Law enforcement officers have long used Tasers, generally known as electronic control devices, to safely subdue humans. But what about using them on wildlife?

Based on positive results from that work, Lewis has since attended Taser International’s instructor, armorer and master instructor courses, written a state operating procedure for Taser use on wildlife and received approval to train department staff to use Tasers in limited circumstances.

Some wildlife managers might have wondered about the concept, but until recently no one had seriously investigated using the electronic immobilization guns as a wildlife management tool.

IATA works diligently to ensure air transport remains safe whether through passenger travel or when transporting dangerous goods by air. Safety is the number one concern. IATA recognizes the importance of adequately training stakeholders and giving them the support they need to perform their jobs in a safe and secure manner. IATA is dedicated to providing quality training and regulation manuals to ensure that safety regulations are always easily accessible to those who need them. To find the latest copy of IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), visit the DGR page.

Shippers must be sure that only certain hazmat are placed in freight containers or ULD; see IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) for further information.

In November, Lewis presented the idea of using Tasers on bears to a group of wildlife mangers who deal with human-bear conflicts at a conference in Canmore, Canada. Much to his surprise, no one scoffed at the idea. Instead, most managers appeared excited that Tasers might become another possible non-lethal tool available to managers who deal with human-bear conflicts. Lewis said he first became interested in the subject in June of 2005 when an Alaska State Trooper asked for his assistance with an ornery cow moose.

The cow moose was upset because her two calves were trapped in an open four-foot deep basement foundation at a home construction site. She would not leave the area, even when Lewis tried using noisemakers and rubber shotgun ammunition.Finally, Lewis said he tried to drop a ramp down into the pit so the calves would be able to walk out on their own. But when he approached the calves, the cow moose charged him, jumping into the foundation, across it and back out. It then chased Lewis and the trooper three times around the patrol car.

Fish and Game appears to be the first state wildlife agency in the country that has experimented with using Tasers for wildlife management.

It worked so well on the moose, Lewis began wondering if Tasers might be used in similar circumstances with moose, and in other situations, with bears or other animals.

Handling Information Statement, Mixed Shipment if applicable, if the shipper’s declaration is not required, then the UN or ID number, proper shipping name, number of packages, and the net quantity of packages must all be noted. The Air Waybill must also notate if dry ice is being used and should include excepted quantities of goods and any other special documentation.

Lewis said he began his experimental work several years ago after a harrowing experience with an angry moose and a Taser gun prompted his curiosity.

That attitude now could be changing due to groundbreaking work by Larry Lewis, a wildlife technician with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Soldotna.

Each hazardous material shipment must be accompanied by a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods and Air Waybill document. When filling out the Dangerous Goods Declaration, the format, language, color, and size of the document are all very specific and must be adhered to. The following information is required on the document:

The operators will ensure that the shippers meet all guidelines and process each package against the Dangerous Goods Checklist to prepare it for storage or loading.

Every year more than 1.25 million dangerous goods shipments are transported by air. With air cargo growth predicted at 4.9% every year over the next 5 years the number of dangerous goods shipments will rise significantly. With so many dangerous goods being shipped by air, safety regulations must be followed precisely. IATA  helps identify the risks and works with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) to amend the regulations providing stakeholders with the most current guidelines on how to handle and ship dangerous goods safely.

Download the DGR Quick Reference CardConsult the card, print it and keep it handy to assist with basic information on dangerous goods handling.

Every package containing dangerous good must be appropriately labeled for shipment. This includes labels for their classification, handling, and any other required information. The labels should be affixed in plain sight with no other labeling present that does not apply.

Elizabeth Manning is an outdoor writer and an educator with the Divison of Wildlife Conservation at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. She lives in Anchorage.

The packing groups make the identification of types of classes easily identifiable for shipping and handling purposes. Packing Group I is for substances presenting high danger, Packing Group II is for medium danger, and Packing Group III is for substances of low danger. (Sec 5) The shippers must make certain that all paperwork is filled out completely and correctly, that the information is legible, properly signed, and that the shipment has been prepared according to IATA’s rules and regulations.

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Lohuis and Lewis both warn that it is “not a magic bullet.” But, they said, Tasers do appear to be a valid tool for some situations.

Safely transporting hazardous material by air begins with proper shipping and handling. Shippers must follow the dangerous goods regulations strictly as this starts the safety protocol for the transport of dangerous goods by air.

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IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations are rules outlined in an easy-to-read manual that is based on the International Civil Aviation Organizations (ICAO)’s instructions for the safe transport for dangerous goods. IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations also include the United Nations classification of each article or substance and their acceptability and conditions for air transport. IATA takes the safety guidelines of these two entities, ICAO and the UN, a step further, ensuring the highest safety protocols are followed.

For hazmat to be shipped by air, there are specific procedures to be met. First, the shipper must meet their criteria, such as declaring the shipment as dangerous goods, properly completing the Dangerous Goods Declaration, and adequately preparing the shipment for transport. Then the cargo acceptance procedures are carefully enacted. Using the Dangerous Goods Checklist will make sure that what the shipper has submitted complies with the Dangerous Goods Regulations.

Lithium batteries are one of the most commonly transported dangerous goods. The rules and regulations regarding the transport of lithium batteries need to be addressed specifically, so IATA created a unique manual geared specifically to shippers of lithium batteries. The manual further breaks down how to safely transport lithium batteries for companies and individuals who may not be familiar with the dangerous goods process. The IATA Lithium Battery Shipping Regulations (LBSR) can better assist with the regulations for shipping lithium batteries and items that contain lithium batteries.

As a trusted voice in the aviation community, we can help raise your profile and ensure you are seen by the audience that really matters to you. Our offers are customizable to your needs, whether on our websites, our events or in our manuals.

“It’s basically like an electric fence in your hand,” Lewis said. “It’s not a panacea, but just another tool for managers to use.”

“It’s not without cost to the animal,” Lohuis said. “But that stress doesn’t appear to be long-term. Our blood samples indicated the moose started to return to normal within 20 to 30 minutes compared to the 24-48 hours it takes a moose to recover from being drugged."

Proper training for all persons in the dangerous goods supply chain is vital to ensure that the hazards posed by dangerous goods are understood and everyone involved is competent to perform the functions for which they are responsible. While some functions require basic knowledge of the dangerous goods regulations, other functions need detailed information regarding the hazardous material regulations to carry out their duties. In any case, regulations and adequate training are required for each job function. This is true for shippers and packers, freight forwarders, operators and ground handling agents as well as security screeners. Having everyone who may come in contact with dangerous goods adequately trained is imperative. This includes cabin crew members and passenger check-in agents, because some items that passengers carry are classified as dangerous goods, such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops, which have a lithium ion battery. (Sec 1)

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Lewis said the concept was met with skepticism and resistance at first, but appears to be slowly gaining some acceptance.

Both men were armed but rather than shooting the moose, Lewis said the trooper used his Taser to shoot at the moose across the hood of the patrol car. The Taser’s barbed, conductive leads hit the moose in the left front shoulder. Stunned and immobilized, the moose hit the ground immediately. The leads pulled free as the moose fell and it quickly ran off into the woods, staying there long enough for Lewis to extract the calves from the basement and for both Lewis and the trooper to retreat safely to the patrol car.

Lewis teamed up with other Fish and Game staff, including veterinarian Kimberlee Beckmen, research biologist Tom Lohuis and wildlife management biologists Neil Barten and Phil Mooney, to study the effect of Tasers on bears and moose.

To evaluate how the Tasers affected the moose, Beckmen took blood samples and studied stress in the animals before and after they were hit with Tasers.

Because safety is IATA’s number one concern,  dangerous goods training is required for all persons across the entire supply chain who prepare, offer, accept and handle dangerous goods. This dangerous goods training must be renewed every two years. IATA makes obtaining this training easy and accessible to everyone who needs it by offering courses and yearly manuals so that stakeholders can be up-to-date on the most current rules and regulations. IATA’s desire to keep aviation safe is the driving force behind ensuring the regulations are met by adequately training all parties involved in the transport of dangerous goods . Whether you are shipper, freight forwarder, a cargo acceptance agent, cabin crew member or anything in between you can find up-to-date information on training for dangerous goods in our training section.

While ICAO updates its regulations every two years, IATA recognizes that significant changes take place year to year, and the need for updated information is necessary to stay in touch with safety protocols. The need to stay current with the individual country and airline restrictions, which can be more restrictive than ICAO regulations, require more up-to-date information. This is why IATA updates its manual every year, including the latest IATA regulations and changes to procedures.

To ship dangerous goods by air, the hazmat must be appropriately prepared and meet the dangerous goods regulations exactly. It begins with properly identifying the dangerous good and then the quality of packaging, which means being strong enough to withstand the loading and transport from pallets and Unit Load Devices (ULDs). They must also ensure there is no damage or leakage and that the changes in pressure and temperature will not damage the goods within it.

The later work on bears showed that Tasers may also have some success on bruins as a hazing tool. A variety of electronic control devices were shot at two collared brown bears that commonly visited the Yakutat dump.

Depending on a hazardous material’s classification and composition, it will be assigned a UN number and a proper shipping name.

While dangerous goods storage and handling occur throughout the proceeding, the loading process comes next. It is important not to store or load certain dangerous goods next to one another and never next to food items. All packaging must be secured, as well as other items being shipped so that they do not shift during transport and fall into the dangerous goods causing damage to their packaging. (9.3.5)

The United Nations assigns dangerous goods to one of nine classes, and every dangerous goods will fall into at least one of the classes. It is essential to classify dangerous goods correctly so that the hazard(s) posed are communicated through the transport chain. The dangerous goods classes are as follows:

After being shot at with the Tasers, the bears did not react aggressively but instead retreated quickly from the area. They did later return to the dump but showed a greater aversion to people than before they were hit with the Tasers, Lewis said.

“This was seen as unknown and uncharted dangerous territory,” Lewis said. “But since we’ve started this it has garnered a lot of interest from other states and management agencies.”

Working with Lohuis and Beckmen, Lewis studied the effects of Tasers on about a half dozen captive moose at the Moose Research Center in Soldotna. He is also working with Taser International to improve a design of the non-lethal weapon for use on wildlife.

Most transport of dangerous goods is handled by shippers who are knowledgeable in the area of shipping hazmat. For many travelers, however, it is unknown what types of things are considered dangerous goods. Some examples of  dangerous goods are aerosols, lithium batteries, infectious substances, fireworks, dry-ice, gasoline powered engines and machinery, lighters, and paint. (table from 4.2)

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The latest edition of IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) is the 64th edition which is effective from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. It contains all changes made by IATA Dangerous Goods Board and includes an appendix for the confirmed upcoming ICAO’s Technical Instructions changes. There are significant changes in this year’s manual, so all necessary stakeholders must obtain a copy to comply with the new regulations.

In addition to being properly labeled the manufacturers and distributors of the dangerous goods’ packaging must provide necessary information for how the packaging should be assembled and used.

But how and when Tasers should be used on wildlife remains an open question. Lewis said he holds hope that Tasers might be used on moose for short-term incapacitation. For example, he recently used his Taser gun on a moose that had a chicken feeder stuck on its head. The Taser immobilized the animal for long enough to allow another biologist to pop the feeder off its head without having to drug the animal.

Lewis said Tasers have been used safely on humans for many years and are considered a “non-lethal” weapon. They work by zapping a person or animal with high voltage but low amperage electricity, much like an electric fence. That zap causes involuntary muscle contractions, essentially freezing them up, but does not affect the central nervous system. So people or animals can still breath and think but can’t move.

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Next, the operator must go over the Dangerous Goods Checklist and ensure all regulations are met within those guidelines (see IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) for more information.

The shipper is responsible for completion of the Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods that describes the dangerous goods being offered for air transport. Great care should be taken as the dangerous goods documentation must be filled out precisely. If the documents are not filled out correctly, the goods cannot be accepted for shipment by air.

Proper safety for the transport of hazardous material begins with shippers and ends with the operators. The shippers have specific responsibilities that must be closely adhered to for their goods to be accepted by the airlines. They are responsible for every aspect of the packaging of their dangerous goods as well as explicitly following these guidelines: (Sec 5)

To make sure that your dangerous goods labels meet every criteria mentioned in IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), you can purchase them directly from IATA. You will always be certain to comply with the regulatory requirements when your dangerous goods labels are purchased from the IATA site.

IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulation Manual (DGR) contains a list of approximately 3,000 articles and substances that are commonly shipped by air. This list includes names for listed entries such as paint and ethanol as well as generic “not otherwise specified” (n.o.s.) entries that cover a chemical family or group of related substances, such as alcohols, n.o.s. and environmentally hazardous substance, liquid, n.o.s.. (4.0.2.1)

The labels should be durable, printed on adhesive, adhered to the outside of the packaging, and clearly visible. They should meet all specifications, such as shape, color, format, symbol, and text. Every label must include an English version in addition to the language of origin.

Out of the over 1.25 million packages of hazmat shipped each year, three types of dangerous goods stand out. These are items that are most commonly shipped, being flammable liquids, dry-ice, and lithium batteries. Dry ice is widely used as a refrigerant for goods such as frozen foods and pharmaceuticals, including vaccines.

As mentioned previously, proper dangerous goods packaging is of great concern for safely shipping hazardous material. Making certain that the dangerous goods’ packaging is well assembled and sturdy enough to be handled is a priority. But when packaging hazmat for shipping, shippers must meet other guidelines regarding their classes and the degree of danger per substance. This is why dangerous goods shipments have been further broken down into Packing Groups.

Along with the Shipper’s Declaration of Dangerous Goods the freight forwarder will fill out the Air Waybill. The required information for that is as follows:

It’s important to know what a dangerous good is before you ship. According to IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) Manual, “Dangerous goods (also known as hazardous materials or hazmat) are articles or substances which are capable of posing a hazard to health, safety, property or the environment and which are shown in the list of dangerous goods in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations or which are classified according to those Regulations.” Because IATA participates in strict regulatory process, dangerous goods can be transported by air safely and securely when these guidelines are closely followed.

As the shipping of infectious substances, including specimens being shipped for diagnostics purposes is typically limited to people involved in the healthcare industry, including the veterinary sector, IATA has created the Infectious Substances Shipping Guidelines (ISSG). It is a comprehensive shipper focused guide that helps shippers, safely meet the regulations necessary to ship infectious substances and patient specimens.

Lewis’ work investigating the use of Tasers on wildlife, done in collaboration with other Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists, appears to hold promise for adding Tasers to the tool kit of options used by modern wildlife managers.

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