Use and effectiveness of the y-pole as a restraint tool for canids E. Hunt*, B. McDonald, D. Moriarty California Wolf Center California , USA The y-pole is a relatively new physical restraint tool that is highly effective when used alone or in conjunction with traditional netting techniques. It is particularly suited to handling wild canids in captive settings. The history of the y-pole’s development, design, and implementation reveals unique strategic advantages associated with its use, flexibility and safety being among the greatest. The y-pole’s affordability and ease of use make it a viable alternative to many other capture techniques. During repeated observations on unsocialized captive wolf packs, practical applications of both nets and y-poles were compared to determine the strengths and weaknesses of each capture method. The y-pole was also tested on domestic dogs for further comparison. While an effective piece of capture equipment (and while necessary in certain circumstances), nets were found to increase the risk of injury to both animals and human handlers. Unlike netting, use of a y-pole created very little risk and instead enhanced the safety of handler and animal alike. The y-pole also had the added benefit of triggering submissive behavior in canids, providing a safe and non-confrontational capture technique that ultimately reduced stress on the animal being handled.
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