Telemetry tails: A practical method for attaching animal-borne devices to small vertebrates in the field

Context. Continued miniaturisation of tracking technology increases its utility in animal applications. However, species morphology often dictates the type of animal-borne device (ABD) that can be used, and how it is attached. The morphology of species within Peramelemorphia preclude them from the standard collar attachment of ABDs for terrestrial mammals.

Aims. This paper describes a method for the tail-mount attachment of ABDs, and deployment results for Peramelemorphia across arid, semi-arid, and temperate Australia to (a) test the performance of attachments and ABDs in the field, and, (b) discuss the animal welfare considerations for this attachment method. 

Methods. Tail-mount attachment of ABDs were field-tested on a total of 80 greater bilbies (Macrotis lagotis), and 14 long-nosed bandicoots (Perameles nasuta). 

Key results. Time to natural detachment (TTND) was between 2 and 52 days with 65.74% (142 of 216) remaining on until manual removal. For ABDs that were manually ...