LIFE-HISTORY EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL IMMOBILIZATION AND RADIOCOLLARS ON MOUNTAIN GOATS

To assess the potential effect of bur research activities on mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus), we tested for long-term behavioral, repro ductive, and survival effects of immobilizing and radiocollaring goats in an unhunted population in Alberta, Canada. Chemical immobilization of females with xylazine hydrochloride 1-5 months before rut decrease d Md production the following year for 3 and 4 year olds (P = 0.02), b ut not for older females (P = 0.67). Following capture, drugged female s abandoned their kids more often than undrugged females (16 vs. 2%; P = 0.02), and abandonment decreased kid survival al (P < 0.01). Abando nment was unrelated to sex of kids, breeding history of mothers, or ma ternal dominance status (P > 0.10)!. Chemical immobilization did not a ffect survival, foraging efficiency: or time spent alert for either se x (P > 0.20). Radiocollars had no effect on Md production or female do minance status and did not affect survival al, foraging efficiency: or time spent alert for either sex (P > 0.10). Overwinter survival of ca ptured and uncaptured kids did not differ. Kids with radiocollars appe ared to have lower survival than uncollared kids, but the effect was n ot significant (P = 0.16). Our results suggest that handling affected reproduction and survival of mountain goats and underline the need to test for similar effects in wildlife field studies. We provide guideli nes to reduce unwanted life-history effects on captured mountain goats .