Data from: Study "Carnivore movements near Black Rock Forest New York" [part]

Abstract

These data are a component of the Hudson Highlands Wildlife Connectivity Project. This project is a multi-year effort to better understand ecological connectivity via animal behavior, distributions, gene flow, and mortality. More information is available at www.blackrockforest.org. All capture and handling protocols are approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation permit LCPSCI#2645. Fishers were captured using Tomahawk Model 108s live-traps covered in custom wooden shelters and baited with meat and lure between December and mid-March. Fishers are maneuvered into a custom handling cone and physically restrained to administer an intra-muscular injection of Ketamine HCL (200 mg/mL concentration, 0.1 mL/kg dosage) and Xylazine HCL (300 mg/mL concentration, 0.01 mL/kg dosage) to the rump. Bobcats were captured with Camtrip cages covered in debris and landscape cloth, baited with visual attractants and lures. Bobcats were sedated while in the cage trap via a 3cc syringe pole with and intramuscular injection of Ketamine HCL at 0.05 mL/kg and Xylazine HCL at 0.005 mL/kg. Both species were covered and undisturbed while the sedatives take effect and Yohimbine HCL is available if a Ketamine reversal is needed. Once sedated, all animals are monitored for breathing and heart rates and body temperature during handling, and an eye ointment was applied to prevent dryness and debris from entering the eye. GPS collars were affixed to suitable animals: e-obs GmbH, weighing 69 g for female fishers (3% of mean body mass), 20 g for male fishers and female bobcats (2.7% of male fishers, 1.3% female bobcats), and 170 g for male bobcats (<1% male bobcats).