Application of tail transmitters for tracking feral horses as an alternative to radio collars

Abstract

AbstractRadio collars have been used to examine the spatial ecology of all North American ungulates, but are rarely used on feral horses due to concerns that they may cause injury. Due to public concerns for animal welfare, an alternative to radio collars for tracking feral horses, particularly stallions, over the short term would be useful. We developed a method of attaching a global positioning system (GPS) transmitter to feral horse tails, and provide step by step instructions so that others may apply this method. We braided the tail and affixed a transmitter tag to the braid with epoxy, cable ties, and an attachment cord run through the braid. Between 2016 and 2017 we fitted 114 VHF or VHF‐GPS tags in the tails of free‐roaming feral horses in western Utah. From when tags were fitted to September 2020 tag retention time ranged from <1 to 36 months (n = 111, mean = 8.50 ± SD 6.39 months). We found that our braided, tail‐mounted transmitter tags can provide a viable alternative to radio collars for meeting shorter‐term data collection needs once data transmission difficulties are overcome.