ANIMAL RELOCATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

An animal relocation system and method comprising a perimeter net system a trapping net system, and a flushing device, wherein the flushing device channels the animal through the perimeter net system and into the trapping net.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A method of relocating birds within a structure, the method comprising: installing a bird relocation system, the bird relocation system comprising; at least one perimeter net; and wherein the at least one perimeter net is positioned at or near the ceiling of the structure.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one perimeter net is installed such that one side of the at least one perimeter net is substantially in contact with one side of the structure.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one perimeter net is placed within the structure such that the square footage available for the bird to travel within the structure is approximately halved.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one perimeter net is placed at a height above the floor of the structure based on the species of the bird being relocated.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising installing at least one trapping net.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one trapping net is a mist net.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein either or both of the at least one perimeter net and at least one trapping net are attached to at least one telescoping pole.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one telescoping pole comprises a means of attachment to a rafter or beam proximal to the ceiling of the structure.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the means of attachment comprises a hook.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one telescoping pole comprises a first end and second end; a removable connector; a rope and pulley; and a cleat, and wherein the first end comprises a hook.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the bird relocation system comprises at least two perimeter nets.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein the bird relocation system comprises at least two trapping nets.

33. A bird relocation system for relocating a bird in a structure, the system comprising: at least one perimeter net positioned at or near a ceiling of the structure; and at least one flushing device.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one perimeter net is a mist net.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the at least one perimeter net is attached to at least one telescoping pole.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the at least one telescoping pole comprises a means of attachment to a rafter or beam proximal to the ceiling of the structure.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the at least one telescoping pole comprises a first end and second end, a removable connector, a rope and pulley; and a cleat, and wherein the first end comprises a hook.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the bird relocation system comprises at least two perimeter nets.

39. The system of claim 33, further comprising at least two trapping nets.

40. A method of relocating birds within a structure, the method comprising: installing a bird relocation system, the bird relocation system comprising; at least one perimeter net, and at least one flushing device; and flushing the bird toward the at least one perimeter net and into the perimeter net, wherein the at least one perimeter net is positioned at or near a ceiling of the structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the steps of the proposed method.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a layout of an enclosure employing the preferred net setup.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a layout of an enclosure employing an alternative net setup.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the nets used in the system.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a close-up perspective view of the one of the nets used in the system

[0032] FIG. 6 is a front view of the flushing device.

[0033] FIG. 7 is perspective view of a net as used in the system trapping an animal within an enclosure.

[0034] Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0035] A animal relocation system 10 and method is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 1. The relocation system 10 comprises a perimeter net system 12 and a trapping net system 14. Each net system comprises at least one net 16 attached to a telescoping pole 18 ending at a distal end 20 with a hook 22. The hook has a removable connector 24 which connects a rope 26 and pulley 28 forming a rope and pulley system 30 having at least one connector 32 to connect the net 16 to the telescoping pole 18. The rope and pulley system 30 are secured to a support, preferably by a cleat or similar means.

[0036] The method generally comprises first determining the square footage of the enclosure 36 so the proper setup is installed 100, installing the perimeter net system 12 of the animal relocation system 10 based on the layout of the enclosure 36 and the square footage determination 200, installation generally comprising for each net 16 attaching the net 16 to the rope and pulley system 30 using the connectors 32, 210, attaching the hook 22 to a hanging member 40 or portion of ceiling 42, 220, and then lifting the net 16 into position 230, using a flushing device 46 to drive the animal 60 toward a net 16, 300, trapping the animal 60 within a net 16, 400, and then releasing the animal 60 to safety 500. The hanging member 40 can be a rafter, beam, truss, or other similar support.

[0037] As seen in FIG. 2, an enclosure 36 over 75,000 square feet can use the setup disclosed. Preferably, the perimeter net system 12 is set up around the perimeter of the enclosure 36. The trapping net system 14 on the interior of the enclosure 36 so as to reduce the space the animal 60 can traverse while the capture attempt is occurring. This preferred setup is also known as the “2:3:5” system because of how the perimeter net system 12 and trapping net system 14 are setup. The setup is named “2:3:5” because it preferably uses two nets for the perimeter net system 12 and three nets for the trapping net system 14 for a total of five nets. By placing the perimeter net system 12 along the outer perimeter of the enclosure 36, the escape routes for the animal 60 are reduced and the animal 60 can be funneled into the trapping net system 14. The arrangement of the trapping net system 14 is customizable and modular for enclosures 36 of differing layouts.

[0038] As seen in FIG. 3, an alternative setup can be used for an enclosure 36 less than 75,000 square feet. The perimeter net system 12 is again set up on the perimeter of the enclosure 36 and the trapping net system 14 is set up on one side of the enclosure 36 to again reduce the space the animal 60 can traverse while the capture attempt is occurring. This alternative setup is also known as the “1:1:3” system because of how the perimeter net system 12 and the trapping net system 14 are setup. More specifically, the “1:1:3” system has two nets 16 on the outer perimeter of the enclosure 36, with one net 16 on opposite sides of the enclosure 36, and one net 16 for the trapping net system 14 placed based on the layout of the enclosure 36 so as to efficiently capture the animal 60.

[0039] FIGS. 4 and 5 show one net 16, telescoping pole 18 and rope and pulley system 30 from either the perimeter net system 12 or the trapping net system 14 in more detail. The removable connector 24 and connectors 32 are preferably carabiners but may be any type of connection that allows for the easy removal and installation of the net 16. The net 16 has at least one fastener 38 to connect the net 16 to the rope 26 of the rope and pulley system 30. Preferably, the net 16 can be hung from a hanging member 40 or other portion of a ceiling 42 of the enclosure 36 sufficient to catch the hook 22. In the preferred embodiment, the net 16 can hang over a shelving unit 44 so that customers can still approach any goods stored thereon.

[0040] FIG. 6 shows the flushing device 46. The flushing device comprises a telescoping arm 48 having a proximal end 50 and distal end 52. The proximal end 50 has a handle 54 and the distal end 52 has a flusher 56. The flusher 56 can be any object that, when shaken or moved, creates noise, movement, or both. The noise and/or movement can drive the animal 60 from a hiding spot into one of the nets 16. For example, a plastic bag, when attached to the flushing device 46 and shaken, can drive a bird from its roost into the open. It is preferred that the handler using the flushing device 46 keep the flushing device 46 at a 40 degree angle. This particular angle was chosen because it keeps the flushing device 46 in the animal's 60 line of sight while also remaining out of the way of the capture attempt.

[0041] FIG. 7 shows the result of the disclosed system 10 and method. The animal 60 is driven into the net 16 by a handler using the flushing device 46. Once in the net 16, the animal 60 will become entrapped and unable to move. The net 16 does not harm the animal 60. Once entrapped in the net 16, a handler can remove the animal 60 from the enclosure 36 into a safe habitat or, if the animal 60 is endangered, into the federally mandated location. The perimeter net system 12 and trapping net system 14 can then be uninstalled.

[0042] The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0043] Now that the invention has been described,