Effectiveness of Vaginal-Implant Transmitters for Locating Elk Parturition Sites |
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| Authors: | ANDREA E BARBKNECHT W SUE FAIRBANKS JARED D ROGERSON ERIC J MAICHAK LAURA L MEADOWS |
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| Institution: | 1. Wyoming Game and Fish Department, 432 E Mill Street, Pinedale, WY 82941, USA;2. Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, 1174 Snowy Range Road, Laramie, WY 82070, USA |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACT We assessed success of vaginal implant transmitters (VITs), deployed in 198 elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni), in locating elk calving sites in western Wyoming, USA, in 2006–2007. We identified 60.3% of expelled VIT locations as definite or probable event markers and an additional 21.8% as possible event markers. Failure rate for VITs was 10.6%, and we found an additional 7.3% in improbable or impossible parturition sites. Vaginal implant transmitters were effective in locating calving and abortion sites and will facilitate definition of parturition habitat selection and parturition ranges of specific subpopulations. |
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| Keywords: | abortion birth site calving behavior Cervus elaphus elk parturition radiotelemetry vaginal implant transmitter Wyoming |
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