To combat damage and disease related issues to support the African Swine Fever emergency response in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, our program will require mass personnel removal efforts of 10-12 full-time Wildlife Specialists to conduct damage management activities for Feral Swine in remote communities around the islands of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. Damage Management activities include trapping, night operations, aerial surveillance, etc.
A key ingredient identified for operational success is to include the use of motor boat vessels for the team to commute, haul animal trapping supplies, vehicles, trailers, and UTV’s to remote mountainous areas of the islands and onto remote islands. The equipment in question could be utilized on a daily basis; throughout the year. The ideal vessel is a landing craft that has a bow door that can allow equipment to be driven on. The vessel needs to be large enough to offer ocean capabilities for remote island work but also small enough to be placed on a boat trailer during storm season. The vessel requested offers a bow draft and ample engine size to transverse various ocean conditions needed for Caribbean operations.
