Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) - Environment and Natural ...

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
Capture, Handling & Release of Bears
Wildlife Care Committee Primary Author: Dr. Marc Cattet Version 2 - 2011
4.7. Morbidity and Mortality
Recommendations:
Any injury, disease, or abnormality observed during or following capture or
handling must be documented and reported to the GNWT-ENR Wildlife
Veterinarian as soon as possible. An investigation should be conducted
wherever possible.
Investigation may include collection of samples (blood, feces, etc.) for
submission to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory for further evaluation, e.g.,
serum biochemistry, parasite identification. Ideally, the written report should
include digital images.
Dead bears must receive a detailed necropsy to determine the cause of
death and be reported to the GNWT-ENR wildlife veterinarian as soon as
possible.
If the necropsy is performed in the field, appropriate tissue samples should be
collected and frozen or fixed in 10% buffered formalin for submission to a
veterinary pathology facility. Appropriate tissue samples should include
brain, lung, heart, liver, kidney, spleen, lymph nodes, and muscle.
Investigators should refer to a wildlife necropsy manual for details regarding
required equipment, techniques, and sampling procedures (see for example,
Munson 1999). A template for a field necropsy data form is provided in
Appendix C. Documentation should also include a detailed history and digital
images of the field necropsy to assist the veterinary pathologist diagnosing
the cause of death. Alternatively, under some circumstances, it may be
better to arrange shipment of the entire carcass to a veterinary pathology
facility for detailed necropsy.
A detailed report of the death must be written and every effort must be
made to salvage the hide, skull, and other parts legally required, and
submit these with the report to a conservation officer as soon as possible
4.8. Human Safety
- Concentrated potassium chloride injected as a bolus
intravenously is considered an acceptable form of
euthanasia in a deeply anesthetized bear.
- This technique should not be attempted by individuals unless
they have significant experience in giving intravenous
injections in bears.
Recommendations:
Appropriate handling and restraint techniques must be used for bears,
and personnel must have appropriate training and experience in their use
to avoid injury.
Bears are capable of inflicting serious injury and transmitting disease to
persons handling them.
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