Effectiveness of Vaginal-Implant Transmitters for Locating Elk Parturition Sites

We assessed success of vaginal implant transmitters (VITs), deployed in 198 elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni), in locating elk calving sites in western Wyoming, USA, in 2006-2007. We identified 60.3% of expelled VIT locations as definite or probable event markers and an additional 21.8% as possible event markers. Failure rate for VITs was 10.6%, and we found an additional 7.3% in improbable or impossible parturition sites. Vaginal implant transmitters were effective in locating calving and abortion sites and will facilitate definition of parturition habitat selection and parturition ranges of specific subpopulations. ( JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 73( 1): 144-148; 2009)