Information garnered from the capture and handling of free‐ranging animals helps advance understanding of wildlife ecology and can aid in decisions on wildlife management. Unfortunately, animals may experience increased levels of stress, injuries, and death resulting from captures (e.g., exertional myopathy, trauma). Partial sedation is a technique proposed to alleviate stress in animals during capture, yet efficacy of partial sedation for reducing stress and promoting survival post‐capture remains unclear. We evaluated the effects of partial sedation on physiological, biochemical, and behavioral indicators of acute stress and probability of survival post‐capture for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) that were captured via helicopter net‐gunning in the eastern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Wyoming, USA. We administered 10–30 mg of midazolam and 15 mg of azaperone intramuscularly (IM) to 32 mule deer in 2016 and 53 mule deer in 2017, and maintained a control group (captured but not sedated) of 38 mule deer in 2016 and 54 mule deer in 2017. To evaluate indicators of acute stress, we measured heart rate, blood‐oxygen saturation, body temperature, respiration rate, and levels of serum cortisol. We recorded number of kicks and vocalizations of deer during handling and evaluated behavior during release. We also measured levels of fecal glucocorticoids as an indicator of baseline stress. Midazolam and azaperone did not reduce physiological, biochemical, or behavioral indicators of acute stress or influence probability of survival post‐capture. Mule deer that were administered midazolam and azaperone, however, were more likely to hesitate, stumble or fall, and walk during release compared with individuals in the control group, which were more likely to trot, stot, or run without stumbling or falling. Our findings suggest that midazolam (10–30 mg IM) and azaperone (15 mg IM) may not yield physiological or demographic benefits for captured mule deer as previously assumed and may pose adverse effects that can complicate safety for captured animals, including drug‐induced lethargy. Although we failed to find efficacy of midazolam and azaperone as a method for reducing stress in captured mule deer, the efficacy of midazolam and azaperone or other combinations of partial sedatives in reducing stress may depend on the dose of tranquilizer, study animal, capture setting, and how stress is defined. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.

中文翻译：

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局部镇静的作用，以减少捕获的M鹿的压力

通过捕获和处理自由放养的动物获得的信息有助于加深对野生动植物生态系统的了解，并有助于做出有关野生动植物管理的决策。不幸的是，动物可能会因捕获（例如，劳累性肌病，创伤）而导致压力，伤害和死亡的增加。部分镇静是一项旨在减轻捕获过程中动物压力的技术，但尚不清楚部分镇静在减轻压力和促进捕获后存活方面的功效。我们评估了部分镇静对急性应激的生理，生化和行为指标的影响以及and鹿（Odocoileus hemionus）被捕后存活的可能性）是通过直升机网络在美国怀俄明州大黄石生态系统东部捕获的。我们分别于2016年和2016年分别对32头and鹿和10头53 ule鹿施用了10–30 mg咪达唑仑和15 mg氮杂哌酮（IM），并于2016年维持了对照组（捕获但未镇静）为38 cap鹿和54 ule鹿在2017年。为评估急性应激指标，我们测量了心率，血氧饱和度，体温，呼吸频率和血清皮质醇水平。我们记录了处理过程中鹿的踢脚和发声的次数，并评估了释放时的行为。我们还测量了粪便糖皮质激素的水平，作为基线压力的指标。咪达唑仑和氮杂哌酮不会降低急性应激的生理，生化或行为指标，也不会影响捕获后的生存可能性。然而，与对照组相比，给予咪达唑仑和氮杂哌酮的ule鹿更容易在释放过程中犹豫，跌倒或跌倒和行走，而对照组中的小鹿更可能小跑，乱跑或奔跑而不会绊脚或跌倒。我们的发现表明，咪达唑仑（10–30 mg IM）和氮杂哌酮（15 mg IM）可能无法像以前假设的那样对捕获的m鹿产生生理或人口统计学益处，并且可能造成不利影响，使被捕获动物的安全性复杂化，包括药物引起的昏睡。尽管我们未能找到咪达唑仑和氮杂哌酮作为减轻捕获的m鹿应激的方法的功效，但咪达唑仑和氮杂哌酮或部分镇静剂的其他组合减轻应激的功效可能取决于镇静剂的剂量，研究动物，捕获环境，以及如何定义压力。©2020野生动物协会。