Evaluating the effectiveness of expandable radiocollars for juvenile cervids

We present the retention rate of expandable radiocollars that can be used on juvenile cervids. These collars permit investigations into a previously understudied segment of cervid populations. We captured 60 male sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Dorchester County, Maryland, USA, during their first winter (6-8 months of age; captured 2008 and 2009) and attached expandable radiocollars. Retention of collars differed between years. The first year, 85% of collars were retained for 1 year with a mean retention time of 532 days (SE = 27). After modifications, 100% of second-year collars were retained for the duration of the study or until the animal's death (max = 483 days). We used trail cameras to observe wear and fit of the collars 6-8 months after deployment. Our data suggest that the expandable collar design can be improved to last beyond an animal's dispersal and provide a useful tool for monitoring juvenile cervids. (C) 2014 The Wildlife Society.