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The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge will again this year be purchasing skinned carcasses of radio-collared or ear-tagged wolves and lynx. Prices paid for the carcasses are between $50 and $100, depending on if the skull is attached to the skinned carcass.

Trappers who catch animals with tags or radio collars -- whether selling the carcasses or not -- have three days to report to the refuge and five days to return these items. Not the animal, just the tags and radio collars.

The information acquired from these research animals furthers the refuge's knowledge of furbearer populations on the Kenai Peninsula, according to biologist Liz Jozwiak.

She said an extensive amount of information is collected from a single skinned carcass. A tooth is extracted for aging, and the reproductive tract of females is examined to determine the number and frequency of offspring produced.

A general internal examination (or necropsy) usually reveals the animal's overall health, its' fat reserves, and the presence of any parasites or disease. Organs and tissues are also collected for collaborative efforts with other researchers for contaminants analysis, genetics, and for museum collections, she said.

For their effort, in addition to the monetary compensation, trappers can also be provided with a brief history of the collared animal they harvested, including its date and age at capture, pack affiliation, and home range movements.

Trappers should contact the refuge before bringing carcasses into the office by calling Liz Jozwiak or Toby Burke at 262-7021 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Mon. - Fri.