Canine Hero Earns Animal of the Year for Tackling Invasive Carpet Sea Squirt

This year's Animal of the Year title went to a four‑legged champion after a working dog assisted in removing a rapidly expanding marine pest called the carpet sea squirt, a creature nicknamed "sea vomit" because of its vivid orange, jelly‑like colonies.

Native to the Pacific coastline of North America, the carpet sea squirt reached European waters hitching rides on ship hulls and aquaculture gear. After taking hold, it spreads over rocks, piers and kelp forests, displacing indigenous species and reshaping ecosystems. Its swift expansion has driven marine biologists to explore novel control strategies.

A specially trained dog steps in, using its acute nose to sniff out concealed mats of the squirt beneath tidal areas. Handlers lead the dog on intertidal patrols, and when it signals a find, divers are sent in to extract the colonies. This method merges conventional marine management with canine detection, delivering a low‑impact, cost‑effective alternative that sidesteps chemical solutions.

Environmental organisations and research institutes have lauded the partnership, observing that the dog's efforts have produced quantifiable declines in squirt presence across multiple at‑risk shorelines. The accolade, bestowed by a national wildlife charity, highlights an expanding appreciation for animals as conservation allies, mirroring other initiatives that utilise birds of prey, pigs and even otters to combat invasive species.

Looking forward, officials note that the canine program's triumph will guide upcoming pilot schemes aimed at other marine invaders like Japanese kelp and the Pacific oyster. By demonstrating the concrete advantages of interdisciplinary collaboration, the celebrated dog not only secured a title but also illuminated a hopeful route for safeguarding delicate coastal habitats.