TWLM - Wildlife Capture/Handling (Herps/Fish/Arthropods)

What permits do you need to trap wildlife?

Scientific research permit or hunting license

What permits do you need to catch fish and aquatic arthropods?

Research permit or fishing license

*Additional: CITES from USFWS

Hand captures methods

Snake hook, peavey grabbers, capped tuves (chase lizards into), lazer pointers (geckos), dip nets, amphibian scoop, lizard grabbers

Why can hand capture be dangerous to the animals?

→ Damage to mucus membranes on skin

→ Transfer diseases (i.e. Chytrid)

→ Water loss from urination (tortoises)

Why can hand capture be dangerous to you?

→ Get bit → venomous creatures

→ Get bit → bacteria in mouths can lead to infection

Funnel trap considerations

Float if animal needs air

Sticky traps

Herps stick to glue when walking across

Where/when to look for herps?

→ Noctural searches more successful

→ Stream searches (amphibians)

→ Rock turning/log searching (reptiles)

→ Cover boards

What are barbless hooks used for?

Limiting catch, preventing mutilation

What are barbed hooks used for?

Keeping catch

Trot line

→ Weight attached to line (has several hooks) with buoy

→ Illegal

Jug lines

Flotation device with string and hook attached

Lind line

→ Bait attached to hook/line and tied to tree

→ Used for alligators

Seine (dip) net

→ Large net held between two people

→ Used for fish

→ Illegal for catching salmon in Alaska

Drag (trolley) net:

→ Hook and lines that drag ground

→ Used for fish

Gill net

Only legal for scientific research

Bow fishing

Shoot fish with arrow attached to string using bow

Funnel traps

Can use soda bottles cut into funnel shape to catch small fish

Electroshocking

→ Send pulse through water with two electrodes

→ Can be damaging to skin/nervous system of amphibians

→ Can be damaging to you if you’re in contact with water

→ Causes fish to float to surface