Developing a new shock-collar design for safe and efficient use on wild wolves

• Published in: Wildlife Society bulletin Vol. 37; no. 2; pp. 416 - 422
• Main Authors: Hawley, Jason E., Rossler, Shawn T., Gehring, Thomas M., Schultz, Ronald N., Callahan, Peggy A., Clark, Raymond, Cade, Jerry, Wydeven, Adrian P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2013
• Subjects: behavior; Canis lupus; depredation; gray wolf; non-lethal management; shock collars; site-aversive conditioning
• ISSN: 1938-5463; 1938-5463
• DOI: 10.1002/wsb.234

Electronic training collars, or shock collars, have received relatively little application as a non‐lethal management tool for reducing livestock losses caused by gray wolves (Canis lupus). One of the major obstacles to using shock collars on wolves has been the lack of a safe and efficient collar design. We developed a new shock‐collar design and tested it for safety and efficacy on captive wolves. Our design used a radiocollar with a shock unit mounted on the back. Shock units were fitted with rounded probes that contact the back of a wolf's shaved neck and with externally mounted batteries to increase battery life. We tested our design in 5 different captive trials conducted during 2003–2005 at the Wildlife Science Center, Minnesota, USA, and eliminated neck damage shown in previous shock‐collar research, while retaining the ability to effectively deliver a shock. We extended battery life to 80 days. We believe this new shock‐collar design could be used as a safe and efficient alternative to lethal control in certain situations for wild wolves. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.