Common use of Traps Clause in Contracts

Traps. If bucket or cage traps are used, the traps must be shaded and checked twice per day—once in the morning and once in the late afternoon, and they must remain in place for at least 28 consecutive days or until the resident tortoise is captured, whichever occurs first. All traps must be closed if at any time during the 28-day trapping period the forecasted low temperature is below 50˚ F, and the trapping period shall restart at day 1 when a trap is closed for any reason. For bucket traps, dig a hole just outside of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ entrance that is large enough to accommodate a 5-gallon bucket placed flush with the ground level. Drainage holes must be drilled into the bottom and lower sides of bucket traps to prevent rainwater from accumulating in the bucket and potentially drowning the tortoise. Cover the bucket opening with paper or cloth and a small amount of soil (for camouflage) to create a pitfall trap for a gopher tortoise. Alternatively, a mesh wire cage trap may be used, either homemade (e.g., “flap trap”) set over the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ entrance; or commercially available (e.g., Havahart ®) that is set directly in front of a ▇▇▇▇▇▇ to capture the resident tortoise. Both pitfall and cage traps must be completely shaded (using burlap, other cloth, plywood, and/or vegetation). It is possible that other state- or federally-listed, or at-risk species may be encountered during trapping activities. Any of these species found in traps should be photographed to provide unequivocal identification, and if no guidance already exists regarding appropriate disposition of these animals, the Service and/or appropriate state agency should be contacted immediately. All trapped or excavated gopher tortoises must be individually marked, measured, weighed and given a health assessment. Care should be taken to clean all marking and measuring instruments with a dilute chlorine solution (as described above) to prevent transmission of pathogens between animals. Marking is performed by drilling holes in, or using a triangular file to notch, one or a combination of the eight rear-most marginal scutes (the four right ones and the four left ones) and the two right and left front marginal scutes, following a numbering system approved by the permitting/management authority (see Figure 1). Drilling or notching should be carefully undertaken to avoid injury to the limbs or head. Also, holes should be drilled closer to the marginal edge (without breaking through the edge) rather than higher up on the scutes. For adult tortoises, Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags may be used as a different method for uniquely marking individuals. PIT tags are small microchips that can be injected into a tortoise’s hind leg using a clean, hand-held applicator and following manufacturer’s guidelines. Alternatively, PIT tags may be affixed to the carapace of tortoises (any age) using epoxy, trying to avoid applying epoxy across the gap between adjacent scutes. Juveniles (<130 mm carapace length) cannot be marked using a drill because of their pliable shells; instead, a triangular file or sharp scissors must be used to carefully notch the appropriate scutes. Data collected should include the age class, sex (if determinable), and identification number of the tortoise, as well as straight-line carapace length, plastron length, width, weight, and photographs of the carapace and plastron. Additional measurements may be taken (see Figure 2). As a general rule, tortoises <130mm carapace length should be considered juveniles; those with carapace length 130- 220mm should be considered subadults; and those with >220mm carapace length are considered adults (mature). Adult male tortoises, in comparison to females, have a concave plastron, a wider anal width relative to the anal notch, and a longer gular projection (see Figure 2). On the data sheet(s), the project site and recipient site should be recorded along with the results of a basic health assessment. The health assessment should consist of a basic physical examination of the posture/behavior of the tortoise, any apparent injuries or trauma, and an examination of the eyes, nostrils, skin, muscle mass, and shell.