Capturing Neonatal Bison With a Net Gun From a Utility Terrain Vehicle

Abstract

Abstract Monitoring neonatal bison Bison bison for daily survival is difficult without a proper technique to effectively capture and safely handle neonates. Currently, we are not aware of an effective method to capture neonatal bison. In May 2015, we initiated a study on Olson's Bison Conservation Ranches, Pine River, Manitoba, Canada, to evaluate a new approach to effectively capture and handle neonate bison. We captured bison neonates by using a modified .308 caliber net gun deployed from a utility terrain vehicle. We successfully captured and radio-tagged 10 male and 16 female neonate bison in 37 attempts (70.3% success). Over a period of 4 d, 16.0 labor h were spent pursuing and handling neonates, with an average capture rate of one bison neonate for every 0.6 labor h. Average handling time of bison neonates was 3.7 ± 1.6 min and ranged from 1.0 to 7.5 min. Results of our study indicate that our approach was effective and efficient for capturing and handling bison neonates safely. No injuries or capture related mortalities were observed throughout the handling and monitoring period. This technique will allow biologists and herd managers to capture neonates, monitor their survival, and collect cause-specific data on mortality of neonates in managed bison populations.