USE OF A HELICOPTER TO CAPTURE FLIGHTED CRANES

Using a helicopter, we pursued 12 sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) an d captured 6. In forested habitat, cranes could be forced down, but we were unable to deploy the pursuit team, so cranes could not be captur ed. In open habitat, every crane we pursued was captured. Target crane s were forced to the ground in 0.3-14 minutes ((x) over bar = 6 minute s). Adjusting pursuit distance (50-150 m) was essential in promoting f atigue and in preventing escape of target cranes.