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LIVE ANIMAL CAPTURE AND HANDLING GUIDELINES
FOR WILD MAMMALS, BIRDS, AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES.

FEBRUARY 1997

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PREFACE

This manual presents standardized methodologies for Live Animal Capture and Handling Guidelines for Wild Mammals, Birds, Amphibians and Reptiles in British Columbia. The manual was compiled by the Elements Working Group of the Terrestrial Ecosystem Task Force, under the auspices of the Resources Inventory Committee (RIC). The objectives of the working group are to develop inventory methodologies that will lead to the collection of comparable, defensible, and useful inventory and monitoring data for the species component of biodiversity.

This manual is one of the Components of British Columbia's Biodiversity (CBCB) series which present standard protocols for groups of species with similar inventory requirements. The series includes an introductory manual (Introduction to RIC Wildlife Inventory) which describes the history and objectives of RIC, and outlines the general process of conducting a wildlife inventory according to RIC standards, including selection of inventory intensity, sampling design, sampling techniques, and statistical analysis. The Introduction to RIC Wildlife Inventory manual provides important background information and should be thoroughly reviewed before commencing with a RIC wildlife inventory. RIC standards are also available for animal capture and handling (this manual), and radio-telemetry. Field personnel should be thoroughly familiar with these standards before engaging in inventories which involve either of these activities.

Standardized data forms are required for all RIC wildlife inventory. This is important to ensure compatibility with provincial data systems, as all information must eventually be included in the Species Inventory Datasystem. The manuals and data forms are available from:

Superior Reproductions

#200 -1112 West Pender Street

Vancouver, BC V6E 2S1

Tel: (604) 683 2181

FAX: (604) 683 2189

Internet: http://www.superiorprint.com

It is recognized that development of standardized methodologies is necessarily an ongoing process. The CBCB manuals are expected to evolve and improve very quickly over their initial years of use. Field testing is a vital component of this process and feedback is essential. Comments and suggestions can be forwarded to the Elements Working Group by contacting:

Wildlife Diversity Inventory Specialist

Resource Inventory and Data Management Branch

Victoria, BC V8V 1X5

Tel: (250) 387 9765

Funding for manual development and production was provided by RIC and Forest Renewal British Columbia.

 

Table of Contents

PREFACE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

1. INTRODUCTION

2. MAMMALS

3. BIRDS

4. HERPTILES

5. PERSONNEL SAFETY AND HEALTH PRECAUTIONS

6. REFERENCES

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The background information and protocols presented in this document are based on the unpublished draft manual, Live Animal Handling Guidelines for Mammals, Birds, and Amphibians and Reptiles, prepared for the Resources Inventory Committee by Helen Schwantje, with helpful suggestions and reviews by Malcolm McAdie and Patrick Gregory. The draft manual was edited to its present form by Malcolm McAdie and Leah Westereng. All decisions regarding protocols are the responsibility of the Resources Inventory Committee.

 

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Copyright © 1997 Province of British Columbia

Published by the Resources Inventory Committee