influence du climat et de la prédation sur l'utilisation de l'habitat et la ...

22
Figure 2.1 : Dip net developed to capture North American porcupines in Parc National du
Bic, Québec, May 2000-May 2005. Photo by S. Descamps.
1 n winter, porcupines spent most of their time inside inaccessible rock den s, which are
highly available in our study area (Morin et al. 2005). We placed single-doO!' live traps baited
with apples and pean ut butter in porcupine paths near occupied dens. We covered traps with
fabric tarps to decrease heat loss of trapped individuals. When an animal proved difficult to
capture, we fitted a live trap into the entrance of the den and blocked ail alternative exits. If
den morphology made this operation impossible, we waited for the porcupine at the entrance
of its den and caught it into a dip net. We placed movement detectors (Vigil 650X,
Circuitronique Estrie, Rock Forest, Québec) outside the den several days before capture to
detennine the daily activity schedule of the porcupine and thus minimize waiting time.
Juveniles were captured by band using leather gloves.
Hand/ing
We transferred captured porcupines to a dip net for manipulations. We measured body
mass using a spring scale (Pesola Macro Line 1, 2, 5, 10 or 20 kg, Pesola AG, Baar,