Custom drug combinations and formulations which minimize induction times-the time from dart impact until the animal is immobilized. (Dr. Amass has drug combinations and techniques that will safely and rapidly limit the escape potential of most animals within 64 seconds to 3.5 minutes).

Proper injection sites to ensure rapid drug absorption and effects.

Capture strategies to minimize capture stress on the animal, and procedural stress of the operator.

Drug delivery technology: Advantages and disadvantages of the various commercially available darting systems including Pneu-dart, Telinject, Daninject, Palmer, Paxarms, and Distinject. Choosing the system to best fit your needs-maximizing the utility of the dart projector/tranquilizer gun you already have.

Techniques for sighting in dart projectors/tranquilizer guns to ensure accurate, atraumatic dart delivery.

Practical, field-tested modifications necessary for accurate and consistent results with currently manufactured darting systems and radiotracking devices.

Drug dosage recommendations: The latest in safe, practical, and reliable species-specific and scenario-specific drug and dosage recommendations for free-ranging, trapped, or captive wildlife species.

Dosage calculation

How to re-dose animals incompletely immobilized on approach.

"Superconcentrated" drugs: Where to obtain and how to use them to give you a faster knockdown, and allow you to use smaller, less traumatic darts.

Post Immobilization Care of Animals: How to ensure the correct level of immobilization for an approach which affords operator safety and minimizes stress to the animal. Proper species-specific positioning, techniques of dart removal, and dart wound care.

Medical monitoring: Assessment techniques to ensure the immobilized animal stays physiologically stable throughout the procedure. You'll learn how to monitor and interpret temperature, pulse, heart rate, respiratory rate, capillary refill time, pulse oximetry, capnography-with checklists provided to help keep you organized and on track in the field.

Medical emergencies associated with capture and handling: How to prevent, recognize, and treat bloat, capture myopathy, shock, hyperthermia, hypothermia, seizures, and other complications which can be avoided and managed in association with chemical immobilization.

Accidental human exposure to immobilizing medications: Which drugs are dangerous to humans? What can you expect with accidental human exposure? Standard Operating Procedures to prevent human exposure to immobilizing drugs. How to coordinate with your physician and local poison control to develop protocols should an accidental exposure occur.

Safe Handling and Use of Immobilization Darts: Assembly, loading, unloading, and cleaning of the various brands available in the US.

Use of Safety Equipment for Prevention of Accidental Exposure to Anesthetic Drugs

Safe Handling and Use of Short and Long Range Dart Projectors/Tranquilizer Guns including CO2, Air, and 22 blank powered projectors

Practice and Development of Proficiency with:

• Pole Syringes

• Blowgun Delivery of Anesthetic Darts: Even if  you have never used a blowgun before, you will leave this portion of the program accurate and proficient with this safe, inexpensive, and atraumatic technique of dart delivery.

• Radio-Tracking Darts for efficient location of animals and retrieval of lost darts.