I received an email back from Biotrack (which is now a part of Lotek Wireless), a company that produces radio collars and other tracking devices.  Probably not what I need anyway– I’m not tracking in a huge territory, nor do I need to ruggedize so thoroughly. Plus they’re prohibitively expensive, unless I can borrow a receiver that can listen to the device… No GPS sized for rats! But Lotek does have these amazing pit tag data logging GPS devices for fish and birds that, at first glance, seem pretty amazing. Datasheets for several different kinds are downloadable here: LotekGPS and here: lat-tdr.

Jan 17

Dear BioTrack,
My name is Arturo Vidich and I am a graduate student at the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University. I am tracking wild rats in New York City to find out more about their secret social lives when they’re out and about, as well as in the burrow. This project will be funded (hopefully) by iLand arts residency and NYU.  Below are some questions and general interests in your products:

-Rats can sometimes get out of collars and chew through harnesses, so I am looking into biodegradable/ingestible glue solutions to affix the tracking devices. That way I don’t have to catch the same rat twice– the device will fall off on its own, and on the off chance the device is found it can be returned. Another option I’m looking into is a harness or collar that has a biodegradable clasp that will cause it to fall off within 7-14 days. Do you offer something like that?

-Given the short nature of the study period, a stronger signal with a shorter battery life would seem to make sense. The area I’m going to cover (pending rat range assessments) will probably not be very large, but I’m concerned about on-board data storage when the rats go into enclosed areas– I want to be sure that as much in-burrow activity as possible will be stored for logging later when the rat emerges– is that possible with your line of devices?

-One aspect of this project that I am considering is affixing a video recording device to get visual contact once the rat is out of sight. Does your company make any device, or have an interface on existing devices that could pair with something I build myself?

Lastly, if possible, could I have some quotes for this species, with the various options you offer?
Thank you!
Arturo

Jan 18

Dear Arturo,

Thank you for your enquiry and your interest in our products.

Biotrack specialise in VHF radio-tracking equipment for wildlife. I am afraid that none of our transmitters currently store data on board. The VHF transmitters emit a signal that can be detected with a receiver and antenna to locate each individual animal when you want to.

However, we do have receivers that can be set-up and left to detect presence or absence of the individuals in certain areas, the SRX-DL. I have attached the datasheet for this receiver for more information.

Previously for Rats we have supplied our transmitters on Brass or cable-tie collars. The brass makes the collars much more difficult to chew through. We can also supply transmitters that can be glued to the fur and these transmitters will fall off over time. The time that they will take to fall off is variable, especially if the rats will attempt to prise the tag off themselves. I have attached the datasheet for our small mammal collars for more information.

We do not make any collars with biodegradable clasps or similar break-away options but would be happy to make the collars so that you can add in your own break-away section.

We can also make these transmitters with activity sensors which change the speed of the VHF signal when the animal is moving and this signal rate can be logged by the DataSika.

Do you think that our transmitters and receivers could be suitable for your study?

Glue-on backpack transmitters start from 165 US Dollars and collars from 195 US Dollars. All prices exclude taxes, duty and shipping.

Our manual tracking receiver, the Sika or Biotracker, starts from 2,780 US Dollars, and with this you will need an antenna at 370 US Dollars. The SRX-DL (model B) for tracking our beeper transmitters is 2,995 US Dollars.

If you are looking for tags that continuously store location (and activity) data, you will need a GPS collar/backpack. However, these will not work underground as they will not be able to communicate with the satellites. We do not currently have any GPS collars small enough for Rats.

Please feel free to ask any questions and I look forward to hearing more about your study.

Best wishes,

Sarah

Sarah Walley
Technical Sales Advisor

Biotrack Ltd, 52 Furzebrook Road, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5AX
Tel: +44 (0)1929 552992, Fax +44 (0)1929 554948

Biotrack is now part of Lotek Wireless.
Together we offer a greatly expanded range of telemetry equipment and expertise.

Small Mammal Collar

SRX-DL

I’ve compiled a list of people with whom I’ve had email contact in the last two weeks about my NYC rat tracking project. Some have been very helpful, and others have yet to reply.  If anyone reading this has any other insights into non-ITP people who would have useful expertise, or who might want to collaborate on this project, email me. The Wildlife Observation Tools class with Tom Igoe and Tony di Fiore is already panning out, and Marina Zurkow will be an informal adviser.

-Carolyn Kurle PhD (Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, UCSB)
-Dr. Robert Corrigan (senior scientist in NYC Dept. of Health)
-Katherine McFadden PhD (Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University)
-Natalie Jeremijenko (artist, engineer and scientist)
-Sam Easterson (artist and wildlife documentation specialist)
-Jennifer Monson (dance artist and iLand Arts director)
-Caroline Bragdon (NYC Health Dept.)
-Carolyn Weiss (Co-producer, “The World Without…” Science Channel)
-Cathy High (visual/media artist, independent curator, educator, possible dramaturge)
-Lorie Bierbrier DVM (Veterinarian specializing in rodents, dogs, cats)

COLLABORATORS I’M STILL LOOKING FOR:

-rat (a docile pet rat that I can size/fit tracking equipment to for non-invasive testing/optimization)
-tech (tracking devices, attaching sound/video to rats, visualizing data)
-video documentation (it’s really going to be a mockumentary, in a way)
-costume (I’m going to need help with this giant rat suit with motors, moving parts…)
-dramaturge (someone who will work on research and development, both conceptually and pragmatically)

These roles will be as collaborative as possible, but with any project, people end up doing more of one thing than another. Ideally, all these elements would be in dialogue towards an ultimate end project.

On Saturday morning Russ and I went to Central Park zoo to observe snow monkeys (macaca fuscata or Japanese snow monkey) using the methods described to us by Tom Igoe and Tony di Fiore from the Anthro department. It was very cold. The macaques seemed cold too, huddled together. Every once in a while there would be a disturbance and the troupe would bound around. [Clicks for pics ]

The assignment was to observe the monkeys and record their behavior using three different methods, which were described in class as well as the reading from last week (Measuring Behavior, Paul Martin & Patrick Bateson). The first method is called an ethogram, lit. behavior writing. Record all observable behaviors in two categories: 1) events, which are bouts of behavior that happen in a short period of time (Tony demonstrated by slapping Tom– well, not really), or defecating; 2) states, which are durational and can be comprised of many events, such as sleeping, eating, grooming, watching, sitting, etc. Record the frequency or rate of events per unit of time.Create acronyms and codes for each observable state or event to optimize the other methods of observation.

The second method of observation is to focus on an individual in the group, paying no attention to the others unless they interact with the individual you’re watching. Record the observable behaviors (states, events) that your subject engages in. In 2 minute intervals, record what they do to another individual, record what is done to them by another individual.

The third method is to scan the entire observable group and record the behaviors in five minute intervals.  Record events more than states because states are likely to be missed.

Here is a spreadsheet that outlines what I recorded. It was so cold outside that the spreadsheet is incomplete for the assignment.

Even though, “Snow monkeys can make more than 30 vocalizations and a wide range of facial and body expressions” (CPZ website), we only observed a few eventful facial expression changes besides curiosity, neutral, and concentration. One of the facial expressions that stood out occurred right before a small tiff between one of the mothers and the “old lady”. The mother had a young monkey with her most of the time. The young monkey ventured off and seemed to grab the old lady monkeys head and ‘kiss’ her on the lips; the old lady monkey bared her teeth and screamed at the young monkey, causing the mother to come. The second incident happened as I was leaving. One of the young monkeys did not want to be groomed by the mother anymore and squirmed away. The mother sent him off with a spank on the rump and a grimace. The male was mostly hunched over by a rock, sometimes venturing down the rock archipelago to mess around with stuff by the water. The old lady monkey was the only one who ‘foraged’ among the wood splints laying around. One monkey ate some moss. None of the monkeys went in the hot tub or the water.

Visiting the zoo made me at once nostalgic and angry. The Central Park Zoo is not a great place for animals (is any zoo??? Well, at least the Bronx Zoo has a Serengeti-like plain for some to wander around on). I don’t think the future of animals is so bright. The Snow Leopards were sad. For some reason they were separated and one of them was crying and pacing. The other one was just pacing, but on the opposite end of the cage from the other one. Mating season? Gus the polar bear was looking worse for wear, and licking his paw.

The 2nd assignment in Physical Computing class is to design and draft a fantasy device. It doesn’t need to work or even be in the realm of possibility, but it does need to fit into some criteria of functionality, or usefulness.  Naturally, I incline towards interactive solutions for cats. However, nothing can replace the mutual pleasure a cat and human can feel when they play together. This toy is not meant to replace the one-on-one real interaction, but to supplement or enhance it.

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