Schöttes Franziska M, Gethöffer Friederike, Tost Daniel, Kemper Nicole, Siebert Ursula
Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behavior, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Front Vet Sci. 2025 Jul 30;12:1619604. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1619604. eCollection 2025.
Since 2016, coypu () and raccoons () have been listed as invasive alien species (IAS) of European Union concern (The Implementing Regulation (EU) 1141/2016). The three-stage management plan stipulates the prevention of the further spread of species already established in Germany (Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council). Live trapping is a commonly used instrument to catch animals in hunting practice, but also in species conservation and pet protection. As part of a comprehensive study to improve animal welfare in live trapping, this paper focuses on a behavioral study with the aim of assessing the behavior of trapped animals in relation to stress. Video recordings were analyzed using a species adjusted ethogram and a quantitative observation method with focus on the animal in the trap over a maximum six-hour period. Blood and hair samples were taken for endocrinological examinations. The results showed large species-specific and individual differences in the expression of a wide range of behavior and coping strategies. As part of the stress assessment, it was concluded that external factors, among others the type of trap, have an influence on the behavior of coypu and raccoon. The raccoons showed different behaviors depending on the individual data. The endocrinological examinations of the stress parameters cortisol and dehydroepiandrosteron (DHEA) measured in serum and hair revealed differences between the species, indicating differing basal values. For coypu, the measurements indicated differences in serum and hair cortisol levels between juvenile and adult coypu. The study shows substantial indicators, such as the design of the trap type and the duration of capture, can be used to contribute to improve practices in live capture of (wild) animals.
自2016年起，河狸（）和浣熊（）被列为欧盟关注的外来入侵物种（《欧盟第1141/2016号实施条例》）。三阶段管理计划规定要防止已在德国境内建立种群的物种进一步扩散（欧洲议会和理事会的《欧盟第1143/2014号条例》）。活体诱捕是狩猎实践中常用的捕捉动物的手段，在物种保护和宠物保护中也会用到。作为一项旨在改善活体诱捕中动物福利的综合研究的一部分，本文重点进行了一项行为学研究，目的是评估被困动物与应激相关的行为。使用针对特定物种调整的行为图谱和定量观察方法，对视频记录进行分析，重点观察被困动物在最长六小时内的情况。采集血液和毛发样本进行内分泌学检查。结果显示，在广泛的行为表现和应对策略方面，存在很大的物种特异性和个体差异。作为应激评估的一部分，得出的结论是，外部因素，尤其是诱捕器的类型，会对河狸和浣熊的行为产生影响。浣熊根据个体数据表现出不同的行为。对血清和毛发中测量的应激参数皮质醇和脱氢表雄酮（DHEA）进行的内分泌学检查揭示了物种之间的差异，表明基础值不同。对于河狸，测量结果表明幼年和成年河狸的血清和毛发皮质醇水平存在差异。该研究表明，诸如诱捕器类型的设计和捕获持续时间等重要指标，可用于改进（野生）动物活体捕获的实践。
