IMMOBILIZATION OF MOUNTAIN GOATS WITH XYLAZINE AND REVERSAL WITH IDAZOXAN

Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) were captured in traps and immobi lized with xylazine, later reversed with idazoxan. One hundred and for ty-one goats were immobilized, 94 with a single injection and 47 with multiple injections. Dosage (mg/kg of body weigh) of xylazine received , induction time, and recovery time after handling did not differ amon g sex-age classes. Increasing the dosage did not shorten induction tim e. The first injection of xylazine in multiple injection captures was lower than the dose given in single-injection captures, suggesting tha t insufficient initial doses of xylazine made multiple injections nece ssary. Xylazine is an effective drug for immobilization of mountain go ats captured in traps at dosages of about 4.9 mg/kg. The dosage of xyl azine required to immobilize mountain goats is higher than that report ed for bighorn sheep and white-tailed deer.