Evaluation of a satellite telemetry system for monitoring movements of caribou

• Published in: Rangifer
• Main Author: James A. Curatolo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Septentrio Academic Publishing 1986
• Subjects: caribou; telemetry; satellite; movements; petroleum development; Animal culture; SF1-1100; Arctic; Rangifer; Alaska
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.7557/2.6.2.585; https://doaj.org/article/30822195ed8f476ea51873f0e719ea03

A cow caribou from the Central Arctic Herd was collared with a satellite-monitored radio transmitter in the Kuparuk Oilfield, Alaska, in 1984. From 19 June to 17 August, the radio transmitted 18 hours per day. A total of 346 locations were recorded, for a mean of 5.8 locations per day or one location every 3.1 hours of transmission time. The location of 13 direct observations of the radio-collared cow averaged less than 1 km from the nearest satellite-fixed location. The satellite-fixed locations of the radio-collared cow provided detailed data on movement patterns during the three seasons studied. The cow traveled an average of 8 km day1, 23 km1, and 14 km day1 during the post-calving season, mosquito season, and oestrid fly season, respectively.