Evaluating the effectiveness of expandable radiocollars for juvenile cervids

Abstract

We present the retention rate of expandable radiocollars that can be used on juvenile cervids. These collars permit investigations into a previously understudied segment of cervid populations. We captured 60 male sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Dorchester County, Maryland, USA, during their first winter (6–8 months of age; captured 2008 and 2009) and attached expandable radiocollars. Retention of collars differed between years. The first year, 85% of collars were retained for 1 year with a mean retention time of 532 days (SE = 27). After modifications, 100% of second-year collars were retained for the duration of the study or until the animal's death (max = 483 days). We used trail cameras to observe wear and fit of the collars 6–8 months after deployment. Our data suggest that the expandable collar design can be improved to last beyond an animal's dispersal and provide a useful tool for monitoring juvenile cervids. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.