The use of electronic tags has significantly advanced our understanding of wild animal behaviour and physiology. However, traditional tagging methods often require capturing and restraining or sedating animals, which causes stress and may potentially affect data quality during acclimatization. Inspired by plant burs, we propose a novel 'bur-tagging' system to attach tags without capture or restraint. We outline a framework for bur-tagging, detailing the design and key considerations for its success. This includes the influence of tagging site location and animal neophobia on the likelihood of tagging over time, strategies to target specific species, and methods to improve tag placement accuracy. The choice of adhesive mechanism and application force are discussed as critical factors for effective attachment. Preliminary trials highlight animal reactions to inactive tagging systems, demonstrating ways to minimize stress and increase tagging efficiency. Field tests on domestic animals and wild canids in Greece suggest that bur-tagging is a viable alternative to conventional methods. While still in development, bur-tagging has the potential to deploy advanced electronic tags on wild animals with reduced stress and greater ethical consideration, offering a promising tool for wildlife research. This innovative approach bridges biology and technology to address challenges in animal tagging.

College of Science Swansea University Swansea UK

Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Radolfzell Germany

Department of Biological Sciences Queen's University Belfast Belfast UK

Department of Biology University of South Eastern Norway Kongsberg Bø Telemark Norway

Department of Biosciences Swansea University Singleton Park Campus Swansea Wales UK

Department of Biosciences Swansea University Swansea UK

Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology University of Life Sciences Prague Czech Republic

Department of Zoology Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Greece

ECOSTUDIES P C Environmental Studies Athens Greece

Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation Büsum Germany

Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas Puerto Madryn Chubut Argentina

Kolmården Wildlife Park Kolmården Sweden

Research Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat Valenciana Valencia Area Spain

Swansea University Singleton Park Campus Swansea Wales UK

The Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency Kerkini Branch Kerkini Greece

University College Dublin Dublin Ireland

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