Humane and efficient capture and handling methods for carnivores

摘要: To be effective, conservation and management programs for carnivores require a good understanding of the animals’ biology, ecology, behavior, and habitat requirements. To gather scientific information essential to the development of such programs, it is often necessary to capture, handle, and mark animals, a controversial and complex activity (Proulx and Barrett 1989) requiring special skills to minimize negative effects on individuals and populations, and to maximize scientific gains. For this, researchers should use methods that are consistent with codes of ethics and guidelines published by professional societies and countries (Table 5.1). They should continuously improve capture procedures and equipment to work more effectively and more safely for both animals and people (Powell and Proulx 2003). Research design should minimize both potential short-term and long-term effects of capture (Seddon et al. 1999, Cattet et al. 2008a), and deal with non-random sampling that may affect population structures (Banci and Proulx 1999).Here, we discuss trap types, sets, and efficiency, and describe humaneness criteria that we use in the selection of specific carnivore traps. We review use of drugs as a primary method of capture through chemical immobilization, but also as a means to support mechanical capture methods by reducing stress and pain. Our approach results in some redundancy but minimizes confusion because different techniques can be used for the same group of carnivores, similar traps and anesthetics may be used for different mammals, and methods that meet performance criteria for one species may not for others. Lastly, we …