IMMOBILIZATION OF MOOSE BY CARFENTANIL AND XYLAZINE AND REVERSAL BY NALTREXONE, A LONG-ACTING ANTAGONIST

• Main Authors: Schmitt, Stephen M., Dalton, William J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Lakehead University 1987
• Subjects: Alces alces
• Online Access: http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/1303

Sixty-six moose (Alces alces), in Ontario, were darted from helicopters with 3 mg carfentanil (5.6-8.6 ug/kg) and either 25 mg xylazine (42-72 ug/kg) or 150 mg xylazine (299-399 ug/kg). Twenty moose processed for 25-82 minutes, were radio-collared, given 300 mg naltrexone (598-679 ug/kg) intravenously to antagonize the carfentanil, and released. Thirty-three moose were slung by helicopter to a road for radio-collaring, crating, and weighing. Thirty moose were trucked overnight to Michigan for their release. A dose of 300 mg naltrexone (560-860 ug/kg) intravenously and 200 mg of naltrexone (378-573 ug/kg) subcutaneously was used to reverse the effects of carfentanil. Naltrexone provided complete antagonism of carfentanil with no evidence of renarcotization. Naltrexone should be considered the drug of choice to antagonize carfentanil in moose.