Collaborating on Ontario's first Conservation Detection Dog Program for invasive species in nature

In June 2026, Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) announced the launch of Ontario's first Conservation Detection Dog Program focused on the early detection of invasive species in vulnerable areas. The Credit Valley Conservation Foundation (CVCF), donors and partners are playing a key role in advancing innovative conservation solutions that strengthen our collective ability to respond to emerging environmental threats, protect local ecosystems and build a healthier, more resilient Credit River Watershed.

This innovative program was developed in collaboration with experts from the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the Plant Health Surveillance Unit (PHSU) at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). By bringing together trusted organizations with complementary expertise, this collaboration showcases the power of regional partnerships to drive innovation and strengthen the protection of Canada's plant health and natural resources.

A collaborative approach to early detection

CVC is a community-based organization that works to protect, restore and manage the natural resources across the Credit River Watershed in southern Ontario.

In fall 2024, CVC approached the CFIA for support in developing an invasive species detection dog program. Recognizing the program's potential to strengthen early detection and surveillance capabilities, the CFIA welcomed the opportunity to partner with CVC and lent their strategic insights and expertise in invasive species management to the program's development. Working closely with CVC and CFS at NRCan, the CFIA helped identify high-priority invasive species that would be most beneficial to familiarize a detection dog with, ensuring the dog's training and field work supported practical detection and monitoring efforts.

In collaboration with CFS at NRCan, the CFIA supported the collection of samples from target species to build the odour profiles used to train the conservation detection dog.The CFIA's role in the early stages of program development helped to build a strong foundation for accurate and reliable invasive species detection. The CFIA continues to support the program through advice, resources, and ongoing collaboration as training and field work progress.

Meet Tilly: A canine expert in invasive species detection

While experts from CVC, CFS at NRCan, and the CFIA continue to work behind the scenes, the star of the program is Tilly: a two-year-old Labrador Retriever trained to locate invasive species using her highly developed sense of smell.

Tilly began her training when she was only a few months old. Using the target odours provided by the CFIA and the CFS, professional trainers introduced Tilly to the scents of target invasive species and rewarded her for recognizing and correctly signaling for them, helping her learn to identify different odours reliably. Today, Tilly is trained to detect four invasive species:

• hemlock woolly adelgid – an invasive insect that attacks and kills eastern hemlock trees.
• red swamp and white river crayfish – two aggressive aquatic species that can displace native wildlife and alter aquatic habitats.
• spotted lanternfly – a destructive sap-feeding insect that feeds on a wide range of trees and plants.

Tilly is trained to detect these species at target life stages, particularly the egg stage for the two insects, which can be incredibly difficult for humans to detect due to their small size and lack of perceivable odour (at least, to humans!).

Tilly's skills are being put to the test as she and her handler visit priority sites across the CVC's watershed, including in the City of Mississauga, where an infestation of red swamp crayfish was discovered in 2025. As part of her ongoing training, she will also make trips to Hamilton and Burlington where hemlock woolly adelgid is already established.

Spotted lanternfly was first detected in Canada in 2026. While not yet established, it poses an imminent threat to a wide range of plants and trees across Canada. Early detection is the most effective way to limit the impact and spread of spotted lanternfly and Tilly's skills and ongoing training will help increase this possibility.

Strengthening plant health across Canada

The CFIA looks forward to continuing this collaboration by identifying high risk areas that may benefit from Tilly's detection work and engaging in collaborative studies in these areas. Recently, the PHSU has been working with Tilly to fine tune surveillance strategies for spotted lanternfly and are exploring expanding her scent profile to include multiple life stages. This will provide additional opportunities for the honing and maintenance of Tilly's scent training.

Invasive species pose one of the greatest threats to local ecosystems and economies. They can spread quickly and quietly and once established, can be costly and difficult or even impossible to eliminate. The earlier an invasive species is detected, the greater the potential to limit its spread and reduce its impact. Supporting innovative strategies to improve early detection of invasive plant pests is a priority for the PHSU and they will continue to assess novel detection tools, such as conservation detection dogs to optimize our programs.

The Conservation Detection Dog Program demonstrates how innovative approaches and strong partnerships can expand surveillance efforts, encourage public awareness and strengthen Canada's ability to respond to plant health risks. The program and partnership will continue to contribute to local and national scientific efforts in invasive species monitoring and management, improving early detection strategies for a better future across the Credit River Watershed, Ontario and all of Canada.

More information

• Credit Valley Conservation Launches Innovative Conservation Detection Dog Program to Improve Early Detection of Invasive Species
• Stop the spread and help keep invasive species out of Canada
• Awareness resources for invasive species
• Learn how to identify invasive species and how you can support early detection efforts