EMSL-LV-0539-27 EMSL-LV-0539-27
A SUMMER TRAPPING METHOD FOR MULE DEER
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114
July 1979
Prepared under
Memorandum of Understanding
No. EY-76-A-08-0539
for the
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
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DISCLAIMER
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their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal
liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of
any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed, or represents that
its use would not infringe privately owned rights.
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EMSL-LV-0539-27
A SUMMER TRAPPING METHOD FOR MULE DEER
by
K. R. Giles
Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114
July 1979
Prepared under
Memorandum of Understanding
No. EY-76-A-08-0539
for the
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
EMSL-LV-0539-27
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ABSTRACT
This repQrt describes a summer mule deer trapping method which uses
modified Clover traps in a circular corral with water as a bait. Drug
restraint was used tQ facilitate safe handling of mule deer by the investi~
gator. Fifteen mule deer were safely captured and outfitted with radio
transmitters, ear tags, and reflective markers, and their movements monitored
to determine migration patterns.
iit
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author would like to thank the Nevada Fish and Game Department for
the loan of the Clover traps and for their advice and encouragement during
the initial phase of the study.
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A SUMMER TRAPPING METHOD FOR MULE DEER
In June 1975, a study was begun to determine the migration pattern of
the Nevada Test Site (NTS) deer herd. For this study, ten deer were captured,
outfitted with radio transmitter-equipped collars and identification tags, and
released during the summers of 1975 and 1976. Movements of the deer were
followed on a weekly basis for about 1 year thereafter.
During the summer months, a sizable mule deer herd (Odocoi1eus heminous)
resides in a mountainous, lightly forested section in the northern one-third
of the NTS. As winter approaches, this herd leaves the higher elevations of
its summer range (normally about 1,500 meters elevation) in the pinion-
juniper vegetation range and migrates to an unknown destination. The NTS is
located in Nye County, Nevada, with its southeast corner about 104 kilometers
northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. The topography of NTS is typical of south
central Nevada desert ranging from dry lake beds at 850 meters elevation to
mountain ranges as high as 2,200 meters elevation. The NTS covers an area of
approximately 3,500 square kilometers.
Initially, capture efforts involved the use of immobilizing drugs injec-
ted by a syringe projectile fired from a powder driven Cap-Chur gun (Palmer
Chemical and Equipment Company, Inc., Doug1asvi11e, Georgia). The target
deer were momentarily transfixed by hand-held spotlights at night. Although
several deer were successfully captured in this manner, many man-hours were
required to locate, approach, and immobilize these deer. A more efficient
and cost-effective approach was needed.
An alternative capture method was then tried using the traditional traps
described by Clover (1954, 1956). The traps were placed in areas of heavy
deer concentration.
At first,
used as bait.
nonexistent in
tion reservoir
the bait.
alfalfa hay, fresh alfalfa green chop, grain, and apples were
The deer ignored this bait. As natural water sources are
this area (the nearest water is an infrequently used construc-
4 kilometers away), the traps were modified to use water as
The trap site was located in the Echo Peak area on the NTS (elevation
2,164 meters). As shown in Figure 1, a circular corral (21 m in diameter)
was constructed using woven wire fencing (2 m high) and wooden posts (3 m
high, 15 cm thick). This corral is a modified version of the one described
by Rempel and Bertram (1975). A 757-1iter water tank was placed inside the
corral near the fence to simplify filling. Two large openings (2 m across)
were left in the corral so that the mule deer would have free access to the
1
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100 em
14 ~I
I- ~ I
100 em
Figure 1. Diagram of corral.
2
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water and would become accustomed to the corral.
were reduced to fit the end of a Clover trap (100
These openings were kept open for another week to
and exit the trap at will.
After 7 days, the openings
cm wide, 125 cm high).
allow mule deer to enter
The Clover traps were modified so both ends would be open when set.
This allowed the deer to see through the trap, with an apparent clear passage
to water. Upon contact with the trip wire, both ends were set to drop, thus
capturing the animal inside. This trip-wire trigger mechanism was adjusted
so that both ends would drop without hesitation, otherwise an alert deer
could escape before the trap closed. Even with this mechanism, several deer
did succeed in passing through the trap before it closed, but were contained
in the adjoining corral where they could be immobilized with the Cap-Chur
gun.
When an animal was safely trapped, it was restrained either physically
or with a drug. Due to manpower limitations and safety considerations, and
reluctance of the investigator to jump into a trap with a highly excited mule
deer, chemical restraint was employed in the majority of cases.
The drugs used to immobolize the mule deer were 2.35 milligram per kilo-
gram (mg/kg) of body weight of phencyclidine hydrochloride (Sernylan of Bio-
ceutic Laboratories, Inc., St. Joseph, Missouri) and 10 mg of [10-[3-
(dimethyl-amino) propyl] phenothiazin-2-yl-methyl ketone] (Acepromazine
Maleate of Ayerst Laboratories, New York, New York) (Dean et al., 1973). To
lessen the likelihood of injury, the immobilizing drugs were delivered
through a syringe projectile fired from a carbon dioxide (C02) Cap-Chur gun
(Silberman and McWilliams, 1972). After each deer was immobilized and re-
moved from the trap, it was given 1 mg atropine sulfate, a respiratory stimu-
lant which decreases salivation and bronchial secretions, 2 to 4 mg dexa-
methasone, a corticosteriod for anti-inflammatory and anti-stress activity,
(Azium of Schering Corporation, Kenilworth, New Jersey), and 1 milliliter
per 23 kg of body weight of an antibiotic containing penicillin and strepto-
mycin (Combiotic of Pfizer, Inc., New York, New York) (personal conversation
with Drs. R. E. Stanley and D. D. Smith, veterinarians with the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory,
Las Vegas, Nevada). This prophylactic intramuscular treatment was adminis-
tered with a hand-held syringe and was designed to minimize the trauma and
shock of capture which frequently leads to death from respiratory complica-
tions. Each mule deer was then fitted with a radio transmitter-equipped
collar, an ear tag, and a neck collar with reflective numbers 10 centimeters
(cm) in height. Trapping personnel stayed with immobilized animals until
they were able to regain their feet; this normally occurred between 2 to
4 hours after injection.
The traps were normally operated one or two nights per week. When set,
the traps were checked at about 2200 hours in the evening and again shortly
after daybreak. On several occasions, mule deer were found in the same trap
at both the early evening visit and on the following morning. It was found
that the traps should be checked at least twice nightly; as the less time
the animal spends in a trap, the less likely it is to injure itself or damage
the trap during escape attempts.
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On the days when trapping was not attempted, the traps were removed from
the enclosure entrance allowing the deer free access to the water. When not
in use, the trap site was left undisturbed except for replenishing the water
supply.
Weather affected trapping success. For example, following summer rain
showers, it would be 5 to 10 days before trapping was again successful
depending on the amount of water standing in puddles. Trapping continued in
the fall and early winter until 10 to 12 cm of snow covered the ground or
until heavy rains occurred. A total of 15 mule deer were captured using this
method.
The author believes that this method of trapping mule deer can be used
cost-effectively for other purposes if: (1) the terrain is suitable to build
the enclosure; (2) the trap is well located in the habitat of the target'
species; (3) a suitable bait (in this case water) is used; and (4) the proper
aftercare is given to minimize the mortality.
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DISTRIBUTION
Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory-Las Vegas
Mahlon E. Gates, Manager, DOE/NV, Las Vegas, NV
Troy E. Wade, DOE/NV, Las Vegas, NV
David G. Jackson, DOE/NV, Las Vegas, NV
Paul J. Mudra, DOE/NV, Las Vegas, NV
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Elwood M. Douthett, DOE/NV, Las Vegas, NV
Ernest D. Campbell, DOE/NV, Las Vegas, NV
Paul B. Dunaway, DOE/NV, Las Vegas, NV
Roger Ray, DOE/NV, Las Vegas, NV
Robert W. Taft, DOE/NV, Las Vegas, NV
Leon Silverstrom, DOE/NV, Las Vegas, NV
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Tommy F. McCraw, DOS, DOE/HQ, Washington, DC
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Major General Joseph K. Bratton, Director, MA, DOE/HQ, Washington, DC
Gordon C. Facer, MA, DOE/HQ, Washington, DC
Robert L. Watters, OHER, DOE/HQ, Washington, DC
Jeff Swinebroad, OHER, DOE/HQ, Washington, DC
Robert W. Wood, OHER, DOE/HQ, Washington, DC
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71
William S. Osburn, Jr., OHER, DOE/HQ, Washington, DC
Ray Brechbill, DOE/SAN, Oakland, CA
Marcy Williamson, RESL/INEL, DOE/ID, Idaho Falls, ID
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H. E. Walburg, CARL, Oak Ridge National Lab., Oak Ridge, TN
Assistant Administrator for Research and Development, EPA, Washington, DC
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Monitoring and Technical Support, ORD,
EPA, Washington, DC
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Radiation Programs, EPA,
Washington, DC
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Director, Monitoring Technology Division, Office of Monitoring and
Technical Support, ORD, EPA, Washington, DC
Director, Technical Support Division, Office of Monitoring and
Technical Support, ORD, EPA, Washgton, DC
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Director, Criteria Development and Special Studies Division, Office of
Health and Ecological Effects, ORD, EPA, Washington, DC
Library, EPA, Washington, DC
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Regional Administrator, Region IX, EPA, San Francisco, CA
Regional Radiation Representative, Region IX, EPA, San Francisco, CA
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Director, Radiochemistry and Nuclear Engineering Branch, EPA,
Cincinnati, OH
Director, Eastern Environmental Radiation Facility, EPA, Montgomery, AL
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Harold F. Mueller, NOAA/WSNSO, Las Vegas, NV
Gilbert J. Ferber, NOAA/WSNSO, Silver Spring, MD
K. M. Oswald, Manager, Health and Safety, LLL, Mercury, NV
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91
Richard L. Wagner, LLL, Livermore, CA
Howard W. Tewes, LLL, Livermore, CA
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R. Glen Fuller, Oracle, AZ
Richard S. Davidson, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH
Arden E. Bicker, REECo, Mercury. NV
Savino W. Cavender, REECo, Mercury, NV
Auda F. Morrow, CETO, Mercury, NV
Joseph H. Dryden, NTSSO, DOE/NV, Mercury, NV
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Billy Moore, NVHQ, DOE/NV. Las Vegas, NV
Leo Bustad, Director, Veterinary Medicine, Washington State
University. Pullman, WA
Vincent Schultz, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Arthur Wallace, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Wesley E. Niles, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Library. University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Verle R. Bohman, University of Nevada, Reno, NV
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Lloyd P. Smith, President, Desert Research Institute, University
of Nevada, Reno, NV
Paul R. Fenske, Desert Research Institute, University of Nevaaa,
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Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, AZ
California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA
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Colorado Division of Wildlife, Denver, CO
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L. L. Skolil, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
C. S. Fore, ESIC, Oak Ridge National Lab., Oak Ridge, TN
Technical Information Center, DOE, Oak Ridge, TN
(for public availability)
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