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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 46(1)

Improving radio transmitter attachment methods for small mammals through captive trials and field studies

Freya Robinson https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8598-2466 A * , Nikki Van de Weyer https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8659-4369 A B , Steve Henry https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4372-8769 A , Lyn A. Hinds https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4125-2357 A , Peter R. Brown https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5894-8329 A and Wendy A. Ruscoe https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7763-0356 A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Health & Biosecurity, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

B Applied BioSciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.

* Correspondence to: Freya.Robinson@csiro.au

Handling Editor: Stewart Nicol

Australian Mammalogy 46, AM23007 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM23007
Submitted: 8 March 2023  Accepted: 26 June 2023  Published: 18 July 2023

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australian Mammal Society.

Abstract

Radio tracking can be used to collect information about animal movement, home range, behaviour and habitat use. Many field studies have fitted radio transmitters to small rodents using permanent nylon cable tie collars and successfully collected movement and fate data. The approach to animal welfare within the context of scientific research prioritises minimising adverse effects on the research animals. Although a range of electronically activated release mechanisms exist in radio tracking collars for larger mammals, weight and size restrictions make these unsuitable for smaller animals (<30 g). Our aim was to identify a radio transmitter model and attachment method of an appropriate size and weight that would remain attached to a house mouse (Mus musculus) for >20 days to collect movement data – and then detach or show signs of detaching after 30 days. Laboratory and field trials identified that a cable tie collar with a cotton thread weak-link and customised radio transmitter was suitable for wild house mice in cropping paddocks. Glue-on methods did not stay attached for long enough to obtain more than a few days of tracking data.

Keywords: adhesive, attachment methods, glue-on, mice, radio collar, radio tracking, radio transmitter, rodent, small mammal, weak-link collar.

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