TWLM - Wildlife Capture/Handling (Mammals/Birds)

The state regulates

Native wildlife

The federal government regulates

Migratory birds, endangered species

What permits are needed for exotic captures?

None

AUP

→ Animal Use Permit

→ For research and animal handling

→ Issued by IACUC

IACUC

→ Institutional Animal Care and Use Comittiee

→ Rules: appropriate capture methods, regular trap checks (12 - 36 hrs), no unnecessary stress

Class A for pain/stress

No pain/stress

Class D for pain/stress

Much pain/stress mitigated by drugs

Class D for pain/stress

Much pain/stress with no mitigation

Hunting/fishing licenses

→ Required for trapping, even non-lethal

→ Issued by TPWD

CITES

→ Concention for the International Trade of Endangered Species

→ License required for handling endangered or federally regulated species

Scientific research permit

→ Needed for tagging/marking

→ Issued by TPWD

Hand capture methods

→ Vehicles “rodeo method”

→ Peavey (trash-grabber)

→ Noose pole

→ Lasso

→ J-hook

Snares

→ Lethal, non-lethal

→ Tend to cause lots of trauma

→ Unselective

→ Try to avoid

Bal-Chatri traps

→ Used for raptors

→ Domes/cones surrounded by wire nooses

→ Baited with small prey/decoy

→ Birds fly down to eat and get tangled

Cone-shaped bal-chatri traps best for

Kestrels, burrowing owls

Box-shaped bal-chatri traps best for

Accipiters, hawks, falcons, owls

Noose mat

Mat with filament nooses all over

Coniderations when using nets

→ Don’t harm animal in capture or extraction

→ Proper size/strength for target species

Dip net

Large net opened by fixed loop with long handle

Throw net

Net with weights on outer edges; thrown by hand

Night-lighting

Useful for temporarily blinding animals to get close enough with net

Rocket.cannon net

Net attached to rocket

*Make sure close enough so birds can’t fly out of range

Drive net

Wall of net that goes to ground

→ Drive animals in → falls and tangles them

Drop net

→ Net suspended in air by poles

→ Manually detonate

→ Common in urban wildlife management

Bow net

→ Two metal hoops with netting attached by springs

→ Like Venus Flytrap

Clover traps

→ Used for ungulates

→ Metal frame with net sides

→ Triggers: pressure plate, remote detonation

Sherman traps used for

Rodents

Culverts

→ Used for bears

→ Cylindrical box trap barred one side, with drop door on other

→ Triggers: pressure plate, remote detonation

Cage traps

Mesh cage with trap door

Tomahawks used for

Small mammals

Chardoneret trap

→ Used for birds

→ Bait cage trap with mimic

→ Bird flies down → lands on perch (trigger) → door shuts

Australian crow trap

→ Used for Texas Black Vultures

→ Large cage with v-shaped top with narrow opening

→ Birds fly down to eat bait → can’t fly out due to wingspan

___ vultures can smell; ___ vultures cannot

Turkey vultures can; black vultures can’t

Funnel trap

→ Used for ground dwelling birds

→ Bait animal to walk through funnel and into trap

Corral trap

Temporary corral with drop doors

Boma trap

Built pen with solid walls

Corral traps

Built pen with open walls

Pitfall traps

→ Used for small mammals, herps

→ Large recess in ground, sometimes with flip-flop door (animals step on and fall in)

→ Lethal or non-lethal

→ More successful with drift fencing

Raptor foothold trap

→ Placed on top of fences

→ Snaps shut on landing birds

Racoon foothold trap

→ Spring-loaded cylinder with bait at bottom

→ Racoon reaches for bait → triggers plate → interier loop traps arm to side of canister

Steel jaw foothold trap

Spring trap with trip pan → snaps shut on foot that triggers it

Body grip traps are ___ lethal

Always

Harpoon/spear traps

→ Used for small, burrowing rodents

→ Spring-loaded spear/harpoon impales animal when triggered