A device for observing wild beavers in their lodge

Patenaude-Pilote, Françoise; Oertli, Erwin F.; Bovet, Jacques

doi:10.1139/z80-168

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Beavers (Castor canadensis) are colonial mammals that live in lodges or bank dens (Baker and Hill 2003), making them a useful species for application of remote videography to record behavior and demographic characteristics. Previous methods of recording beaver behavior inside beaver lodges have included audio-taping and direct observation (Tevis 1950, Potvin and Bovet 1975, Oertli 1976, Patenaude-Pilote et al 1980). However, audio-taping and direct observations have drawbacks, such as being labor-intensive and disruptive to animals.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Remote Videography System for Monitoring Beavers

Bloomquist

Nielsen

2009

J Wildl Manag

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We developed a remote videography system for monitoring behavior and demography of beavers (Castor canadensis) inside lodges and bank dens. Videography systems taped 6 beaver colonies for 1,080 hours and recorded 300 hours of beaver activity. Upon viewing videotape, we could characterize 86% of beaver activity into 1 of 12 behavioral categories. Of 26 individually marked beavers, we observed 8 (31%) on videotape and obtained a complete count of kits in 4 of 5 colonies. The remote videography system was generally useful and can provide wildlife biologists with demographic and behavioral information to support population modeling and management programs for beavers.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Remote Videography System for Monitoring Beavers

Bloomquist

Nielsen

2009

J Wildl Manag

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Fixed readers are comparable to filming within lodges, as both methods identify individuals within a family‐group at a fixed position (Patenaude‐Pilote et al 1980, Bloomquist and Nielsen 2009, Mott et al 2011). However, unlike direct observation or video identification inside lodges using external ear and tail markers, fixed readers can provide a definite identification of each animal recorded, with no possibility of observer error.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Methods used to monitor the number of animals in a family‐group often rely on capture‐mark‐recapture studies (Rosell and Hovde 2001, Campbell et al 2012, White et al 2015, Graf et al 2016, Mayer et al 2017). Noninvasive studies use direct observation (Rosell and Nolet 1997; Rosell et al 1998, 2006), camera traps (Severud et al 2011), and filming within lodges (Patenaude‐Pilote et al 1980, Bloomquist and Nielsen 2009, Mott et al 2011). However, drawbacks to these methods highlight the potential of RFID for the noninvasive monitoring of animals in a family‐group.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Radio‐Frequency Identification Technology to Monitor Eurasian Beavers

Briggs

Robstad

Rosell

2021

Wildlife Society Bulletin

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The use of radio‐frequency identification (RFID) offers new potential in remote wildlife monitoring to reduce the invasive nature of studies requiring direct contact with study animals. Facilitated by the emergence of new technology, RFID can remotely identify individual animals implanted with passive‐integrated‐transponder (PIT) tags. We aimed to establish and assess a new technique for remote RFID for remotely and noninvasively monitoring a wild population of a semi‐aquatic mammal, the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber). A fixed reader was installed from June 2018 to July 2019 at beaver lodges within the territories of 8 family‐groups in Vestfold and Telemark, Norway, for 3 nights per lodge, with RFID antennas at lodge entrances. Microchipped beavers were detected when entering or leaving the lodge. The family‐group size recorded using RFID was compared to the known family‐group size based on live capture records and direct observations. The family‐group size recorded using RFID was smaller than the known family‐group size. However, testing suggested that individuals inhabiting a lodge with a fixed reader installed had a high probability of detection (98.44%). Fixed readers are effective where the identification of individuals at a focal point is appropriate, with unique applications for monitoring species with high fidelity to lodges or dens, or species that exhibit central‐place foraging behavior. Research using RFID through fixed PIT tag readers should be given priority for noninvasive beaver population monitoring. Whereas fixed PIT tag readers may not record entire beaver family‐groups, they provide an accurate and efficient alternative to other monitoring techniques. © 2021 The Authors. Wildlife Society Bulletin published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Wildlife Society.

show abstract

The Ontogeny of Behavior of Free‐living Beavers (Castor canadensis)

Patenaude

1984

Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

and Summary We followed the behavioral development of 8 young American beavers (Castor canadensis) in their natural environment. The behavioral development of wild beaver kits living in a familial unit with one adult pair and yearlings can be divided in three distinct phases. 1. The first 4–5 weeks during which the neonates were confined to the lodge were characterized by physical maturation and a very rapid development of locomotion, alimentation, care of the fur, and social behaviors. 2. The next phase extended from first emergence from the lodge to the next spring. Development of ability to stay submerged, exploration of the aquatic part of the home range of the family and refinement of skills characterized this period. No new behavior patterns appeared during this phase. 3. The last period extended from about 10 months to the dispersal of the animals when they were around 2 years old, and was marked by the development of building behaviors and of food gathering. Comparisons with the development of captive beavers suggested that in general, the environmental conditions did not significantly alter the developmental pattern of young beavers. Comparisons with other accounts on the development of some other rodents indicate that beavers are most similar to some precocial hystricomorphs that exhibit a slow rate of development.

show abstract

A device for observing wild beavers in their lodge

Abstract: A device is described that allows direct visual observation of wild beavers within their original lodges.

Cited by 3 publications

References 3 publications

A Remote Videography System for Monitoring Beavers

A Remote Videography System for Monitoring Beavers

Using Radio‐Frequency Identification Technology to Monitor Eurasian Beavers

The Ontogeny of Behavior of Free‐living Beavers (Castor canadensis)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About