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Comparing Live-Capture Methods for Nutria: Single- Versus Multiple-Capture Cage Traps
Human-Wildlife Interactions
  • Trevor Robert Sheffels, Portland State University
  • Mark D. Sytsma, Portland State University
  • Jacoby Carter, U.S. Geological Survey
  • Jimmy D. Taylor, United States Department of Agriculture
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2019
Subjects
  • Coypu -- Control,
  • Introduced organisms,
  • Myocastor,
  • Coypu -- Trapping,
  • Animal traps -- Design and construction,
  • Wildlife management
Abstract

Herbivory and burrowing by nutria (Myocastor coypus) cause substantial ecological and economic damage. Trapping is a common, effective practice for reducing nutria damage; however, trapping approaches must continually be adapted to keep pace with evolving animal welfare and ethical issues and to more effectively target pest species of interest. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of 2 nonlethal trap types for nutria: single-capture (SCT) and multi-capture (MCT) cage traps. We established 3 MCTs and 3 SCTs at each of 7 sites on a 10,500-ha mixed-use island located 15 km northwest of Portland, Oregon, USA. We pre-baited using carrots, apples, and sweet potatoes for ≥3 consecutive days before trapping. We checked traps daily, and an infrared motion camera was established near each MCT to document activity. We captured 26 nutria over 724 trap nights, and all captures occurred at 4 sites. Nutria captured by MCTs were larger (6.38 ± 1.68 [SD] kg, n = 10) than nutria captured by SCTs (4.21 ± 2.48 [SD] kg, n = 16; F1,25 = 5.51,P = 0.02). Camera surveillance showed multiple nutria present in an MCT on ≥2 occasions, although individuals

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Locate the Document

http://doi.org/10.26077/4ssf-gp94

DOI
10.26077/4ssf-gp94
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/32355
Citation Information
Sheffels, T. R., Carter, J., Sytsma, M. D., & Taylor, J. D. (2019). Comparing live-capture methods for nutria: single-versus multiple-capture cage traps. Human-Wildlife Interactions, 13(3), 9.