Hobbies And Interests
Fish
Depending on the size of the fish, two methods can be used to capture them. A fishing net can be either dragged behind a boat or let out from a dock for smaller fish to be gathered. Larger fish sometimes can be netted, but it's more common for scientists to use traditional fishing methods using a baited hook when capturing larger fish. This technique should be done only by an experienced fish biologist, as the animal can suffer serious injury or death with improper fishing methods. Once the fish is tagged and data are gathered, the fish should be released back into its home waters immediately to avoid unnecessary stress to the animal.
Birds
Mist nets are the most common and effective tools used when capturing birds for study. Since mist nets are made of very fine fibers that birds cannot see, they can be hung directly in the bird's flight path. When the bird hits the net, it will become immobilized, but will not be injured. The bird is set free once data are recorded.
Large Mammals
Large mammals are the trickiest animals to capture and release because of their size, and also because they usually are the most dangerous to deal with. In some cases, live traps may be used to capture large mammals. A live trap is a cage that is camouflaged in the surrounding environment and the animal is lured into it. Once the animal is inside, a trapdoor is triggered to catch the animal.
The safer and more common method of capturing large mammals is with sedation. To sedate a large mammal, a dart gun or crossbow is loaded with darts containing the appropriate drugs, which are then shot towards the animal from a safe distance. The darts are shot into the animal's rump to avoid hitting any organs and killing the animal. Once the animal is sedated, its heart rate and breathing must be monitored until it is fully conscious again. If you sedate an animal, never leave it unattended until it is aware of its surroundings and can stand up and leave on its own.
Small Mammals and Reptiles
Live traps are the most common capture and release method for small mammals and reptiles. Traps should be large enough that the animal fits in comfortably, and the trap door should be designed so as to avoid injuring the animal. Live traps must be checked frequently for specimens that might have been captured. Once an animal is inside the trap, data collection and tagging must take place as soon as possible so the animal can be returned to it's natural habitat.