This week’s “Around the Commercial Drone Industry” news round-up looks at the return of mysterious drone sightings in the northeast, UAVs to control bear populations, and firefighting-related DFR programs in California.

The Return of Mysterious Drone Sightings in the Northeast

In December 2024, the FAA imposed temporary flight restrictions in the northeast in response to a series of unexplained drone sightings. Following the recent lifting of those restrictions, “a strange surge” of new sightings has occurred. Reporting by NBC News states that a “surge” of sightings has taken place in Connecticut and New Jersey this month. Moreover, “Enigma Labs, a research company studying unidentified phenomena,” has “received 49 reports in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania in January. In all, Enigma has recorded 650 sightings across the US since November 2024.

DFR Aids Firefighters in California

The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District has recently added Drones as First Responder (DFR) systems to its emergency response toolbox. Inspired by the  success of the Chula Vista Police Department’s DFR program, San Bernadino fire officials have instituted a program that greatly increases travel time to emergency situations. As explained by the San Bernadino Sun, “When the caller is able to identify a specific vehicle, building or brushy area that is afire, the engines are dispatched along with a drone, which can hit 40 mph. Otherwise, oftentimes, one of four drones goes it alone. A drone’s travel time is measured in seconds, not minutes.” Looking forward, district officials are seeking to add robots to search collapsed buildings and below-ground areas and submersible technology for investigations of rivers and lakes.

Drones to Manage Bear Populations

The research publication Frontiers has posted a piece by Wesley Sarmento, a prairie-based bear manager at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, in which he describes how drone technology has helped efforts to deter bears from interacting with human settlements. In the piece, Sarmento describes his effective “hazing” method:

Equipped with a highly maneuverable, buzzing drone I was scattering bears with accuracy. I could precisely chase bears exactly where I wanted them – all from the safety and comfort of my truck. The unmanned aerial vehicle was exactly the magic tool that I had been needing. Even at night, I could find bears from afar with the thermal camera, and then fly in closer to move them away from towns, homes, and livestock. The drone was such an asset that I couldn’t imagine doing the job without it.