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Methodology & Compliance

Deployment protocols, regulatory alignment, and quality assurance standards for corridor-scale wildlife deterrent application

Document Type
Technical Methodology
Intended Audience
Procurement & Technical Reviewers
Revision Date
January 2025

1. Methodology Overview

Purpose & Philosophy

Wildlife Shield™ Systems is designed as a corridor-level risk-reduction system, not a one-off spray application or experimental trial. The methodology prioritizes repeatability, auditability, and integration with existing highway maintenance frameworks.

Operational Focus

High-Risk, Unfenced Corridors

Wildlife Shield™ targets corridors where collision risk is documented and persistent, typically involving unfenced or partially fenced highway segments with recurring wildlife-vehicle collision (WVC) events. Application is prioritized based on historical collision data and habitat characteristics.

Non-Lethal Sensory Deterrence

The formulation is applied to roadside forage zones, not travel lanes or wildlife habitat. The objective is to reduce the attractiveness of right-of-way vegetation to herbivorous wildlife, thereby reducing feeding behavior near collision exposure zones. This is a behavioral modification approach, not wildlife population control.

Collision Exposure Reduction, Not Wildlife Reduction

Wildlife Shield™ does not aim to reduce wildlife populations or displace animals from their natural habitat. The intent is to modify feeding patterns in the immediate roadside zone, reducing the time wildlife spend in high-collision-risk areas during peak traffic periods.

Repeatable, Auditable Service Delivery

All deployment activities follow standardized operating procedures (SOPs) designed for public-sector accountability. Application routes are GPS-logged, equipment is calibrated to documented standards, and corridor-level reporting is generated for each deployment cycle.

Designed for Public-Sector Standards

Wildlife Shield™ is structured to operate within existing highway maintenance contracts, procurement frameworks, and regulatory oversight structures. The system is designed for deployment, evaluation, renewal, and scaling—not as a pilot experiment, but as an operational corridor safety service.

2. Regulatory Alignment

Federal Context: PMRA Oversight

Wildlife Shield Systems operates under the regulatory framework established by Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), as governed by the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA). All formulation development, application protocols, and claims are designed to align with PMRA classification requirements.

Preferred Pathway

Reduced-risk / non-conventional classification, emphasizing biodegradable formulation, lower environmental exposure profile, and limited persistence design.

Contingency Planning

Full-registration pathway acknowledged and planned for, with phased data generation to support classification determination as regulatory process progresses.

Research Authorizations & Pilot Approvals

Where applicable, Wildlife Shield™ may operate under research authorization frameworks or pilot-specific approvals that permit field evaluation prior to full commercial registration. This approach allows:

  • Real-world data generation under controlled, documented conditions
  • Corridor-scale validation of application protocols and monitoring methods
  • Evidence-building for regulatory submission and classification determination

Alberta-Specific Considerations

Application Near Water

Wildlife Shield™ deployment protocols incorporate mandatory buffer zones consistent with Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA) near-water application requirements. Water bodies, wetlands, and riparian zones are mapped prior to deployment, and GPS application logs document buffer zone compliance.

Buffer Zones & Exclusion Areas

Pre-deployment site assessments identify exclusion zones including ecologically sensitive areas, non-target habitat, and areas where application would not align with corridor safety objectives. These exclusions are documented in corridor-specific deployment plans.

Environmental Code of Practice Alignment

Application timing, weather restrictions, and environmental safeguards are designed to align with applicable provincial environmental codes of practice. Weather monitoring (wind speed, precipitation forecasts) is documented as part of pre-application protocols.

Coordination with Existing Maintenance Contractors

Wildlife Shield™ deployment is designed to integrate with existing highway maintenance schedules and contractor workflows. Application timing can be coordinated with seasonal maintenance activities to minimize corridor disruption and leverage established traffic control protocols.

Regulatory Compliance as a Design Constraint

Wildlife Shield Systems treats regulatory compliance not as a post-deployment consideration, but as a foundational design constraint integrated into formulation development, application methodology, and monitoring protocols.

No commercial claims exceed available data. All corridor-level performance statements are supported by documented application records, baseline assessments where feasible, and transparent reporting of methodology limitations.

3. Deployment Methodology

How Application Is Executed

Wildlife Shield™ deployment follows standardized operational protocols designed for repeatability, safety, and integration with existing highway maintenance practices.

Corridor Selection & Prioritization

Corridors are selected based on documented collision history and habitat characteristics that contribute to persistent wildlife-vehicle collision risk:

Primary Criteria
  • Recurring collision clusters (5+ WVCs per km per year)
  • Unfenced or partially fenced segments
  • Adjacent to known wildlife movement corridors
Supporting Factors
  • High-palatability forage species in right-of-way
  • Seasonal collision patterns aligned with forage growth
  • Ministry or insurer interest in pilot evaluation

Pre-Deployment Mapping & Site Constraints

Prior to application, corridors undergo site-specific assessment to identify constraints and establish deployment parameters:

GIS Mapping & Buffer Identification

Water bodies, wetlands, and ecologically sensitive areas are mapped using GIS tools. Mandatory buffer zones are established and documented in corridor deployment plans. GPS application routes are pre-validated to ensure exclusion zone compliance.

Vegetation Assessment

Right-of-way vegetation is assessed to identify target forage species and application timing windows. Application is prioritized during peak forage growth periods when wildlife attraction to roadside zones is highest.

Access & Traffic Control Coordination

Application routes are coordinated with highway maintenance contractors and traffic control requirements. Where necessary, deployment aligns with existing maintenance schedules to leverage established safety protocols.

Equipment & Application Standards

Wildlife Shield™ utilizes standardized, commercially available equipment commonly used in highway maintenance and agricultural applications:

Utility Vehicles

Off-the-shelf utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) such as Can-Am Defender HD series, selected for:

  • Reliability in highway right-of-way terrain
  • Low ground pressure to minimize vegetation damage
  • Compatibility with trailed boom sprayer systems
Boom Sprayers

Trailed boom sprayer systems calibrated for roadside vegetation application:

  • GPS guidance integration for precise application
  • Adjustable boom widths to match right-of-way geometry
  • Calibration records maintained per deployment cycle

Application to Roadside Vegetation

Target Zone: Right-of-Way Vegetation Only

Application is restricted to roadside vegetation within highway right-of-way boundaries. No application occurs in travel lanes, on pavement surfaces, or in wildlife habitat beyond the immediate corridor edge. The objective is forage deterrence in the high-collision-risk zone, not habitat-wide application.

GPS-Logged Application Routes

All application passes are GPS-logged in real time. Application routes, timestamps, and coverage areas are recorded and archived. This creates an auditable record suitable for corridor reporting, regulatory review, and renewal justification.

Safety Protocol Alignment

Deployment personnel follow highway work zone safety protocols consistent with provincial transportation standards. High-visibility apparel, traffic control signage, and communication with highway maintenance coordinators are standard practice.

Wildlife Shield™ as Deploying Contractor

Wildlife Shield Systems acts as the deploying contractor, responsible for:

  • Equipment calibration and maintenance
  • Personnel training and safety briefings
  • Application execution and GPS logging
  • Post-deployment documentation and corridor reporting

No experimental equipment is used. All deployment tools and methods are standard to highway maintenance and agricultural spraying industries, adapted for corridor-scale wildlife deterrent application.

4. Monitoring, Measurement & Auditability

Wildlife Shield™ monitoring protocols are designed to track corridor-level trends without overstating outcomes. The focus is on defensible data generation suitable for renewal decisions, grant applications, and insurer review.

Baseline Conditions Establishment

Where feasible, baseline collision data and wildlife activity patterns are documented prior to initial deployment:

Collision History

Historical WVC data obtained from provincial transportation databases, insurance claim records, or ministry collision reporting systems. Multi-year trends identified where data permits.

Seasonal Patterns

Month-by-month collision frequency analyzed to identify high-risk periods aligned with forage growth cycles, migration timing, or breeding seasons.

Limitation Acknowledgment: Baseline data availability varies by corridor. Where comprehensive pre-deployment data is unavailable, Wildlife Shield™ documents this limitation in corridor reports and focuses on post-deployment trend monitoring.

Use of Proxy Indicators

Wildlife Shield™ monitoring incorporates proxy indicators that provide supporting evidence for behavioral modification without requiring comprehensive wildlife population surveys:

Wildlife Presence Near Roadways

Trail camera deployments (where applicable) document wildlife activity levels near treated vs. untreated corridor segments. Frequency of roadside appearances during high-traffic periods provides indirect evidence of forage deterrence effectiveness.

Forage Utilization Patterns

Visual assessment of grazing evidence (browsing marks, trampling) in treated zones compared to control segments. Reduction in feeding activity suggests behavioral modification consistent with deterrence objectives.

Optional Trail Camera Deployment

Where resources permit and corridor conditions allow, motion-activated trail cameras may be deployed to document wildlife activity patterns:

Placement: Cameras positioned at representative locations within treated and control segments
Data Capture: Time-stamped images documenting species, frequency, and duration of roadside presence
Analysis: Comparative trends analyzed for changes in roadside activity patterns following treatment

Note: Trail camera deployment is supplemental, not mandatory. Corridor performance assessment primarily relies on collision trend data and operational documentation.

Carcass Data Integration

Where available, Wildlife Shield™ integrates roadside carcass removal data maintained by highway maintenance contractors or provincial wildlife agencies:

Carcass removal records provide an independent data source for collision frequency trends. When aligned with GPS-logged application zones, this data supports corridor-level performance evaluation without reliance solely on insurance claim databases.

Data access depends on ministry or contractor data-sharing arrangements and may not be available for all corridors.

Repeatable Reporting Templates

Corridor-level performance summaries follow standardized reporting formats designed for procurement and renewal review:

Deployment Summary

Application dates, coverage area, GPS logs, weather conditions, exclusion zone compliance

Collision Trend Analysis

Pre- vs. post-deployment collision frequency (where baseline data available), seasonal comparisons, multi-year trends

Monitoring Observations

Trail camera data summaries (if applicable), forage utilization assessments, operational notes

Limitations & Constraints

Data gaps, confounding factors, methodology constraints—transparently documented

Data Ownership & Confidentiality

Application records, GPS logs, and corridor monitoring data are retained by Wildlife Shield Systems. Corridor-level performance summaries are provided to contracting authorities for renewal and reporting purposes.

Focus on Trends, Not Guarantees: Reporting emphasizes observable trends and comparative data. No absolute outcome guarantees are made. Performance variability across corridors is acknowledged and documented.

5. Environmental Safeguards & Risk Controls

Wildlife Shield™ formulation and application protocols incorporate multiple layers of environmental risk mitigation, designed to minimize ecological exposure while achieving corridor safety objectives.

Non-Lethal, Biodegradable Formulation Intent

The Wildlife Shield™ formulation is designed as a non-lethal sensory deterrent, not a toxicant. The active ingredient and carrier system are selected for:

Biodegradability

Formulation components are designed to degrade naturally under environmental conditions, avoiding long-term accumulation in soil or water.

Controlled Persistence

Target persistence range: days to weeks, not months. This allows seasonal re-application while avoiding prolonged environmental exposure.

Non-Target Safety Profile

Formulation testing includes assessment of effects on non-target species, vegetation health, and aquatic organisms where exposure pathways exist.

Rainfastness Engineering

Adhesion and rain tolerance are engineered to maintain efficacy under highway weather conditions while minimizing runoff.

Runoff Minimization

Application protocols are designed to reduce runoff potential through multiple controls:

Weather Restrictions: No application during active precipitation or when heavy rain is forecast within 24 hours
Wind Speed Limits: Application suspended when wind speeds exceed thresholds that risk drift beyond target zones
Adhesion Testing: Formulation undergoes rainfastness testing to confirm vegetation adherence under simulated rain events

Buffer Zones & Exclusion Mapping

Pre-deployment mapping identifies exclusion zones where application does not occur:

Water Bodies & Wetlands

Mandatory buffer zones established consistent with Alberta near-water application requirements. Water features mapped and GPS exclusion zones programmed into application equipment.

Ecologically Sensitive Areas

Rare plant communities, nesting bird habitat, or designated conservation areas identified and excluded from treatment zones where present in corridor proximity.

Agricultural Land

Where highway right-of-way borders agricultural operations, buffer zones prevent application drift onto crop or pasture areas.

Environmental Monitoring (Where Required)

If pilot agreements or regulatory approvals require environmental monitoring, Wildlife Shield™ incorporates:

Vegetation Health Assessments

Monitoring of treated vegetation for phytotoxic effects or unintended damage beyond deterrence objectives

Water Quality Sampling

If required, sampling protocols for nearby water bodies to confirm no detectable formulation presence above background

Wildlife Health Observations

Passive monitoring for signs of wildlife health impacts; no lethal effects are expected or have been observed in testing

Non-Target Species Documentation

Observation of pollinator activity, bird presence, and other non-target species in treated zones

Designed to Minimize Ecological Risk

Wildlife Shield™ environmental safeguards are designed to withstand public scrutiny and regulatory review. All protocols are transparent, documented, and aligned with precautionary principles applied to roadside vegetation management.

Defensibility Under Review: Environmental risk controls are not marketing claims—they are operational requirements documented in SOPs, training materials, and corridor deployment plans.

6. SOP-Driven Execution & Quality Assurance

All Wildlife Shield™ deployment activities are governed by formal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that ensure repeatability, safety, and quality control across corridor applications.

Pre-Deployment Checks

Before any corridor deployment, the following checks are completed and documented:

1
Site Assessment Review

GIS maps verified, buffer zones confirmed, exclusion areas documented

2
Weather Forecast Check

Precipitation, wind speed, and temperature reviewed against application thresholds

3
Equipment Calibration

Boom sprayer calibration verified, GPS logging confirmed operational, vehicle systems checked

4
Traffic Control Coordination

Highway maintenance coordinators notified, traffic control requirements confirmed

5
Formulation Preparation

Batch records reviewed, dilution ratios verified, tank mixing protocols followed

Equipment Calibration Standards

Application equipment is calibrated to documented standards prior to each deployment cycle:

Nozzle Flow Rate

Flow rates measured and adjusted to achieve target application volume per hectare

Boom Height & Width

Boom positioning verified to match right-of-way vegetation height and target coverage area

GPS Accuracy

GPS logging system confirmed accurate within ±3 meters for application route documentation

Calibration Records

All calibration activities logged with date, equipment ID, and technician signature

Application Protocols

During deployment, standardized protocols govern all field activities:

GPS-Guided Application Routes

Operators follow pre-programmed GPS routes that avoid exclusion zones and maintain consistent coverage. Real-time position tracking prevents overlap or missed segments.

Speed & Application Rate Control

Vehicle speed maintained within specified range to achieve target application rate. Electronic flow controllers adjust spray volume in real time.

Field Observation Logs

Operators record vegetation conditions, weather changes, equipment performance, and any deviations from planned routes during application.

Safety Briefings & Training

All deployment personnel complete standardized safety training and pre-deployment briefings:

Highway Work Zone Safety: High-visibility apparel, traffic awareness, vehicle positioning protocols
Formulation Handling: Personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, spill response, safe storage
Equipment Operation: UTV safe operation, boom sprayer controls, GPS system use, calibration procedures
Emergency Response: Communication protocols, equipment failure procedures, weather-related suspension criteria

Post-Application Documentation

Following deployment, standardized documentation is completed and archived:

GPS Application Logs: Exported and archived with corridor identification
Weather Records: Temperature, wind, precipitation conditions logged
Application Summary: Coverage area, formulation volume used, equipment performance notes
Deviation Reports: Any deviations from planned routes or protocols documented with justification
QA Sign-Off: Deployment supervisor reviews and approves documentation package

SOP Version Control & Auditability

All SOPs are version-controlled, dated, and maintained in a centralized document management system. Changes are tracked, approved, and communicated to deployment personnel through formal training updates.

Procurement Confidence: Standardized, auditable execution supports multi-year contract renewals and regulatory confidence. SOPs are available for review by contracting authorities and regulatory agencies upon request.

7. Why This Methodology Is Procurement-Ready

Wildlife Shield™ Systems is designed to integrate within existing highway safety and maintenance frameworks, providing immediate corridor-level risk reduction without the lead times, capital investment, or environmental review timelines associated with permanent infrastructure.

Fits Inside Existing Highway Maintenance Frameworks

Wildlife Shield™ does not require new procurement categories, specialized contractor credentials, or infrastructure planning cycles. Deployment can be integrated with existing roadside maintenance schedules, leveraging established traffic control protocols, contractor coordination processes, and seasonal work windows already in place.

Avoids Long Lead Times of Infrastructure Builds

Wildlife fencing and crossing structures can require 3–7 years from planning to completion, involving environmental assessments, permitting, design, tendering, and construction. Wildlife Shield™ can be deployed within weeks to months of contract award, providing immediate risk reduction while long-term infrastructure planning proceeds.

Provides Measurable, Auditable Outputs

Every deployment generates GPS-logged application records, corridor-level reporting, and documented compliance with environmental and safety protocols. These outputs support:

  • Contract renewal justification based on documented performance trends
  • Grant applications requiring evidence-based risk reduction strategies
  • Insurer review of collision reduction initiatives
  • Legislative or public accountability reporting

Supports Interim & Hotspot Mitigation Strategies

Wildlife Shield™ is particularly suited for:

Hotspot Corridors: High-collision zones requiring immediate intervention while infrastructure planning proceeds
Unfenced Segments: Corridors unlikely to receive fencing within 5–10 years due to budget or environmental constraints
Seasonal Peaks: Corridors with collision spikes during forage growth or migration periods
Budget-Constrained Networks: Systems where capital for fencing is unavailable but operational budgets can support service-based solutions

Complements—Not Replaces—Fencing & Crossings

Wildlife Shield™ is not positioned as a substitute for wildlife fencing or crossing structures where those solutions are feasible and funded. Instead, it serves as a complementary layer in a multi-tool corridor safety strategy:

  • Provides risk reduction in corridors where fencing is not planned or not yet constructed
  • Can be deployed adjacent to fenced segments to protect end-zones or unfenced connector routes
  • Offers a service-based alternative where capital infrastructure is cost-prohibitive or environmentally constrained

Conservative, Deployable, Evidence-Based

Wildlife Shield™ methodology is designed for repeatability and scalability, not experimental validation. The system is ready for deployment within existing highway maintenance contracts, procurement frameworks, and regulatory structures.

Deployable within a single season. Corridors can be treated, monitored, and evaluated within a 12-month cycle, providing data for renewal decisions without multi-year waiting periods.

Designed for renewal and expansion based on evidence. Performance data from initial corridors informs deployment optimization, renewal justification, and network-wide scaling strategies.

Technical Resources & Consultation

For procurement reviewers, technical authorities, and infrastructure planners evaluating corridor-level wildlife risk reduction strategies

Request Pilot Methodology

Detailed deployment protocols, monitoring frameworks, and corridor assessment criteria

Request Documentation

Download Corridor Reporting Framework

Sample reporting templates, data structures, and performance metric definitions

Request Sample Reports

Discuss Regulatory Alignment

PMRA pathway, provincial compliance considerations, and environmental review protocols

Schedule Consultation

For technical inquiries, SOP review requests, or corridor-specific deployment assessments, contact Wildlife Shield Systems directly:

[email protected]
Medicine Hat, Alberta

This methodology documentation is subject to periodic revision as operational experience and regulatory requirements evolve. Current revision: January 2025.