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: Andrew L. Sutphin, Thomas L. Maechtle, Christopher P. Kirol, Bradley C. Fedy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-09-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.899
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author Andrew L. Sutphin
Thomas L. Maechtle
Christopher P. Kirol
Bradley C. Fedy
author_facet Andrew L. Sutphin
Thomas L. Maechtle
Christopher P. Kirol
Bradley C. Fedy
author_sort Andrew L. Sutphin
collection DOAJ
description 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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spelling doaj-art-0907de93dfd64b42b639dd2d67eebbaa2025-08-20T01:57:49ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402018-09-0142350450910.1002/wsb.899A mobile tool for capturing greater sage‐grouseAndrew L. Sutphin0Thomas L. Maechtle1Christopher P. Kirol2Bradley C. Fedy3Big Horn Environmental ConsultantsP.O Box 207SheridanWY 82801USABig Horn Environmental ConsultantsP.O Box 207SheridanWY 82801USASchool of Environment, Resources and SustainabilityUniversity of WaterlooWaterlooON N2L 3G1CanadaSchool of Environment, Resources and SustainabilityUniversity of WaterlooWaterlooON N2L 3G1CanadaABSTRACT 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.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.899bumper mountedcapture techniqueCentrocercus urophasianusCODA net launchergreater prairie grousesage‐grouse
spellingShingle Andrew L. Sutphin
Thomas L. Maechtle
Christopher P. Kirol
Bradley C. Fedy
A mobile tool for capturing greater sage‐grouse
Wildlife Society Bulletin
bumper mounted
capture technique
Centrocercus urophasianus
CODA net launcher
greater prairie grouse
sage‐grouse
title A mobile tool for capturing greater sage‐grouse
title_full A mobile tool for capturing greater sage‐grouse
title_fullStr A mobile tool for capturing greater sage‐grouse
title_full_unstemmed A mobile tool for capturing greater sage‐grouse
title_short A mobile tool for capturing greater sage‐grouse
title_sort mobile tool for capturing greater sage grouse
topic bumper mounted
capture technique
Centrocercus urophasianus
CODA net launcher
greater prairie grouse
sage‐grouse
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.899
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