Techniques for capturing bighorn sheep lambs
Wildlife Society Bulletin
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Abstract
Low lamb recruitment is a major challenge facing managers attempting to mitigate the decline of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), and investigations into the underlying mechanisms are limited because of the inability to readily capture and monitor bighorn sheep lambs. We evaluated 4 capture techniques for bighorn sheep lambs: 1) hand-capture of lambs from radiocollared adult females fitted with vaginal implant transmitters (VITs), 2) hand-capture of lambs of intensively monitored radiocollared adult females, 3) helicopter net-gunning, and 4) hand-capture of lambs from helicopters. During 2010–2012, we successfully captured 90% of lambs from females that retained VITs to ≤1 day of parturition, although we noted differences in capture rates between an area of high road density in the Black Hills (92–100%) of South Dakota, USA, and less accessible areas of New Mexico (71%), USA. Retention of VITs was 78% with pre-partum expulsion the main cause of failure. We were less likely to capture lambs from females that expelled VITs ≥1 day of parturition (range = 80–83%) or females that were collared without VITs (range = 60–78%). We used helicopter net-gunning at several sites in 1999, 2001–2002, and 2011, and it proved a useful technique; however, at one site, attempts to capture lambs led to lamb predation by golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos). We attempted helicopter hand-captures at one site in 1999, and they also were successful in certain circumstances and avoided risk of physical trauma from net-gunning; however, application was limited. In areas of low accessibility or if personnel lack the ability to monitor females and/or VITs for extended periods, helicopter capture may provide a viable option for lamb capture.
Suggested Citation
Smith, J.B., Walsh, D.P., Goldstein, E., Parsons, Z.D., Karsch, R., Stiver, J.R., Cain, J.W., Raedeke, K.J., and Jenks, J., 2014, Techniques for capturing bighorn sheep lambs: Wildlife Society Bulletin, v. 31, no. 1, p. 165-174, https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.360.
ISSN: 1938-5463 (online)
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Techniques for capturing bighorn sheep lambs |
| Series title | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| DOI | 10.1002/wsb.360 |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication Date | October 26, 2013 |
| Year Published | 2014 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | The Wildlife Society |
| Contributing office(s) | National Wildlife Health Center, New Mexico Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit |
| Description | 10 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| First page | 165 |
| Last page | 174 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado;New Mexico;South Dakota |
| Other Geospatial | Black Hills;Pikes Peak;Peloncillo Mountains |