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1 July 1983 CHEMICAL RESTRAINT OF WILD HORSES: EFFECTS ON REPRODUCTION AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Joel Berger, Michael Kock, Carol Cunningham, Nancy Dodson
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Abstract

Twenty-three (9 male, 14 female) wild horses (Equus caballus) in the Great Basin Desert were immobilized by ground techniques with succinylcholine chloride during 1,950 person-hr. Induction ( = 2.09 ± 0.59 min) and recovery ( = 12.4 ± 5.0 min) were rapid and most animals were returned in less than 10 min to original bands. Dosages ranged from 0.66–0.77 mg/kg body weight and neither abortions nor band changes in group membership resulted. However, a few concerted efforts up to 24 hr were needed to return some animals to original bands and three non-drug related mortalities occurred. The responses of bands to darted members and the overall influence of the operation on reproduction, movements, and social structure are presented.

Joel Berger, Michael Kock, Carol Cunningham, and Nancy Dodson "CHEMICAL RESTRAINT OF WILD HORSES: EFFECTS ON REPRODUCTION AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 19(3), 265-268, (1 July 1983). https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-19.3.265
Received: 23 December 1982; Published: 1 July 1983
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