Repellency of three compounds to caribou

Published source details Brown W.K., Hall W.K., Linton L.R., Huenefeld R.E. & Shipley L.A. (2000) Repellency of three compounds to caribou. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 28, 365-371.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use chemical repellents along roads or railways Action Link

Use chemical repellents along roads or railways

A replicated, controlled study in 1998 in three captive facilities in Alberta, Canada (Brown et al. 2000) found that one of three repellents (trialled for potential to deter animals from roads) discouraged feeding by caribou Rangifer tarandus. Animals ate significantly less food treated with lithium chloride (day 1: 900 g consumed; days 2–5: 200–300 g/day) than untreated food (1,200 g/day). Caribou ate significantly less food treated with Deer Away Big Game Repellent® on day 1 (300 g consumed) but not days 2–5 (700–900 g/day) compared to untreated food (1,200 g/day). Wolfin® did not affect the amount eaten (days 1–5: 1,100 g/day; untreated: 1,100 g/day). Lithium chloride (a gastrointestinal toxicant), Deer Away Big Game Repellent® (olfactory and taste repellent) and Wolfin® (olfactory repellent stimulating wolf urine), which could each be added to salt-sand mixtures or placed along roads to discourage salt licking, were tested on 14 captive caribou at three sites. Big Game Repellent powder (12–15 g/kg pellets) and lithium chloride (150 mg/kg body mass) were put on pelleted food. Wolfin capsules (5 cm) were placed on 1-m-high posts, 2 m from pellets. Food was provided without repellent for two days before and after a five-day period with repellents, in February–May 1998.

(Summarised by: Rebecca K. Smith)