A mobile tool for capturing greater sage‐grouse
ABSTRACT Capturing greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) using standard approaches can be challenging and inefficient, particularly in areas with relatively small populations and patchy habitat. In areas with low population densities, traditional trapping techniques such as drop‐netting an...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2018-09-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.899 |
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| Summary: | ABSTRACT Capturing greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) using standard approaches can be challenging and inefficient, particularly in areas with relatively small populations and patchy habitat. In areas with low population densities, traditional trapping techniques such as drop‐netting and spotlighting have been largely ineffective. To increase trapping efficiency in such situations, we developed a new method to capture greater sage‐grouse in Wyoming, USA, during spring and autumn 2008–2011. We captured 92 sage‐grouse (30 adult females, 57 yearling females, 3 hatch‐year females, and 2 adult males) using a CODA net launcher modified to mount on a front receiver of a truck or all‐terrain vehicle. We had 71% success (82 successful captures of ≥ 1 grouse in 115 attempts). We captured grouse during spring on the periphery of leks, to reduce disturbance of lekking behavior, and during autumn along gravel roads. Capture mortality was <1.0%. We recorded low mortality (4.6%) up to 2 weeks postcapture that may have been attributed to capture and handling stress. This technique proved effective at capturing greater sage‐grouse and we believe this method can be effective at capturing other lekking species of prairie grouse with similar behavioral traits. © 2018 The Wildlife Society. |
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| ISSN: | 2328-5540 |