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Design and Evaluation of a Simple Signaling Device for Live Traps
Author(s) -
BENEVIDES FRANCIS L.,
HANSEN HEIDI,
HESS STEVEN C.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.2193/2006-519
Subject(s) - software deployment , trap (plumbing) , simple (philosophy) , adverse weather , computer science , simulation , environmental science , real time computing , meteorology , operating system , environmental engineering , geography , philosophy , epistemology
Frequent checks of live traps require enormous amounts of labor and add human scents associated with repeated monitoring, which may reduce capture efficiency. To reduce efforts and increase efficiency, we developed a trap‐signaling device with long‐distance reception, durability in adverse weather, and ease of transport, deployment, and use. Modifications from previous designs include a normally open magnetic switch and a mounting configuration to maximize reception. The system weighed <225 g, was effective ≤17.1 km, and failed in <1% of trap‐nights. Employing this system, researchers and wildlife managers may reduce the amount of effort checking traps while improving the welfare of trapped animals.