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1 October 1992 Field Immobilization of American Martens (Martes americana) and Short-tailed Weasels (Mustela erminea)
Jerrold L. Belant
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Abstract

Ketamine hydrochloride (KH) and a 5:1 combination of KH and xylazine hydrochloride (XH) were used successfully to immobilize short-tailed weasels (Mustela erminea) and American martens (Martes americana), respectively. Four adult male martens were intramuscularly injected with 30 to 82 mg/kg KH and 8.0 to 16.4 mg/kg XH. Three adult male short-tailed weasels were intramuscularly injected with 20.8 to 42.1 mg/kg KH. Mean (±SE) induction times for martens and short-tailed weasels were 1.8 ± 0.2 min and 46 ± 4.1 sec, respectively; recovery times were 100.4 ± 19.3 min and 97.9 ± 6.3 min, respectively. Heart rate was relatively constant among martens; however, respiration varied widely (21 to 122 breaths per minute). Marten body temperature decreased between 0 and 20 min post-recumbency. Short-tailed weasel heart rate and respiration decreased in response to sedation until slightly before arousal. Body temperature stabilized by 20 min post-recumbency. Two short-tailed weasels tremored slightly within 10 min of arousal. I conclude that KH and KH/XH are safe immobilizing agents for martens and short-tailed weasels, respectively.

Belant: Field Immobilization of American Martens (Martes americana) and Short-tailed Weasels (Mustela erminea)
Jerrold L. Belant "Field Immobilization of American Martens (Martes americana) and Short-tailed Weasels (Mustela erminea)," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 28(4), 662-665, (1 October 1992). https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-28.4.662
Received: 11 October 1991; Published: 1 October 1992
KEYWORDS
American Marten
chemical immobilization
field study
ketamine hydrochloride
Martes americana
Mustela erminea
short-tailed weasel
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