A homemade stretcher for ungulate transport

Wildlife researchers are commonly required to deal with animal transport for research and management purposes. Inappropriate loading and transport can often result in the animal suffering additional stress and fear, with the potential for long and short term negative impacts on the well-being of the transported individuals. However, despite this common requirement, little research and practical information exist about the specific handling, equipment and transportation requirements for many of our wildlife species. Medium and large mammals (e.g., ungulates and carnivores) are often transported using culver boxes or wooden crates. Though these devices are excellent to keep the animals secure and in darkened settings, they are heavy and voluminous requiring vehicles for their transportation. An alternative approach for transporting large mammals is to use stretchers, which present a more comfortable and safe transit, in particular for short distances.