The logo for Atlas Ecological Detection Dogs, a California-based nonprofit that uses conservation detection dogs to monitor ecological health, protect wildlife, and find biological threats like invasive species.

Our mission: to train and deploy conservation detection dogs to monitor ecological health, protect wildlife, and identify biological threats.

Heidi Bencin and her dog Indie conducting post-construction fatality monitoring at a windfarm in California. Indie is a conservation detection dog trained to find bat and bird carcasses to aid in wildlife conservation.

How Dogs Help Wildlife

Our dogs locate rare and cryptic data that helps biologists, land managers, and private entities make informed decisions that aids in the stewardship of biodiversity and natural resources.

Learn more about how their incredible sense of smell allows dogs to locate wildlife data that traditional survey methods might miss.

Ecologist Heidi Bencin holding her dog Indie on her shoulders, at sunrise with wildflowers and mountains in the background. Indie is a conservation detection dog and helps save wildlife.
Biologist and dog trainer Sara Fangton with her two conservation detection dogs Wren and Emma. They are on a windfarm at golden hour posing for a picture. Wren and Emma are trained to find bird and bat fatalities to aid in conservation efforts.

Our Team

Meet the dedicated people behind our mission

Wren, a conservation detection dog and working border collie, smiling at the camera during a wildlife survey in California. She is owned by biologist Sara Fangton.

Our Dogs

Meet the talented dogs that make our work possible

Our Ethics

Mara, a conservation K9 with Atlas Ecological Detection Dogs, searching for odor. She is running through a field with California wildflowers and rolling hills in the background.

Our work is rooted in a genuine passion for wildlife. Our team approaches every project with respect for the environment, striving to minimize disturbance, protect sensitive species, and promote sustainable resource management.

Respect for Wildlife

Commitment to Canine Welfare

We are deeply committed to the health, safety, and well-being of our working dogs, prioritizing humane training and field practices that put their welfare first. Our dogs are treated as members of our families and reside in our homes — not in kennels.

Trusted Partnerships, Shared Purpose

We treat our partners as an extension of our own team, providing transparent communication and objective recommendations. We strive to foster collaborations that lead to healthier landscapes and more resilient wildlife populations.

Atlas, a working detection dog owned by Ecologist Heidi Bencin, lays in a field of gorgeous wildflowers and yawns while he relaxes. Atlas works for the California nonprofit Atlas Ecological Detection Dogs co-founded by Heidi Bencin and Sara Fangton.

Stay Informed

Keep up to date with our dogs and what they're currently sniffing for.

Interested in working with us?

Get in Touch