When can a drone be useful?
- Area larger than a few hectares or hard to cover on foot.
- Forest, tall grass, meadows, homesteads – limited visibility.
- Several hours have passed – direction unknown.
- Night or dusk – hard to walk safely.
- Need GPS coordinates for further ground search.
When is it better to search on foot?
- First hours near the last seen location.
- Small yard or neighbourhood – you can cover systematically.
- Animal may be under a bush or in a basement – foot checks needed there.
- Hot day – thermal contrast is reduced, but foot search is still worth it.
Practical tip: Before flight we always assess whether aerial search truly makes sense right now.
Drone and ground search – not opponents
Ideal scenario: first hours – quiet walk-through near the spot; when the area grows or ground visibility is limited – thermal aerial scan and coordinates for volunteers on the ground.
How to call for help?
Call directly – briefly describe the situation, last location, time, and approximate area. Prepare a photo and, if you have it, GPS coordinates.