It has been employed widely as an animal anesthetic in the laboratory setting. alpha-chloralose is a true anesthetic or an immobilizing agent with sedative-hypnotic properties has important implications. Canada geese (Branta canadensis) and blue geese (Chen caerulescens) were caught with alpha-chloralose, an oral hypnotic administered on bait. Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) were captured with alpha-chloralose, an oral anesthetic.

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