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Abstract
Traditional trapping techniques for common ravens (Corvus corax; raven) require significant effort, often produce low capture rates, and cannot be used in some situations. We designed a 3-m noose pole to secure ravens from nocturnal roost locations while using a strobe spotlight to temporarily disorient them. We collected measures of trapping efficiency and contrasted them with padded leghold traps also used in the study. We effectively implemented our noose pole method in July and August of 2018, 2019, and 2020 in the Baker and Cow Lakes sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Priority Areas of Conservation in eastern Oregon, USA, which yielded trapping efficiency of 0.48 trap-hours/raven (37 total captured ravens). Our trapping efficiency using leghold traps during the same summer months was 76.42 trap-hours/raven (3 total captured ravens). Our new trapping method constitutes an inexpensive and simple way to safely trap ravens at accessible communal roosts and merits further refinement to increase utility and capitalize on the vulnerability of ravens to capture at night.
Recommended Citation
Perry, Lindsey R.; Owens, Terrah M.; Slick, Zachary T.; Taylor, Jimmy D.; and Dinkins, Jonathan B.
(2021)
"A Novel Technique to Improve Capture Success of Common Ravens,"
Human–Wildlife Interactions: Vol. 15:
Iss.
3, Article 17.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26077/ac41-c60f
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol15/iss3/17
Included in
Behavior and Ethology Commons, Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Population Biology Commons, Zoology Commons
