Chemical Immobilization

What is it?
Anesthesia

of wild, free-ranging, feral animals, or those unaccustomed to human contact be given with or without physical restraint of the animal

Can

Objectives
Handle

a wild animal in a manner that:

Inflicts

least amount of stress and pain to animal Has least risk of injury to both animal and handler

Requires:
Patience Humaneness Animal

care Personal safety

When should it be used?

Only

as a last resort

When

all other means of restraint are insufficient Does the need to capture or handle this animal justify risking this animals life?

Commonly

used for a variety of species

Carnivores Ungulates Small mammals

Pros
Research

Attaching radio collars, ear tags, etc. Taking blood or other samples Moving an animal from one location to another
Less

trauma during handling

Risk of injury and stress decreased

Cons
Cost

Drugs
$15-$30

(per deer)

Equipment
Darts

- $4 per dart Rifle - $500-$700 Transmitter - ~$200 Receiver - ~$900

Cons
Cant

determine physiological health of animal prior to administering drugs to animal

Risks

Physical injury Medical complications

Respiratory

arrest Cardiac arrest Shock Bloat Hyper-hypothermia

Cons
Risks

cont.

Fleeing animals have a higher chance of building up heat, and reacting poorly to the drug Ungulates and small mammals in recovery are more susceptible to predation Can cause social stress
Change

dominance hierarchies Neonates may be rejected

Cons
Risks

to humans

Risk from animals before they are knockedout Risk from accidental exposure to the lethal drugs

Drug Administration
4

basic types:

Hand injection with syringe Pole syringe jabstick Blow gun Dart gun

Ungulates
Since

ungulates are difficult to approach, immobilization is used when:

They are confined to a corral or trap They are moderately habituated to people They can be stalked (hunted)

Easiest

method in some areas is to dart from a helicopter

Carnivores
Trapping

is usually recommended before immobilization of large carnivores Can be immobilized with:

Dart gun Blowpipes Syringe poles (jabstick)

Small Mammals
Usually

trapped then immobilized

Raccoons usually immobilized with jab-stick, as they can carry rabies Other small mammals immobilized with a handheld syringe or a jabstick

Darting
When How

would we need to dart an animal?

successful is this method?

Fast enough for accuracy Slow enough as to minimize tissue damage

Darting Considerations
Will

the dart function properly?

Discharge mechanism

Will

the dart hit the targeted injection site?

Where on the animal should you aim?

Darting Considerations
Will

the dart deliver complete drug injection? the dart strike with excessive impact and cause injury?

Will

Will

the wound become infected?

Using a Dart Gun

3 types of dart guns:

Powder charged CO2 Air

Must practice at known distances

Arcing trajectory Very poor ballistics Weight of dart
Drugs Transmitter

Using a Dart Gun

Powder

charged rifle

Modified 22 caliber rifle

50 caliber barrel sits on top of conventional barrel Blank 22 charges - provide air pressure that is transferred into top barrel projecting dart towards target

Using a Dart Gun

Different

types of darts:

1 3cc
Radio-tracking darts
Helpful

for free-ranging wildlife

After the Shot

Approach

slowly, quietly

Animal may need re-dose if not fully anesthetized

Assess

depth of anesthesia

Blink reflex, ear reflex, heart and respiration rate

After the Shot

Proper

positioning

Sternal position for ungulates

Protect

eyes

Apply lubricant Blindfold

Monitor

vital signs

After the Shot

Dart

Removal

Must be surgically removed (darts are barbed)

Fill wound with antibiotic cream
Observe

animal until complete recovery If animal does not recover properly, then euthanasia may be the only option

Drugs
Controlled

substances

Must be obtained from licensed veterinarian DEA prescription

Two

Broad Categories

Neuromuscular Blocking Agents Central Nervous System Agents

Neuromuscular Blocking Agents

Immobilize

through paralysis

Extremely low safety margin

Mortality common with paralysis of respiratory muscles These have been banned as use for immobilizing animals
High

mortality rate, low safety margins

Central Nervous System Drugs

Act

directly on brain/spinal cord

Alter perception of environment Alleviate fear and anxiety Depress motor activity
Three

major types

Opioids Cyclohexamines Neuroleptics

Opioids
Morphine-like

Highly potent Effective in small volumes Wide margin of safety Can be immediately reversed

Cause

loss of consciousness, alleviates perception of pain species used for free-ranging wildlife and zoo

Commonly

Opioids
Common

opioids used in animal immobilization:

Carfentanil, Etorphine, Sufentanil, Fentanyl, Butorphanol

Take

care in handling minute doses are extremely toxic to humans

Can

be absorbed through mucous membrane

Cyclohexamines
Produce

altered consciousness

Dissociate mental state from environmental stimulation Retain many vital reflexes
Cannot

motion

walk but can move tongue, blink, swallowing

Peripheral analgesia (lack of pain perception)

Sufficient

to suture skin wounds

Cyclohexamines
Common

Cyclohexamines:

Ketamine (Special K) Tiletamine -> Telazol Phencyclidine (PCP)

Cyclohexamines

are dangerous when used alone and are NOT reversible

Must be used in conjunction with other drugs (Neuroleptics)

Neuroleptics
Produce

calmness and relaxation

to as tranquilizers

Referred

Does

not cause loss of consciousness or alleviate pain perception

Will

cause death before they cause loss of consciousness

Neuroleptics

are used in conjunction with other drugs (Cyclohexamines and Opioids)

Neuroleptics
Commonly
Very

used neuroleptics:

Diazapam (Valium)
wide margin of safety Calming effect and muscle relaxation

Xylazine (Rompun, Cervizine, Anased)

Fairly

wide margin of safety Drug of choice for carnivores and ungulates Immediately, completely reversible ->Tolazine

Drug Mixtures
Three

Tiers:
knockdown power, short duration

Tier 1: ketamine + neuroleptic (xylazine)

Weakest

Tier 2: Telazol or Telazol + neuroleptic

Moderate

knockdown power, long duration

Tier 3: Opioid + neuroleptic

Highest

reversal

knockdown power, duration determinant on

Drug Dosages

How much drugs do we deliver to an animal? Based on 3 key pieces of information:

How much does the animal weigh (kg)? 2. What is the recommended drug dosage for the species we are working with? 3. What is the concentration of the medication we are using?
1.

White-tailed deer
Separated

into 3 categories, all with different drug recommendations

Tame Mildly excited Wild, free-ranging

Typically

1 cc per 100 lbs.

a xylazine/Telazol mixture

Reversal

Administered to bring animal back

Drug tolazoline (Tolazine)

Summary
Chemical

immobilization can be beneficial, but there are many risks involved although a popular method, requires practice and patience
Success rates are variable usually something goes wrong Prior to the shot you must know:
Approx.

Darting,

weight of animal you are shooting Almost exact distance to target, within 1-3 yards

Summary
Drugs

Many various types used in wildlife immobilization Xylazine (Rompun) Tiletamine + zolazepam (Telazol) Ketamine Carfentanil

Summary
Drugs

Before administering you must know its:

Capabilities Side-effects Reversal

Agents (if any) Effective Concentrations Species specific recommendations