Wildlife Handling 2

Question 1

Are the following techniques for marking amphibians and reptiles recommended:

a. Toe clipping for amphibians and reptiles, if not why, if so, under what conditions?
b. Removal of scutes in reptiles
c. Dyes on amphibians and reptiles

Answer 1

a. Painful. Use other, less painful, permanent marking methods if available.

If no other methods available, evaluate the impact on captive individuals.

b. Good method. Does not increase mortality or impair. Healing is rapid.
c. Can be successful. Non-toxic dye is needed. Dye must contrast with skin pigment and loss of legibility should be minimized.

Question 2

When working with poisonous amphibians and reptiles, handlers should take these three steps to minimize injury to themselves… ?

Answer 2

1) minimize amount of handling time
2) Do not work alone - 2nd person should also know techniques and emergency measures
3) Only experienced personnel should handle venomous snake - know and notify hospital, have emergency procedure and treatment protocol + antivenom

Question 3

For the following methods of marking, state what they are (purpose) and if they are preferred methods of marking or not; if they are not preferred, why?
a. Leg bands, coloured plastic leg bands, leg streamers, back tags, neck bands, wing markers, nasal markers, dyes,

Answer 3

Leg bands - Metal or plastic bands – used successfully to mark many bird species. Mark and recapture

coloured plastic leg bands - leg band but coloured plastic. can be tracked without recapture. becoming more common

leg streamers - Coloured plastic legs streamers. May inhibit flight, cause abrasion to the leg of the bird, or produce behaviour changes

back tags - attached by a clip to the skin, or held in place by loops around the wing bases. Used for waterfowl and grouse

neck bands - Plastic neckbands or collars may be used on geese and swans. Bills can get stuck, Black Brant reproduction is impacted.

wing markers - Patagial wing streamers of coloured plastic. preen it into position

nasal markers - commonly used to mark waterfowl through nasal opening. may result in ripped nares.

Dyes -

• non toxic dye
• applied to areas that won’t interfere with intra-specific signalling.
• Don’t matt plumage and only apply small area

Question 4

State 7 precautions that should be taken when restraining birds

Answer 4

• Special training/experience needed for the handling of large birds
• Handle wild birds quietly and without sudden movements
• Use minimum number of people required to safely handle birds
• When restrained by hand, hold the wings and legs to prevent damage
• Birds breathe by a bellows-like action of the ribs and sternum, avoid interfering with the ventilatory movements of the sternum or impede the respiratory air flow
• Darkened chambers/blindfolds tend to alleviate stress and subdue birds
• Prevent excessive damage to the plumage when using hoods/handling

Question 5

What are some of the negative effects of surveying for bird’s nests (2) and how can these be minimized (3)?

Answer 5

• decreased reproductive success in both terrestrial and aquatic birds
• resulted in collection of biased data by the researcher

Mitigate by:

• avoid the disturbance of nests during their most sensitive stages: egg laying; courtship displays, etc.
• avoid the separation of chicks from their parents, and
• minimize the loss of regurgitated food to young birds

Question 6

For the following methods of marking, state what they are and if they are preferred methods of marking or not; if they are not preferred, why?

a. Hot branding, freeze (cyro-)branding, tattooing, toe (ear) clipping, ear tagging, neck bands, leg switches
b. When using the follow techniques, state one consideration or limitation with respect to their use: neck collars (bands), hair dye, PIT tags

Answer 6

a. Not preferred: hot branding, any form of mutilation - cause pain, adverse effects on behavior and survival. Leg switches are temporary and improve vis. to predators
b.

Neck collars - The size must be carefully selected to allow for growth and activity

Hair dye - Use non-toxic dyes

PIT tags - transponders may migrate if applied subcutaneously, making reading them more difficult in larger species

Question 7

When marking animals for monitoring, the process of marking must meet three important criteria – state these

Answer 7

1. Minimize the immediate/long-term hindrance/irritation from the mark or marking procedure
2. The animal should suffer no adverse effects on its normal: behaviour, physiology, longevity, social life, ecology or survival
3. Mark should be:

• Applied quickly, easily, less pain
• readily visible and distinguishable digits
• effective for duration of study

Question 8

State 6 general guidelines that must be considered when you plan to physically restrain an animal.

Answer 8

1. handled quickly, without sudden movements, few people
2. Darkened chambers and/or blindfolds alleviate stress and subdue animals
3. Minimize excessive noise from loud equipment, vehicles, or talking
4. Minimize excessive struggling or stress in the restrained animal can lead to hyperthermia and muscle damage (capture myopathy)
5. Factor in time of day/year
6. Avoid capturing/restraining animals - pregnant, tending young or breeding