>This doe was collared as an
>adult, most likely in 2006
>or 2008. I just spoke
>to the biologist who oversaw
>the original collaring study on
>the Cache unit, and she
>showed me one of the
>collars and explained a few
>things:
>
>1. The collar needs to be
>tight or else there is
>a risk of it rubbing
>the neck raw (and causing
>an infection). It could also
>get the doe caught on
>something.
>
>2. Because the doe's winter hair
>is so thick, the collar
>always looks much tighter than
>it actually is.
>
>3. We work with professional wildlife-capture/collar
>companies who have done this
>work for years, all over
>the United States. They usually
>slip two fingers between the
>neck and the collar when
>attaching the collar for the
>first time. That method ensures
>that the collar doesn't go
>on too tight.
>
>4. We use different collars for
>does and fawns. The fawns'
>collars drop off after about
>nine months or so. The
>does' collars don't drop off.
>The doe in this photo
>has survived with this collar
>on for the past three
>to five years.
>
>I also spoke to our wildlife
>disease coordinator this morning. She
>looked at the photo and
>agreed that although the collar
>looks tight ? and she
>couldn't see the entire body
>? the deer does not
>appear to be malnourished. Her
>face isn't sunken in, her
>eyes are bright, her ears
>are perked and her coat
>is smooth and shiny.
>
>With all that said, the collar
>looks tight in this photo,
>and our biologist in the
>Cache unit is going to
>follow up and check on
>the condition of this doe.
>I hope this helps answer
>some questions about our collaring
>work.
>
>Amy Canning
>Communications Specialist
>Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
"Also, since the study was performed by a private contractor 5 years ago, and it was their responsibility to recover the collars at the conclusion of the study, the Department is not responsible for said collars or the deers' current problems."
What a crock of chit! We have several here in Ca also.
"If God did not intend for man to hunt animals, he would have made broccoli more fun to shoot"