Immobilization of Rocky Mountain Elk with Telazol® and Xylazine Hydrochloride, and Antagonism by Yohimbine Hydrochloride

Ten trapped Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) were successfully immobilized with a combination of 500 mg Telazol® and 60 mg xylazine hydrochloride (HCl) from 9 July to 25 August 1993 in Custer State Park, South Dakota (USA). Mean (SD) dosages of 2.5 (0.6) mg/kg Telazol® and 0.3 (0.1) mg/kg xylazine HCl, respectively, were administered, resulting in a mean (SD) induction time of 4.6 (0.8) min. Induction time varied with weight and dosage. Respiratory rate (breaths/ min) increased following injection of Telazol® and xylazine HCl and remained elevated or continued to increase through 10 min post-injection and then declined. There were no mortalities in this study. Forty mg of yohimbine HCl was used as an antagonist in eight elk, resulting in a mean (SD) recovery time of 14.0 (9.9) min when administered intravenously (n =6), and 124.7 (9.5) min when given intramuscularly (n = 2). Recovery time varied with weight and dosage of yohimbine. Elk given 2.1 to 2.6 mg/kg Telazol® and 0.1 to 0.3 mg/kg xylazine HCl responded to yohimbine HCl when administered intravenously.