Succinylcholine Chloride for Immobilization of North American Elk

Abstract

Neuromuscular blocking action of succinylcholine chloride has been reported by Castillo and de Beer (1950). Buechner, et al. (1960) have discussed the use of succinylcholine chloride in immobilizing wild ungulates. The purpose of this paper is to report findings concerning doses of succinylcholine chloride suitable for immobilizing North American elk (Cervus canadensis). Charles Jonkel, Montana Department of Fish and Game, administered succinylcholine chloride to two penned Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni Bailey) in March 1960, and kindly provided the authors with his results. We treated 101 free-ranging Rocky Mountain elk with this drug in Banff National Park, Alberta, and adjacent Yoho and Kootenay National Parks in British Columbia between June 1960 and December 1961. One of the 101 animals was treated twice and 10 escaped into the forest before the effect of the drug could be ascertained. Buechner, with E. Reade Brown, George Schrindel, and Ellis L. Bowhay of the Washington State Department of Game, and Jack Aldrich of the Weyerhaeuser Company, treated three free-ranging Olympic elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti Merriam) and five trapped Rocky Mountain elk between September 1960 and February 1961.