Tracking Wildlife by Satellite: Current Systems and Performance 



by 



Richard B. Harris 

 Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit 



University of Montana 

 Missoula, Montana 59812 



Steven G. Fancy 



Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center 

 101 12th Avenue, Box 20 

 Fairbanks, Alaska 99701 



David C. Douglas 

 Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center 



1011 East Tudor Road 

 Anchorage, Alaska 99503 



Gerald W. Garner 

 Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center 



1011 East Tudor Road 

 Anchorage, Alaska 99503 



Steven C. Amstrup 

 Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center 



1011 East Tudor Road 

 Anchorage, Alaska 99503 



Thomas R. McCabe 



Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center 

 101 12th Avenue, Box 20 

 Fairbanks, Alaska 99701 



and 



Larry F. Pank 

 Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center 



1011 East Tudor Road 

 Anchorage, Alaska 99503 



ABSTRACT. Since 1984, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has used the Argos Data Collection and 

 Location System (DCLS) and Tiros-N series satellites to monitor movements and activities of 10 

 species of large mammals in Alaska and the Rocky Mountain region. Reliability of the entire system 

 was generally high. Data were received from instrumented caribou (Rangifer tarandus) during 9 1 % of 

 318 possible transmitter-months. Transmitters failed prematurely on 5 of 45 caribou, 2 of 6 muskoxen 

 (Ovibos moschatus), and 1 of 2 gray wolves (Canis lupus). Failure rates were considerably 



