Objective:
The objective of this planned study is to conduct research on and development of a proprietary white-tailed deer collaring assembly with improved function, reduced parts, increased reliability, and more robust construction than the current prototype assembly that is used with the newly developed robotically enhanced ARS-patented automatic collaring device for white-tailed deer. The resulting assembly will permit attachment of collars with a variety of functions, and will greatly improve the automated sizing for individual deer.

Approach:
ARS and Wildlife Management Technologies, LLC, Woodstock, CT, and CRADA partner with ARS will host engineers from Empire Prototype & Product Development, Inc., Attleboro, MA, at WMT facilities to view the new automatic collaring device and to receive schematics of suggested parts changes and prototype assemblies. Collaboration among all parties will be ongoing during all developmental phases, and periodic tests of functionality of incremental prototype designs will be done using the actual collaring device prior to mold manufacture and final parts production.