Post by Mountainman on Jan 12, 2006 9:25:43 GMT -7
DENVER, CO-As part of an ongoing long-term study on mule deer survival rates, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) announced last week that starting this month, it will use a helicopter to capture mule deer in the state's Fremont, Chafee, Lake and Teller counties in order to fit the animals with radio collars.
"We understand the public's concerns about low-flying aircraft, so we want to let people know this operation is part of a sanctioned long-term scientific study," said DOW Biologist Jack Vayhinger.
DOW wildlife biologists will use the helicopter to locate mule deer before dropping a net over them. Once a deer is in the net, the helicopter will land and biologists will fit the animal with a radio collar that contains a transmitter. A deer is released after a collar has been attached.
The DOW says approximately 15 adult female mule deer and 60 fawns will be radio-collared as part of the study. The radio-collar transmitters enable biologists to monitor the deer once a week. If a deer dies the collar's signal changes, which makes it possible for DOW personnel to pinpoint the location of the carcass, retrieve the collar and try to determine the cause of death.
Biologists can use the data to obtain valuable, long-term information about the overall health of Colorado's deer population.
"We understand the public's concerns about low-flying aircraft, so we want to let people know this operation is part of a sanctioned long-term scientific study," said DOW Biologist Jack Vayhinger.
DOW wildlife biologists will use the helicopter to locate mule deer before dropping a net over them. Once a deer is in the net, the helicopter will land and biologists will fit the animal with a radio collar that contains a transmitter. A deer is released after a collar has been attached.
The DOW says approximately 15 adult female mule deer and 60 fawns will be radio-collared as part of the study. The radio-collar transmitters enable biologists to monitor the deer once a week. If a deer dies the collar's signal changes, which makes it possible for DOW personnel to pinpoint the location of the carcass, retrieve the collar and try to determine the cause of death.
Biologists can use the data to obtain valuable, long-term information about the overall health of Colorado's deer population.