ORANGE, Calif. — Orange County’s Agricultural Commissioner office has added a four-legged employee to its team. “Bear” will be part of the county’s first canine team to help sniff or inspect incoming plant, produce and cut flower shipments.

According to officials, Bear, the 2-year-old chocolate labrador, has the ability to inspect 9,000 packages per day versus 40,000 per year by his human counterparts or inspectors.

The program helps inspect and intercept harmful plant pests coming from areas outside of the county. If undetected, some plant pests could be detrimental to the county’s agricultural industry and economy.

For example, the oriental fruit fly caused a 100-square-mile quarantine in Orange County in 2022. The quarantine has recently been lifted. Agriculture continues to be a leading industry in Orange County, which, on average, has a production value of approximately $80 million.

Orange County is one of eleven counties in the state to receive a detector dog.