A very good girl on a mission
Meet Sgiath (pronounced Skee-ah), a black labrador from the Scottish Highlands who is officially the main character of marine conservation right now. She’s just been named Animal of the Year by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) for her incredible work hunting down an invasive creature called the carpet sea squirt—or as the internet has affectionately dubbed it, "sea vomit."
Why it’s a problem
Don’t let the nickname fool you; this stuff is actually serious. The carpet sea squirt (Didemnum vexillum) is a non-native species that likely hitched a ride from Japan. Since arriving in the UK back in 2008, it’s been spreading like crazy. It reproduces fast, especially in warmer water, and it’s basically a bully to native wildlife. It smothers everything in its path and clogs up things like boat propellers and oyster cages, costing millions in damages across Europe.
How she does it
Sgiath’s owner, marine ecologist Dr. Texa Sim, realized the dog’s mountain rescue training—which is already impressive—could be adapted for the beach. Sgiath is the first dog in the UK trained to sniff out these squirts, which are notoriously hard for humans to spot because they look like slimy patches of seaweed.
Instead of her usual "bark and bounce" move she uses to find missing hikers, Dr. Sim trained Sgiath to use a "passive indication"—basically a freeze-stare—when she pinpoints a colony at low tide. It’s honestly giving genius-level performance. Marine biologists say this could be a total game-changer for spotting invasions early before they get out of hand.
Why it matters
This is a huge W for nature tech. Scientists are starting to realize that our pets have scent detection skills that can track environmental threats we might otherwise miss. Sgiath will be officially honored at the IFAW’s 26th annual Animal Action Awards on October 15. Real talk: she deserves all the treats.
