Photos courtesy of Hayden Vanburen
By Matt de Simone
When a family pet disappears into the woods, every hour matters. For Botetourt County resident Hayden Vanburen, those anxious calls have become a regular part of life.
Vanburen, owner and operator of BackRidge Drone Services, has built a growing business around an emerging technology that is helping reunite families with missing pets, recover wounded deer for hunters, and locate livestock across Southwest Virginia and beyond.
What began as an interest in hunting has quickly evolved into a full-time pursuit of search and recovery.
“I actually had a cousin in Ohio that got me interested in it because he was looking for deer for people using a drone,” Vanburen recalled. “That caught my attention because I love to hunt.”
After purchasing his first drone in September 2025, Van Buren began conducting deer recoveries during hunting season. Pet recovery, however, was not originally part of his business plan.
“During hunting season, I didn’t get any pet calls,” he said. “I was thinking that pets wouldn’t be a hit for my business. Then I did my first pet call in West Virginia, and it just exploded.”
Today, Vannuren receives calls from throughout Virginia, West Virginia, and even Tennessee. While deer recovery remains an important part of his work, missing pet searches have become one of the fastest-growing aspects of the business.
The key to those searches is thermal imaging technology.
Unlike traditional cameras, thermal-equipped drones detect heat signatures, allowing Vanburen to locate animals hidden in dense vegetation, wooded areas, and rough terrain. Under favorable conditions, he estimates he can scan roughly 1,000 acres during a search.
“The thermal sees heat,” Vanburen explained. “A regular camera can’t see through woods and brush, but thermal allows you to.”
Most searches take place after sunset, when cooler temperatures improve the effectiveness of thermal imaging.
“I usually wait until the evening to do my searches,” he said. “The sun affects my thermals.”
When the phone rings, Vanburen said the callers are often emotional and overwhelmed.
“They’re usually stressed. They’re sad,” he noted. “I always tell them to calm down. It’s going to be all right.”
Before heading out, he gathers basic information, including the animal’s age, breed, location, and any recent sightings. Those details help him map potential search areas before launching the drone.
Vanburen said one of the most common mistakes owners make is chasing a frightened animal after spotting it.
“Even though they absolutely love you, they go into that flight mode,” he said. “That’s what causes those dogs to take off running.”
While many searches end successfully, Vanburen is careful not to promise results. Dense neighborhoods, structures, and vast search areas can make recoveries difficult.
“Dogs can run,” he explained. “If they run outside the amount of area I can search, we’ll need to work off a sighting.”
One recovery in Covington stands out above all others.
Vanburen was called to search for an older dog that had been missing for approximately a day and a half. Within minutes of arriving, he located the animal stranded on a cliff overlooking the Jackson River.
“If it wasn’t for me getting out there in time, it would have fell off,” he added. “It probably would have died.”
The rescue reinforced why he continues the work.
“That is the best part,” Vanburen said of seeing owners reunited with their pets. “That’s my favorite.”
While BackRidge Drone Services focuses primarily on animal recovery, Vanburen believes the same technology has broader applications. The Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office agrees.
According to the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), drones are already used in search-and-rescue missions, tactical operations, and efforts to locate individuals who have fled on foot.
Officials said unmanned aircraft systems provide a safe and efficient way to gather real-time information, particularly in a county characterized by mountainous terrain, rural communities, and large wooded areas.
BCSO described drones as a “force multiplier” that enhances traditional public safety operations, helping responders locate missing individuals, assess hazards, and improve decision-making while reducing risks to personnel.
The Sheriff’s Office’s assessment mirrors that of Botetourt County Emergency Manager Daniel Murray, who explained in a recent interview that drones have become an increasingly valuable tool during emergency responses and large-scale searches.
Murray said the technology allows responders to quickly gather aerial information and cover large areas, though dense woods and rugged terrain still require traditional search teams on the ground.
For Vanburen, the value of the technology is already clear.
“I’ve saved dogs’ lives using this drone,” he said. “It’s a lifesaver at times.”
Although his business continues to grow, Vanburen said he plans to remain focused on the same mission that first inspired him: helping people recover what they thought might be lost forever.
“I’ll be doing the same thing,” he noted. “Deer recoveries, pet recoveries, and growing the business.”
For residents facing a missing pet, injured deer, or lost livestock, that growth could mean one more tool available when time is running out.
For more information, please visit BackRidge Drone Services on Facebook.
