Capturing & Handling

Part - I

ADVANCED LEC

02WILDLIFE TECHNIQUES University of Rio Grande Donald P. Althoff, Ph.D.

CAPTURING BIRDS: BAITED TRAPS

• Raptors—attract with “live” bait (pigeons, doves, mice, rats). This is decoy approach. One example is the bal-chatri design (TM:248).

• Pigeons/Doves/Quail *—attract with seeds (sometimes colored). Attraction based on “sight” attractant (vs. “odor” attractant which is typical of mammal bait trapping). Walk-in traps are common.

• Wild Turkey/Shorebirds –cannon nets…bait with corn/grain. Multiple captures possible.

*generally low-risk of injury/death to bird(s)

BAL-CHATRI designs

WALK-IN TRAPSMultiple captures

possible

ROCKET / CANNON PROPELLED NETS—

_________ captures expected

Take advantage of ____________ behavior

CAPTURING BIRDS: UNBAITED TRAPS/TRAPPING

• Songbirds—mist nets. Sometimes use both “_______” and “sound” (think song).

• Geese/Ducks—drop nets or drive into cage/fence/corral. Key: birds are ____________. May use bait, but typical to herd birds under the net.

CANADA GOOSE in flightless condition

(i.e., molt)

CAPTURING BIRDS: SPOTLIGHTING

• Upland Gamebirds (pheasants, prairie chickens, sharp-tailed grouse)—netting off of front bumper of vehicle at night or walking

• Woodcock—netting birds (males) that are peenting (during spring breeding)

Take advantage of “_______________”

behavior

CAPTURING MAMMALS: BAITED TRAPS/TRAPPING

• Rabbits/Rodents/etc.—conventional “treadle” cage/box traps

• Bears—culvert traps. “Round” box traps.

• Foxes, Coyotes, Bobcats, etc.—cage baited traps

• Foxes, Coyotes, Bobcats, etc.—leg hold traps (usually baited but “blind set” sometimes works

• Conventional wooden rabbit trap “features”

__________ “activated”__________ guard—front door“see through” back:

a) __________________ through for rabbitb) tech can see “in”

Wooden sides & top reduces ___________ (both

weather and predators)

BEARCulvert trap designs

Custom vs Stock

Why round design?

CAPTURING MAMMALS: BAITED TRAPS/TRAPPING

• Deer—drop nets, drive nets

• Feral pigs/jack rabbits—corral “traps”

CAPTURING MAMMALS: Corral Traps

• Deer/Bison• Jackrabbits

CAPTURING MAMMALS: LEG-HOLD TRAPS

• Carnivores—attract by bait, urine/scent, or “blind” sets

• Much improvement in design last 20+ years to reduce foot injuries –yet still risk

• ______________ (double-to left; single long-spring common)

• ______________

• Padded jaws

• Offset jaws

Safety Improvements

CAPTURING MAMMALS: Helicopter Capture

• Deer/Elk/Moosemisc. ungulates

• Coyotes

CAPTURING MAMMALS: Helicopter Capture

• Pros -quick ; “shortened” trapping/capture days -focused area

-no baiting/on-the-ground trapping over days

• Cons -expensive -must be “for hire” / contracted out -risk to flight crew -limited often by terrain/topography/landscape

In summary…

• Think about _____________ of animal

• Consider ways to “_______________” the animal

• ________________________

• Always think about building “___________________”