A comparative study of Alpine marmot trapping [Etude comparative du piègeage de la marmotte alpine].

Résumé

A comparative study of trapping was performed, in the French Central Alps, in order to find the most accurate type of trap for management of Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota). Four types of traps were compared: 1-door and 2-door live traps, snares and jaw traps. Ten traps of each kind were used at the same time. The efficiency, the time response, the environment, the age and sex effect were tested as well as the effects on recapture, on animal welfare and on econimal aspects. One hundred and two marmots were captured in 979 trap days. Jaw traps had a higher efficiency (.17) than both live traps (.10 and .11) and snares (.06), the last one being highly variable. The captures wer more numerous in the morning. The succes of trapping did not differ from one day to another whatever the type of trap and the moment of the season. A greater number of marmots was captured on sunny slopes than in both other environments. The sex-ratio of captured animals did not differ significantly from 1:1. Animals of the different age classes were captured, but snares captures only adult marmots. Jaw trap produced severe injuries to 57% of the pmarmots. Recaptures were observed for all different types of traps except jaw traps. Snares and jaw traps were cheaper and lighter tha, 2-door live traps. According to ethical considerations, efficiency and lack of selectivity, live traps (1 or 2-door) appeared as the best choice to trap marmots for management as well as for scientific purposes. Related to the severe injuris provoked by jaw traps their use should be banned by law in any country.