An Expanding Break-Away Radio Collar for Black Bear

Abstract

Radiotelemetry has enhanced the study of animals, but methods of affixing radio packages to maturing subadults have been slow to evolve for some species. This is particularly true for black bears (Ursus americanus), which attain mature size at 5 years of age or older (Rausch 1961, Jonkel and Cowan 1971, Sauer 1975). Servheen et al. (1981) described methods of collaring black bears and the problems associated with the use of collars on growing bears. The need for an expandable radio collar for black bears was expressed by Lindzey et al. (1978). This paper describes the design, construction, and use of a durable, expanding, break-away radio collar for subadult black bears in east-central Ontario. The