flushing device46to drive the animal60toward a net16,300, trapping the animal60within a net16,400, and then releasing the animal60to safety500. The hanging member40can be a rafter, beam, truss, or other similar support.

As seen inFIG. 2, an enclosure36over 75,000 square feet can use the setup disclosed. Preferably, the perimeter net system12is set up around the perimeter of the enclosure36. The trapping net system14on the interior of the enclosure36so as to reduce the space the animal60can traverse while the capture attempt is occurring. This preferred setup is also known as the “2:3:5” system because of how the perimeter net system12and trapping net system14are setup. The setup is named “2:3:5” because it preferably uses two nets for the perimeter net system12and three nets for the trapping net system14for a total of five nets. By placing the perimeter net system12along the outer perimeter of the enclosure36, the escape routes for the animal60are reduced and the animal60can be funneled into the trapping net system14. The arrangement of the trapping net system14is customizable and modular for enclosures36of differing layouts.

As seen inFIG. 3, an alternative setup can be used for an enclosure36less than 75,000 square feet. The perimeter net system12is again set up on the perimeter of the enclosure36and the trapping net system14is set up on one side of the enclosure36to again reduce the space the animal60can traverse while the capture attempt is occurring. This alternative setup is also known as the “1:1:3” system because of how the perimeter net system12and the trapping net system14are setup. More specifically, the “1:1:3” system has two nets16on the outer perimeter of the enclosure36, with one net16on opposite sides of the enclosure36, and one net16for the trapping net system14placed based on the layout of the enclosure36so as to efficiently capture the animal60.

FIGS. 4 and 5show one net16, telescoping pole18and rope and pulley system30from either the perimeter net system12or the trapping net system14in more detail. The removable connector24and connectors32are preferably carabiners but may be any type of connection that allows for the easy removal and installation of the net16. The net16has at least one fastener38to connect the net16to the rope26of the rope and pulley system30. Preferably, the net16can be hung from a hanging member40or other portion of a ceiling42of the enclosure36sufficient to catch the hook22. In the preferred embodiment, the net16can hang over a shelving unit44so that customers can still approach any goods stored thereon.

FIG. 6shows the flushing device46. The flushing device comprises a telescoping arm48having a proximal end50and distal end52. The proximal end50has a handle54and the distal end52has a flusher56. The flusher56can be any object that, when shaken or moved, creates noise, movement, or both. The noise and/or movement can drive the animal60from a hiding spot into one of the nets16. For example, a plastic bag, when attached to the flushing device46and shaken, can drive a bird from its roost into the open. It is preferred that the handler using the flushing device46keep the flushing device46at a 40 degree angle. This particular angle was chosen because it keeps the flushing device46in the animal's60line of sight while also remaining out of the way of the capture attempt.

FIG. 7shows the result of the disclosed system10and method. The animal60is driven into the net16by a handler using the flushing device46. Once in the net16, the animal60will become entrapped and unable to move. The net16does not harm the animal60. Once entrapped in the net16, a handler can remove the animal60from the enclosure36into a safe habitat or, if the animal60is endangered, into the federally mandated location. The perimeter net system12and trapping net system14can then be uninstalled.

Now that the invention has been described,