Why catch when you can throw? A framework for tagging animals without capture or restraint
The use of electronic tags has significantly advanced our understanding of wild animal behaviour and physiology. However, traditional tagging methods often require capturing and restraining or sedating animals, which causes stress and may potentially affect data quality during acclimatization. Inspi...
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The Royal Society
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
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| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.250139 |
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| author | Rory Wilson James Redcliffe Mark Holton Phillip Hopkins Victoria Thomas Frank Narve Rosell Hanna Kavli Lodberg-Holm Christian Robstad Theodoros Kominos Antonia Galanaki Giannis Gasteratos Theodoros Naziridis Richard Gunner Vaclav Silovsky Miloš Ježek Holly English Olivia Shott Katie Bambridge Amy Fuller Caitlin Willoughby Elliot Dee Hazel Nichols Flavio Quintana Andreas Fahlman Josefin Larsson David M. Scantlebury Ursula Siebert |
| author_facet | Rory Wilson James Redcliffe Mark Holton Phillip Hopkins Victoria Thomas Frank Narve Rosell Hanna Kavli Lodberg-Holm Christian Robstad Theodoros Kominos Antonia Galanaki Giannis Gasteratos Theodoros Naziridis Richard Gunner Vaclav Silovsky Miloš Ježek Holly English Olivia Shott Katie Bambridge Amy Fuller Caitlin Willoughby Elliot Dee Hazel Nichols Flavio Quintana Andreas Fahlman Josefin Larsson David M. Scantlebury Ursula Siebert |
| author_sort | Rory Wilson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of electronic tags has significantly advanced our understanding of wild animal behaviour and physiology. However, traditional tagging methods often require capturing and restraining or sedating animals, which causes stress and may potentially affect data quality during acclimatization. Inspired by plant burs, we propose a novel ‘bur-tagging’ system to attach tags without capture or restraint. We outline a framework for bur-tagging, detailing the design and key considerations for its success. This includes the influence of tagging site location and animal neophobia on the likelihood of tagging over time, strategies to target specific species, and methods to improve tag placement accuracy. The choice of adhesive mechanism and application force are discussed as critical factors for effective attachment. Preliminary trials highlight animal reactions to inactive tagging systems, demonstrating ways to minimize stress and increase tagging efficiency. Field tests on domestic animals and wild canids in Greece suggest that bur-tagging is a viable alternative to conventional methods. While still in development, bur-tagging has the potential to deploy advanced electronic tags on wild animals with reduced stress and greater ethical consideration, offering a promising tool for wildlife research. This innovative approach bridges biology and technology to address challenges in animal tagging. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6b5aeff9b1f04510aa63de5873be1cb9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-6b5aeff9b1f04510aa63de5873be1cb92025-08-20T02:45:27ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032025-07-0112710.1098/rsos.250139Why catch when you can throw? A framework for tagging animals without capture or restraintRory Wilson0James Redcliffe1Mark Holton2Phillip Hopkins3Victoria Thomas4Frank Narve Rosell5Hanna Kavli Lodberg-Holm6Christian Robstad7Theodoros Kominos8Antonia Galanaki9Giannis Gasteratos10Theodoros Naziridis11Richard Gunner12Vaclav Silovsky13Miloš Ježek14Holly English15Olivia Shott16Katie Bambridge17Amy Fuller18Caitlin Willoughby19Elliot Dee20Hazel Nichols21Flavio Quintana22Andreas Fahlman23Josefin Larsson24David M. Scantlebury25Ursula Siebert26Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UKDepartment of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UKDepartment of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UKCollege of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UKDepartment of Biosciences, Swansea University – Singleton Park Campus, Swansea, Wales, UKDepartment of Biology, University of South-Eastern Norway, Kongsberg, Bø Telemark, NorwayDepartment of Biology, University of South-Eastern Norway, Kongsberg, Bø Telemark, NorwayDepartment of Biology, University of South-Eastern Norway, Kongsberg, Bø Telemark, NorwayDepartment of Zoology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Zoology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GreeceECOSTUDIES P.C./Environmental Studies, Athens, GreeceThe Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency, Kerkini Branch, Kerkini, GreeceDepartment for the Ecology of Animal Societies, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, GermanyDepartment of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech RepublicUniversity College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandSwansea University – Singleton Park Campus, Swansea, Wales, UKSwansea University – Singleton Park Campus, Swansea, Wales, UKSwansea University – Singleton Park Campus, Swansea, Wales, UKDepartment of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UKSwansea University – Singleton Park Campus, Swansea, Wales, UKDepartment of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UKInstituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos (IBIOMAR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, ArgentinaResearch, Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat Valenciana, Valencia Area, SpainKolmården Wildlife Park, Kolmården, SwedenDepartment of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UKInstitute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Büsum, GermanyThe use of electronic tags has significantly advanced our understanding of wild animal behaviour and physiology. However, traditional tagging methods often require capturing and restraining or sedating animals, which causes stress and may potentially affect data quality during acclimatization. Inspired by plant burs, we propose a novel ‘bur-tagging’ system to attach tags without capture or restraint. We outline a framework for bur-tagging, detailing the design and key considerations for its success. This includes the influence of tagging site location and animal neophobia on the likelihood of tagging over time, strategies to target specific species, and methods to improve tag placement accuracy. The choice of adhesive mechanism and application force are discussed as critical factors for effective attachment. Preliminary trials highlight animal reactions to inactive tagging systems, demonstrating ways to minimize stress and increase tagging efficiency. Field tests on domestic animals and wild canids in Greece suggest that bur-tagging is a viable alternative to conventional methods. While still in development, bur-tagging has the potential to deploy advanced electronic tags on wild animals with reduced stress and greater ethical consideration, offering a promising tool for wildlife research. This innovative approach bridges biology and technology to address challenges in animal tagging.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.250139bur-taggingbiologgingbiotelemetryanimal captureanimal restraint |
| spellingShingle | Rory Wilson James Redcliffe Mark Holton Phillip Hopkins Victoria Thomas Frank Narve Rosell Hanna Kavli Lodberg-Holm Christian Robstad Theodoros Kominos Antonia Galanaki Giannis Gasteratos Theodoros Naziridis Richard Gunner Vaclav Silovsky Miloš Ježek Holly English Olivia Shott Katie Bambridge Amy Fuller Caitlin Willoughby Elliot Dee Hazel Nichols Flavio Quintana Andreas Fahlman Josefin Larsson David M. Scantlebury Ursula Siebert Why catch when you can throw? A framework for tagging animals without capture or restraint Royal Society Open Science bur-tagging biologging biotelemetry animal capture animal restraint |
| title | Why catch when you can throw? A framework for tagging animals without capture or restraint |
| title_full | Why catch when you can throw? A framework for tagging animals without capture or restraint |
| title_fullStr | Why catch when you can throw? A framework for tagging animals without capture or restraint |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why catch when you can throw? A framework for tagging animals without capture or restraint |
| title_short | Why catch when you can throw? A framework for tagging animals without capture or restraint |
| title_sort | why catch when you can throw a framework for tagging animals without capture or restraint |
| topic | bur-tagging biologging biotelemetry animal capture animal restraint |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.250139 |
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