Microchip reads

This is the tool used to scan an animal for a microchip. First, the scan is done to see if an animal has a chip - if it does there will be a numeric reading on the screen.

Next, the reading is matched to the numbers in the book to identify when the animal was last captured. This is where the scientists can check the growth rate of an animal, and log new sets of data on the same animal on repeated captures.

There is a reason they want to monitor peccary: feral pigs - which are not native to the area - threaten the peccary population because they eat the same foods, but they multiply 10 times faster. Peccary are in danger of starvation, thanks to the wild pig population. Hunters are allowed to hunt and eat the pig - but not the peccary - in hopes that the pig population will decrease.

We ate one of these wild pigs ourselves, and he was quite delicious! We do what we can to help out!!