U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Resource: Canine Search and Rescue Team – Wilderness Air Scent
Category: Search and Rescue (ESF #9)
Kind: Team
Minimum Capabilities (Component) Minimum Capabilities
(Metric)		 Type I Type II Type III Type IV Other

Single Resource

 Search Capabilities

Capable of search and self-sustaining for
72 hours in all weather and low angle wilderness terrain or larger areas of 60+ acres

Capable of searching and self-sustaining for 48 hours in all weather and low angle wilderness terrain or larger areas of 60+ acres expressmedscanada.com

Capable of searching high probability local wilderness terrain for short durations
(24 hours or less) or small areas 40-60 acres

Capable of searching high probability local wilderness terrain for short durations
(12 hours or less) or small areas 40-60 acres

 Human discriminating (scent source necessary)
Single Resource Search Capabilities

Capable of searching and self-sustaining for 72 hours in all weather and low angle wilderness terrain or larger areas of 120+ acres

Capable of searching and self-sustaining for 48 hours in all weather and low angle wilderness terrain or larger areas of 120+ acres

Capable of searching high probability local wilderness terrain for short durations
(24 hours or less) or small areas of 60-120 acres

Capable of searching high probability local wilderness terrain for short durations
(12 hours or less) or small areas of 40-60 acres

 Nondiscriminating (locate all human indication in area)

Comments:

There are significant differences in the training required for urban versus wilderness environments, both in air scent/area and trailing/tracking. Because of the vast differences, often a resource highly skilled in one environment may not function as well in the other environment because of a lack of continuous training in the environment. Teams may be cross-trained in both environments, depending on the team training criteria.

Note:  Many of these resources are capable of searching in a disaster environment, such as a wilderness team in outlying areas of a tornado zone, etc. It is critical that canine management personnel, knowledgeable in multiuse of canine resources, are available to Incident Command. This will not necessarily be reflected in this document.


National Mutual Aid & Resource Management Initiative
Search and Rescue