Chemical immobilization of free-ranging North American bison (Bison bison) in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
Twenty-six free-ranging North American bison (Bison bison) (22 adult bulls, one yearling male and three adult females) were immobilized using a combination of carfentanil and xylazine. For carfentanil the dose range (mean +/- SD) was 1.8-5.0 micrograms/kg (2.4 +/- 0.7 micrograms/kg) and for xylazine 0.004-0.125 mg/kg (0.07 +/- 0.03 mg/kg). Induction time (mean +/- SE) was 14.2 +/- 2.9 min (median 8 min), while the total mean reversal time after administration of a narcotic antagonist was 9.0 +/- 1.4 min (median 8 min). Only one animal that received the highest initial dose of carfentanil (2.5 mg) showed evidence of becoming "re-narcotized." Five animals required two or more doses of carfentanil before becoming immobilized. Overall, small volumes of drug used (mean = 0.62 ml for carfentanil, 0.53 ml for xylazine) enabled the use of 1 to 2 ml darts, increasing both accuracy and impact safety. Darting success approached 100%.
Kock
M D
MD
International Wildlife Veterinary Services, Inc., Orangevale, California 95662.
Berger
J
J
D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001188:Artiodactyla; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D007103:Immobilization; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D013023:South Dakota; D013843:Thiazines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014991:Xylazine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D013843:Thiazines; D014991:Xylazine; C017114:carfentanil; D005283:Fentanyl