Physiological Responses and Safety Evaluation of Combined Fremont™ Snare and Medetomidine-Ketamine-Acepromazine Immobilization in Free-Ranging Apennine Wolves (Canis lupus italicus)

The Apennine wolf (Canis lupus italicus) is a distinct subspecies whose ongoing population recovery in Italy has progressively increased the demand for live capture protocols validated for scientific monitoring and conservation management. Despite the widespread use of mechanical and chemical immobilization in European wolf management, no study has to date systematically evaluated the combined use of the Fremont™ humane foot snare with a medetomidine-ketamine-acepromazine (MKA) protocol in this subspecies, nor characterized the associated cardiorespiratory, thermal, and hematobiochemical parameters under operational field conditions. Between June 2010 and July 2017, thirteen free-ranging Apennine wolves were captured in Maiella National Park (central Apennines, Italy) using the Fremont™ snare and immobilized with a standardized MKA protocol; only animals immobilized with this protocol are reported here, as three additional capture events employed different drug combinations. Cardiorespiratory parameters, body temperature, peripheral oxygen saturation, venous blood gas values, and a comprehensive hematological and serum biochemical panel were recorded during immobilization. Mean heart rate was 100 ± 15 bpm, respiratory rate 24 ± 13 breaths/min, body temperature 38.1 ± 1.3 °C, and mean SpO2 88 ± 11% (range: 66–97%; n = 12). No clinically significant hyperthermia requiring active intervention was recorded in the cohort as a whole. Hematological and biochemical values were broadly consistent with published reference ranges for the species, with condition-specific deviations identified in two individuals—one pregnant female and one juvenile presenting signs of transient capture-related myopathy—both of which resolved without clinical sequelae. No capture-related mortality occurred. All thirteen individuals survived the minimum post-capture monitoring period. Preliminary GPS observations in a subset of individuals (n = 3) suggest a transient reduction in movement activity in the immediate post-release period. These findings support the safety and operational feasibility of the combined Fremont™ snare–MKA protocol for the Apennine wolf, and provide baseline physiological and hematobiochemical reference data for Canis lupus italicus relevant to future capture and conservation management programmes.