A Safe and Selective Draw-String Trap to Capture Kangaroos Moving Under Fences.

Abstract

Macropods have been captured by a variety of techniques: hand nets, trap yards, baited traps, cannon nets, drugged baits, syringe darts and stunning. These techniques differ in selectivity, in the likelihood of physical trauma or capture myopathy, and in the number of personnel required. Each technique is also limited to particular habitats or environmental conditions. A new draw-string trap was developed to capture kangaroos moving under fences, using a tunnel of soft netting attached to a steel weldmesh floor and suspended from a weldmesh frame. Draw-string closures at each end of the netting allowed selective and safe capture of kangaroos by two operators.