Use of radio‐linked VHF technology to monitor neonate carnivores

Abstract

AbstractFine‐scale monitoring of neonate mammals can provide important data about survival rates and cause‐specific mortality. However, the VHF transmitters and collars frequently used to monitor neonate mammals necessitate logistically intensive field efforts, often requiring personnel to check on collared animals several times a day. We adapted technology that creates a proximity link between GPS collars fitted on adult animals to expandable VHF collars fitted for use on neonate cougar kittens (Puma concolor). We describe and evaluate the use of this system, which resulted in an 87% success rate of tracking kittens from ~5 weeks to 6 months of age. Our experience with these collars suggests that this technology can be used to enhance understanding of neonate survival and to gain information about maternal behavior and time allocation with offspring, providing a new source of data that was previously unobservable.