Blow Fly

I always seem to learn something new every time I go on a search. Today I got a lesson in entymology and forensics. We have recently been receiving a lot of call-outs for our HRD (Human Remains Detection) aka cadaver teams. I have been able to tag along as a flanker and this has given me a great opportunity to learn first hand from the various handlers. Today I was able to flank one of our lead trainers and senior handlers and I picked up even more of a realization that I have a lot left to learn.


Since the last search I have been working hard on being able to identify different animal "scat" (poop), prints, and learn basic wilderness skills (like avoiding pit vipers). I am trying to learn the behaviors of the different dogs on our team and their handlers. I am studying for my ham radio certification test. With all of these things on my mind it is a wonder I can walk through the woods without tripping over myself. Oh wait. I can't.

It seems simple enough. Follow the handler. Use the radio occasionally to call Incident Command. Help navigate the zone you are assigned to search. Walk. But the last one seemed to really get me today. I felt I spent more time tripping over logs, getting snared by thorny vines, and navigating like a drunk and bumbling fool than I did actually being of any use to my handler. She and the dog seemed to always get ahead of me and I got delayed trying to figure out how they got through the briers. At one point I almost walked on top of a curled up water moccasin and would have likely gotten nailed by it if my handler wasn't keen in her observational skills (you know the ones I was supposed to be using to keep her safe).

Even with my clumsiness I learned a lot. I learned that my camelback sucks as it kept getting snagged on every branch I walked through. I learned to check all my gear before taking off, as the nozzle on the tube to my camelback was apparently broken and most of my water poured out on me when I was trying to stand back up after falling down. I learned to carry a pen (two actually - as I lost one) and a notebook to record our search information rather than scrap paper. I learned I should not forget my watch at home. I got a reprimand for not calling in to Incident Command on a regular basis (or at the start and end of our search). I learned to stay in our designated area and not wander into someone else's. Navigation is important. I learned that the families of those missing really do appreciate what we do. But the most interesting thing I learned during today's search was...

Blowflies!

We spotted two blowflies in a secluded part of the woods we were searching as we stopped for a water break. My handler pointed them out and expressed that they were a good sign as often they were found when remains were near, as they laid their eggs on the carcasses of the deceased and were responsible for maggots (you can thank me for not attaching a picture). It was a sign that something dead lay near. A minute detail that I would never have picked up on without the education from a more experienced searcher.

So with this new information, my interest was peaked and I looked up some information:

The insects of greatest value to forensic entomology are blowflies (family Calliphoridae), because they are usually the first insects to colonise a body after death, often within hours. Because of this, the age of the oldest blowflies gives the most accurate evidence of the PMI (post-mortem interval/minimum time since death). Many other species of fly, beetle, wasp and moth are also associated with cadavers, resulting in a succession of insects arriving at the body, but as they tend to arrive after the blowflies, they are less useful in establishing a PMI.

Blowfly infestations of human bodies are a natural outcome of the flies’ role in the environment as primary decomposers. The ubiquity of fly larvae on carrion is clear to anyone who comes across the dead body of a hedgehog or rabbit while walking in the country. The larval infestations might look gruesome, but they are a vital component of the natural recycling of organic matter and, on human bodies, they can provide vital clues to the timing and cause of death.

Overall, today I felt humbled. I have a ton to learn, but luckily I have a very patient team who are willing to teach me. With each search I pick up new things. At this rate I figure in a few years I'll have it down pat!

Now if I can just stay on my feet....

Bone Yard

A wild pig skeleton (note the tusks).

Today's search was an incredible learning experience in Human Remains Detection (HRD). I can't give specifics on the case, as it is still active, but it allowed me a great opportunity to get hands-on experience with two of our senior handlers and observe how they worked four different areas of interest in the search for a homicide victim. I got a tutorial on reading the terrain, looking for low spots that could be old graves, looking for new growth which could occur over a gravesite, and reading bones found along the way. We had a few moments where the bones that were found by our human searchers looked promising, but they did not interest the dogs in the least, so were cleared. I learned about the changes in the coloration of the bones with age, environment, and how this potentially affected scent. The darker bone (top left) was in a very wet area, aging it to a dark brown. The vertebrae found were exposed to direct sun and had bleached out over time.

I learned it's good to try, but it is almost impossible to think like a criminal as their mindset is so different than ours. As much as I imagine how I would dispose of a body if I had committed the crime, the logic behind the perpetrator's choices often leads them to very different results. Throw in drug use, adrenalin, and chaos and it is anyone's guess how and why a body might be disposed of. It is still good to use information gathered from those who study the criminal mind, but ultimately it is often a guessing game as to where to look.

I also got a review of crime scene preservation when we came across potential bones or graves. Protecting the evidence from being picked up or trampled upon, as well as backing out of an area of interest until the ground could be probed or dug by law enforcement was stressed. We worked closely with the homicide detective and deputies to clear the areas and determine the origins of the remains that were located.

Some bones were obviously not human.

A doe.

Others required a bit of discussion.

And others were not quite yet dead.

My interest in HRD is heightened after today's searching. I love the mystery of forensics. I realize how much I need to learn, not only about canine training but about anthropology, wildlife, forensics, and crime scene preservation. I am so eager to attend seminars and take additional coursework and can barely contain myself. I am so happy these days and thrilled I have found something that hits so many of my interests in such a profound way.

This case has not been solved yet, but much has been learned. I look forward to additional call-outs to help in the successful closure of this case. This for me was the most interesting search I've been on yet!

SAR DAY 2014

A glimpse of part of the search area. Acreage as far as the eye could see.

If I was worried about not getting in any exercise after having retired from triathlon training, my fears were lifted after today's exhausting training in New Orleans as our team took part in a multi-state Search and Rescue Training Day. Much of my day was spent hiking through miles of thick brush and grass, uphill, to flank those searching for a variety of human remains left scattered in an air tragedy simulation. For those handlers whose canines where trained for Live Search, they had to locate a live victim in the vast search area that was near the plane's transponder.

As if on cue, a group of "walkers" showed up. They were
escorted out to save our HRD sources from being eaten.
Later we learned they were actually bird watchers. I like my
version of the story better.

Civil Air Patrol was there to fly over in their aircraft and call in the coordinates of the transponder as it pinged up to them. Search teams consisted of Civil Air Patrol members, military, fire/police, and canine search teams from Louisiana and Florida. Boy Scouts were on hand to observe and volunteer as victims, and had even "gored" themselves up in zombie fashion for reality purposes. Maybe they were thinking Zombie Apocalypse??

Scent work in action as Quincy scours the pavement for crumbs
after lunch

After the morning scenarios we broke for lunch, and I got to work Quincy since, once again, we were not ready for all of the advanced fun that was to be had in search and rescue. We practiced his run-aways, with me now his handler, and added the challenge of the victim dropping behind a bush or tree. Although he doesn't have quite the same intensity in his desire to search for others as he does to search for me, he still eagerly performs his job. This week he will practice these obstructed runaways and if all goes well will be ready to start "L's" again by the weekend. Even without getting to participate as a dog team in the search training, we still had plenty of time to explore together. He was exposed to grated metal steps, new dogs, new terrain, and new scents. As buildings were lit on fire for the fire department to practice extinguishing, he got to experience the smoke that is often at the site of disasters. He was exposed to the sounds of the Civil Air Patrol's planes flying overhead and landing nearby. He got to see a variety of rescuers in their hardhats, rappelling gear, and uniforms. That in itself was great training and a lot to take in for a 4 month old!

Messy locating the lost sources

Messy saved the day by locating the remaining HRD sources that hadn't been found. There was some confusion as to just how many had been set out in the field...

It was a great opportunity to coordinate with other disciplines and replicate mock disasters in preparation for another catastrophe such as Katrina or 9/11. Communication amongst agencies is crucial, especially during stressful disasters, and it is important that everyone have some idea how the disciplines work so that they can adapt if needed. These training opportunities allow everyone to be exposed to each other to make search and rescue as smooth as possible.

All disciplines were represented

Escambia Search and Rescue came in from Florida

Rob trying to figure out where to search for Trey's mysterious source.
Did it really exist? No one knows...

The Changing of The Guard

Today was an important day in training. Today I became the handler, and no longer the victim in my partnership with Quincy. We have graduated from searching for me, to his searching with me! Quincy has learned the basics of the "game" of searching. He has demonstrated that he can track me, nose to the ground, nose in the air, to a completely hidden spot without watching me run-away from him. He has shown good focus and consistent problem solving. The foundation for searching has been set....for Phase One. Now we move to Phase Two - where we begin searching for others, and scent articles are introduced along with the "check it" command. Although we are progressing in training, in some ways we are backtracking during this phase. We have to return to the basics of those initial puppy run-aways, just like our very first week, but now with me, the handler, releasing him with the "Go Find" command to search for a variety of "victims" who for now just run-away, but over the next few weeks will begin to hide. I am amazed with how far we have come in just 7 weeks of training. My pup is now 15 weeks old.

Although Quincy and I weren't ready to participate in the full scope of today's team training opportunities, it was exciting being a part of the action and watching the other dogs work in an urban disaster training setting. We trained outside of New Orleans at the Municipal Training Academy where the dogs were able to work problems searching for live and deceased victims in rubble pits, wooded fields, and a specially designed trailer. The trailer was dimly lit and had a maze of rooms, obstacles, ladders, hiding places and levels inside it. The flooring was intentionally hazardous and required a new level of focus from both the dogs and handlers. It was totally different than any I have seen worked so far. The dogs had to navigate tight areas without the handler being able to closely follow them. Outside in the pits, they had to deal with difficult footing and dangerous rubble that had sharp metal, rebar, broken bricks, and rough concrete heaped around an obstacle course of cement tubes that could be used for hiding people or "parts".

Disaster work presents very different challenges for both the dog and the handler than the usual live search or HRD (Human Remains Recovery) work. It exposes both to dangerous chemicals, terrain, and situations. Although it can be one of the more exciting areas of search and rescue to work in, with rescuers often being some of the first to be dispatched to the big disasters such as Katrina or 9/11, these searches have caused shorter life spans of the canines that worked them. Many have died early deaths from cancer and illnesses that can be directly linked to things that they were exposed to in these treacherous environments. It is definitely an area of work that has to be contemplated seriously before agreeing to volunteer the services of both canine and self. I have heard many sad stories over the past few months about canines who have worked some of these more well known tragedies and have perished from the exposures.

Fire Training Tower

Mobile Home Maze

Simulated bedroom with crawl spaces

Obstacles inside trailer

Multiple levels and hiding places

Kitchen Area with Floor Hazards and Crawl Spaces

It's still early in my training and I haven't decided which direction I am going to take, although I am leaning towards dual training my dog for both Live Search and HRD. There are so many areas to choose from and so many things that these dogs can do it is difficult to decide! I guess that only means one thing...more dogs in the future!

Tunica Falls - Waterfall Dog

I love finally having a dog I can take on adventures with me! I've always had small mixed breed dogs that weren't built for hiking and rugged exploration. Today I realized that I have the perfect dog to take into the wild. As little as he still is, he did a remarkable job navigating rough terrain. He easily walked across downed trees, scaled boulders, bounded up and down steep gravel inclines, and stayed close the whole time even when off lead. He socialized with other dogs and strangers and entertained the kids the entire day. I'm not sure who had the most fun!

We made it through 2 waterfalls before he and the kids tuckered out. While they played in the water, he passed out in a rock for a while before we headed back to the parking lot. He is completely wiped out but he had the best time!

The Life of Quincy - 12 Weeks

Eleven pounds 4oz was what the scale read at ten weeks of age. He squirmed a little more than at his last checkup, but managed to show off his ability to drag his leash behind him without getting tangled up in it. His boundless energy was hard to keep up with at times. I had yet to find an alternative chew toy to my area rug, and the termite hole that was in my living room wall was slowly getting bigger, although strangely absent of termite activity.

On February 1st Quincy and I were voted in as full members of LaSAR. Finally an official member of the team, I could contribute both my opinion on matters and my skill sets to help where needed. The first item on the agenda was that of the upcoming seminar, Land and Water HRD, that Lisa Higgins (our lead trainer and nationally respected handler) instructed and which was our primary way to earn money for the team’s needs. Attendees were coming from everywhere to get Lisa’s expertise, from as far as Washington State, to Nebraska, and Tennessee. Although Quincy wasn’t old enough to participate, I could bring him and work him on the side whenever I could fit it in. This turned out to be a great opportunity for him to socialize and be exposed to new things.

Not only was I able to absorb a vast amount of information in a short amount of time, that weekend held a bunch of firsts for Quincy too - it was his first time in a boat, his first time to walk across the grated bridge over the lock on Pearl River, and his first rumble on the beach with a pack of search dogs. He took his longest walk as of yet, dashing in and out of the legs of the other dogs that were running free along a trail in the woods. He was in dog heaven. When there was a break in the schedule we worked on his run-aways, progressing him to search without using auditory cues to get him to my location which was by now fully hidden behind a tree. I was pleased in how well he was progressing with his training, and he definitely was a social dog.

Grated bridge over Lock One at Pearl River.
Very unnerving for a lot of dogs, but so far Quincy crosses without difficulty.

Quincy found the sand worthy of digging through to China.

So many things to explore!

Socialization just doesn't seem to be an issue

Messy giving Quincy a digging tutorial

It was interesting watching the other dogs train as I had never seen first-hand how a water search worked. The dogs came to the seminar with a range of experiences but all left with a good foundation in water search. They quickly caught on to locating scent in the open water and with repetition were able to indicate to their handlers when they had come upon the source. After hours of observation it became easier to identify when the dogs were in the scent cone and when the nose suddenly reached down to the water, with the tongue often lapping at the air, it was a sure bet the source was right below the boat. It was truly amazing to see how well these dogs could pick up the scent of decomposition under moving water while riding in a boat. I learned quickly that it was usually not the dogs that were making the mistakes, it was their handlers. I tried to make as many mental notes of what not to do, as I was of what to do.

Lisa working the dogs on the boat on land to firm up their indications before putting them on the water.

The dogs working the scent cone trying to find the source.

It's amazing that the dogs don't (usually) fall in when they hit on the source!

In the week following the seminar my little furball surpassed my five year old dog in height. We also had our first obstacle in his training regime. His training came to an abrupt halt after my husband was hospitalized for 6 days. I tried to keep positive, knowing that we would just have to backtrack a bit when we resumed. I decided that this would be a good opportunity to do more socialization with him. So he socialized at numerous friend's homes, with their dogs, and their kids, for the entire week while I stayed at the hospital. The change in scenery didn't seem to bother him in the least, and luckily when training resumed he fell right back into where he left off after a day of review. He is consistent with his runaways and is starting to put his nose to the ground as they get more challenging for him. I can't wait to add the next challenge - hopefully we will progress again this week!

This is not what I meant by a run-away...

On A Mission.

I slid down the sandy embankment, trying to keep my feet in front of me so I wouldn't tumble headfirst into the stagnant water filled ditch at the base of the landfill. I hesitated for a moment, removing the thorns from my backside before continuing after the handler and her canine into the woods ahead of me. We cautiously inched our way through the perimeter of the woods, the dense trees stabbing upward like bristles on a brush, their branches weaved with tangles of thorny vines and shedded overgrowth. The pace was painfully slow as we moved deeper and deeper into the forest. What was initially solid ground turned quickly into swamp mud, a sandy brown slime that sucked at our feet if we stayed in one place for too long. We trudged along in silence, except for the occasional profanity that would slip out as low hanging thorns from a swamp vine would scratch and cling to our skin, pulling us backwards as if it were trying to prevent us anymore access into its world. Jayda, the german shepherd, had a much easier time navigating the thick woods than her handler or me, the flanker. She would dart ahead, covering her area thoroughly, stopping occasionally to sniff at the waters edge or at the remains of a dead animal, before returning to her handler as if to say "nothing here." It was difficult to keep an eye on the dog and the handler and still navigate the terrain safely. It was constantly in a state of change. The swamp mud led into the end of a creek and the creek turned back into a swamp. Logs that looked solid as we stepped onto them crumbled like cornbread under the weight of our boots. Roots and cypress knees littered the ground, and looking up was a feat in itself.

I traveled light, carrying a bottle of water for the dog and her handler in one inside pocket of my jacket, my phone in the other, and the team's ham radio in my right hand. I was thirsty but was glad I had decided to leave my camelback of water in the vehicle and instead rely on an occasional swig from the water bottle. The heavy pack would have gotten hung up on the low hanging limbs, slowing me down even more.

As we approached a clearing in the woods, the sun tried to find its way through the thick canopy of trees. We stood in silence, listening for the rustling that would let us know where Jayda had run off to. It was a depressing place. Remote and seemingly untouched in some ways, but suddenly areas would appear that showed there had been signs of life at one time. Scattered beer bottles, faded and dark with age, would appear in groupings around trees and old appliances. A white plastic lawn chair found buried in vines upside down at the base of a tree as if abandoned in a hurry and long forgotten. A flip flop, a tire, a rusty tub. We were drawn to an area rug, rolled up tightly, covered with dirt and tucked away in a rotten tree, barely visible to the eye, but seeping with enough scent of old sex that Jayda took interest in it. These woods had stories they wanted to tell. Stories about teenagers stealing alcohol from their parent's liquor cabinets, laughing together, gossiping, and making memories with their friends in the dark of the night. Stories about the meth head that would leave two-liter coke bottles and plastic tubing on the ground when he was done with his shake'n bake labs. There were the handlebars that the swamp had turned into a vase, a modern work of natural art, a rusty dusty blue tube protruding from the muck that now sprouted a tree, giving life to something old and discarded. There were stories here alright, but stories of secret lives, of lives that were mysterious and risky, stories that weren't meant to be told but were rather doomed to be covered up and forgotten. This was not the kind of place I would chose to end my life. I wondered how alone and depressed one must be to chose this as their last vision of life. I would want my last view to be of something beautiful. A lake, a mountain, a sunset. Not a forest dump at the edge of a landfill.

We reconvened with the rest of the search team by mid afternoon at Incident Command, exhausted and frustrated by a second search effort that did not turn up a body for the family to claim. It was not for lack of effort. More sections were cleared, even more were searched again, and the questions still lingered as to where she would have gone to end her life. It was definitely not for lack of effort.  Mud on the legs of the searchers' BDUs, the pruned up feet ~ collateral damage from waterlogged boots ~ walking on the cold asphalt to dry out, and the rats nests of twigs interwoven into disheveled hair told the opposite tale. We wanted a successful outcome too. We wanted to give the family closure.

I got my first taste of a real search, but Quincy had to sit this one out. It would still be awhile before we could go as a pair. In the meantime we would keep to our training plan. We had just been progressed to the next level at our team training the morning before. Now the "runaways" had me partially hidden from him at the end of my run, encouraging him to begin to become in tune with his innate scent ability. It was exciting watching him progress from week to week. He was eager and quick to learn. It would take me hearing the instructions at least three times before I could absorb them, but Quincy was good with a short "Go Find" and he was off.