Conservation Tags – National Band and Tag Company

Why Bird Banding Matters: What Recent Data Tell Us & How You Can Help

For more than a century, bird bands have been essential tools for science, conservation, and hunting traditions. At National Band & Tag, we’ve proudly supplied bird bands used by researchers, conservationists, and hunters to study migratory birds.

Why Do We Band Birds?

Bird banding is one of the oldest and most effective methods for tracking wild birds. Each band is stamped with a unique code that allows scientists to identify individual birds and monitor them throughout their lifetimes. Banding provides critical information about migration routes, revealing how far and where birds travel each season. It also shows survival rates, by documenting how many birds return year after year. Harvest data from band reports helps set sustainable hunting regulations, while longevity and behavior studies give us insight into how long wild birds live and what habitats they prefer. For hunters, finding a banded duck is more than just good luck—it’s a way to directly contribute to science.

What The Data Tells Us

According to the North American Bird Banding Program, there are now over 76 million banding records and more than 5 million encounter (recovery) records across nearly 800 species. The USGS Bird Banding Laboratory reports that hunters submit over 60,000 band encounter reports every year, making waterfowl hunting one of the most important sources of recovery data.

Recent Findings from Bird Band Research:

The autumn and winter ranges of three species of economically important dabbling ducks have shifted since the 1960s, with blue-winged teal moving south and west, and mallards and pintails shifting north and east—sometimes by hundreds of miles. USGS, Ducks Unlimited & USFWS, 2024.
A long-term wood duck study using more than two decades of band recoveries showed that breeding latitude strongly affects survival and harvest rates, with northern-nesting birds experiencing different demographic pressures than their southern counterparts. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 2025.
An ongoing 14-year study in Louisiana on Black-bellied Whistling Ducks shows about 80% of recoveries occur in Louisiana, 10% in Mississippi, 8% in Texas, and very few in surrounding states—highlighting strong Gulf Coast residency. Initial survival rates based only on live recaptures were lower than expected, so researchers are now incorporating both live and dead recoveries to better calculate annual survival. USGS, Bird Banding Laboratory.

How You Can Help

If you harvest or find a banded bird, you can play a vital role in this effort. Reporting your band provides scientists with essential details about migration, survival, and harvest rates, and in return, you’ll receive a Certificate of Appreciation showing where and when the bird was originally banded. Even worn or partial bands are useful—every report adds to the data that keeps our hunting traditions and conservation efforts strong.

The next time you’re in the marsh and find a banded duck, remember—you’re holding a piece of science history. Report it through the official USGS Bird Banding Laboratory, and know that your hunt just contributed to over 100 years of conservation knowledge.

Source: USGS Public Domain

Supporting Wildlife Conservation During National Zoo and Aquarium Month

June is National Zoo and Aquarium Month—a time to recognize and celebrate the vital work that zoos and aquariums do to protect endangered species, educate the public, and lead global conservation efforts. At National Band & Tag, we’re proud to play a small but important role in supporting these organizations through high-quality, reliable identification solutions.

Identification Tags for Conservation

From zoos and aquariums to wildlife conservation programs, accurate animal identification is key to research and long-term care. That’s where we come in.

National Band & Tag manufactures a wide range of wildlife conservation tags. Bird Bands, Ear Tags, and Fish Tags are all used for a multitude of reasons, including but not limited to; identify individual specimens, track migratory patterns, monitor health, manage breeding programs in both wild and captive populations, study behavior and monitor growth.

Trusted by Zoos and Aquariums Nationwide

Our bird bands are used by zoos across the country for both native and exotic species. Whether it’s color-coded identification for parrots, leg bands for cranes, or small aluminum bands for finches, our tags are designed with the needs of avian experts in mind.

Aquariums turn to us for small, corrosion-resistant fish tags—helping researchers identify species in educational exhibits, breeding tanks, or tagging for release-and-monitor studies.

Why Choose National Band & Tag?

Durability – Our bands and tags are made to withstand the environments animals live in.
Customization – Tags can be customized with text, numbering, etc. to meet your research needs.
Experience – With over 120 years in business, and a long history serving the conservation community, we understand the unique requirements of zoos, aquariums, and wildlife programs.

Partnering in Conservation

Every tag we make is an opportunity to support an animal’s care and conservation. Whether you’re monitoring endangered species or managing a breeding program, National Band & Tag is here to support your mission with reliable identification products.

Browse our Wildlife Conservation Tags to find the right solution for your program.

Supporting Sea Turtle Conservation in the Indian Ocean with NB&T Flipper Tags

Sea turtles are some of the ocean’s most iconic and endangered creatures. In the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia (IOSEA) region, conservationists work tirelessly to protect these animals through research, habitat protection, and one crucial tool—flipper tagging.

At National Band & Tag, we’re proud to support global wildlife conservation by supplying high-quality flipper tags used by researchers and organizations across the Indian Ocean. Our tags help track, study, and protect sea turtles throughout their life cycles.

Why Tag Sea Turtles?

Flipper tagging is a simple but powerful method used by conservationists to:

Track Migration: Sea turtles often travel thousands of miles between feeding and nesting grounds. Tagging helps researchers understand these routes.
Monitor Populations: Tags allow scientists to estimate population sizes, track nesting frequency, and determine survival rates.
Support Long-Term Research: Tagging provides valuable data over time, helping inform conservation policies and protect critical habitats.

By identifying individual turtles, scientists can answer important questions about where turtles go, how long they live, and how human activity impacts their survival.

Sea Turtle Tagging in the Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is home to several sea turtle species, including green, hawksbill, and olive ridley turtles. Many countries in this region participate in the IOSEA Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding, a program that promotes international cooperation in sea turtle research and conservation.

On the IOSEA Flipper Tag Series database, you’ll find a long list of tag styles in use throughout the region—and many of them are from National Band & Tag. Our tags are trusted for their durability, accuracy, and reliability in harsh marine conditions.

Our Most Popular Sea Turtle Flipper Tags in the Indian Ocean

National Band & Tag is proud to have several flipper tag styles widely used in sea turtle research and conservation efforts across the Indian Ocean. These durable tags are built to withstand harsh marine environments:

Style 681IC – Made from Inconel, this corrosion-resistant tag is ideal for long-term use on smaller sea turtles. It’s one of the most commonly used tags in the region due to its durability and reliability.

Style 691IL – Also made from Inconel, this newer tag option features a longer design to accommodate more stamped data. Recommended for larger sea turtles.

Style 1005-49 – A self-piercing tag made from Monel, typically used on larger turtles. While still in use today, Inconel tags like the 681IC and 691IL are preferred for their superior resistance to corrosion and longer lifespan in marine environments.

These tags are designed to stay secure over time without causing harm to the turtles—helping researchers gather valuable information while prioritizing animal welfare.

Helping Save Sea Turtles, One Tag at a Time

At National Band & Tag, we believe in doing our part to support wildlife conservation. By providing dependable tagging solutions to marine biologists, researchers, and environmental organizations, we’re proud to play a role in protecting endangered species like sea turtles.

Whether it’s tracking a turtle’s journey across the ocean or monitoring nesting habits along tropical beaches, our tags help make this vital work possible.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with NB&T and NWTF

The NWTF Convention and Sport Show kicks off February 14^th with an evening social and live music with Country Outdoors in the Waterin’ Hole. Official convention activities commence on Thursday, February 15 through Saturday, February 17^th.

National Band & Tag will be 1 of 500+ exhibitors at the convention. If you are at the show in Nashville, make sure to stop by our Booth #1426 to chat with our team about your identification needs. Bird bands, ear tags, wildlife conservation tags, tree tags and more, we are here to help. Pick up a free 2024 convention band at our booth (while supplies last).

NB&T has been partnering with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) for 25+ years. Two of our eleven owners, brothers Brad and Fred Haas, always attend the NWTF convention. We asked them, “What is your favorite part about exhibiting at the NWTF convention?”:

Brad Haas: “There are so many people who tell us stories about our bands whether it’s a hunting story, banding birds or tagging critters. It’s always fun talking to the customers at the show who stop by the booth to say hi and talk about how our products are working for them.”

Fred Haas: “My favorite part of the NWTF convention is talking to all the great folks who attend the show and end up stopping at our booth to inquire about all of our tagging solutions. There are lots of experts from every state at the convention to share their knowledge about conservation and wild turkeys.”

So, stop by our booth, say hi to our team, and we look forward to seeing everyone at the 2024 NWTF Convention and Sport Show this week!

TN & KY Wild Turkey Banding Project

Did you know that the Kentucky Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Resources, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee Tech University and the NWTF are currently collaborating to collect information on wild turkeys? For this project they are using NB&T’s aluminum rivet bands Style #1242FR9. The Tennessee-Kentucky collaborative banding project is in the second year of its four-year duration. This project will help us better understand wild turkey harvest and survival information that may be impacting wild turkey populations.

According to the article, “Multi-State Wild Turkey Research One Year Closer,” the banding project seeks to gather data that will lead to a better understanding of the biological (i.e., mating phenology or timing), landscape (i.e., habitat quality) and regulatory factors (i.e., season timing, bag limits) that influence male harvest and survival rates across Tennessee and Kentucky.

To date, 669 turkeys have been banded in Tennessee, and 659 turkeys in Kentucky.

Make sure you are following your state’s bag limits and reporting any bands you find on harvested birds. You can report your bird’s leg band ID number to the correct state’s website listed below and on the band of the turkey.
Report KY: www.FW.KY.gov/band
Report TN: www.TNTurkeyBand.com

Read NWTF’s full article here: www.nwtf.org/content-hub/multi-state-wild-turkey-research-one-year-closer

1005-1P Discontinued

As a family owned and operated manufacturer in the USA, quality is very important to us. In order to ensure we are providing the very best products, we’ve decided to discontinue the 1005-1P.

Due to supply chain and labor changes, the 1005-1P is no longer a viable option and we have far superior alternatives available. Style 1005-1 Stamped tags ($) and Style 1005-1L1 Laser Etched tags ($$) are both great options, depending on your budget and needs. We would be happy to send samples of these alternate styles if you need them.

We appreciate your understanding as we strive to provide top quality solutions to our customers.

Wildlife Society Annual Conference 2021

2021 is the 2nd year of The Wildlife Society’s virtual conference and National Band & Tag will be exhibiting as a Bronze Sponsor. November 1 – 5, 2021, you will be able to chat virtually with our team while scrolling through all that the TWS virtual conference has to offer. NB&T specializes in identification for all your research and conservation needs. Our team of experts will be on hand to answer any questions about our conservation product line:

Bird Bands – We offer Butt-End Bands that range in size from a hummingbird all the way up to a swan. Rivet bands are available for raptors and other birds of prey.
Fish Tags – Both bands or self-piercing fish tags are available in a range of sizes from fingerlings up to 10+ lb. fish. Materials will last in fresh and saltwater.
Turtle Flipper Tags – We offer flipper tags in Inconel and Incoloy material that will last in saltwater. We offer sizes for both small and large sea turtles.
Ear Tags – NB&T manufacturers ear tags range in size from a mouse, all the way up to a moose. Metal ear tags are self-piercing. Plastic ear tags are also available in select sizes.
Other Identification for Conservation Purposes – A few other tags we produce include Bat Wing Tags, Shrimp Eye Tags, Rabbit Ear Tags, and Pelt Tags.

We look forward to chatting with you at The Wildlife Society’s virtual conference!
Not attending the conference? Email us at tags@nationalband.com or call us at 859-261-2035.

Beehive Management Tags

National Band & Tag manufactures asset identification tags for many purposes, but one of the more unique uses is for beehives! Our customer Robert Couchman with BEE KIND Honeybee Rescue goes in and safely removes honeybees from places they shouldn’t be in and re-locates them to his apiaries. He uses our tags on his beehives as part of his apiary management system. Numbered tags allow Robert to track which hives have been tested and treated for parasites, the queen of the hive, and many other important factors for keeping healthy honeybees.

Scout honeybees will go off in search of a new home, and sometimes the home they decide on, is not the most honeybee friendly place. You don’t want to suddenly stumble across a hive of fifteen to twenty thousand honeybees in your house, shed, roof, garage, etc. BEE KIND Honeybee Rescue in Wisconsin helps rescue and relocate honeybees as much as possible. Timing is key, with the best chance for successful relocation being in late March to early September. Early relocation allows the colony to establish a new hive, expand colony population, and store enough honey and pollen to survive a Wisconsin winter.

If you are interested in learning more about BEE KIND Honeybee Rescue and Robert’s work, check out his website: https://sewihoneybeeremoval.org/

If you are a beekeeper interested in starting your own asset tag management system, check out our large variety of customizable tags!

Tag Style 243 (1” x 2-1/8”) Plain Aluminum with numbering.

Tagging Sea Turtles Around the World

We offer a few different styles of flipper tags for sea turtles, such as the #1005-49, #1005-681 Monel, and #681 Inconel. But we now offer an even larger, #691 Incoloy turtle tag. By tagging sea turtles with flipper tags, we can learn more about their migratory patterns, growth rates, survival, and reproductive output. The more information we have on these beautiful creatures, the more we can do to help conserve them for the future.

Multiple conservation organizations use our flipper tags for identification.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – “We use National Band and Tag Company’s Style 681 Inconel Tag. We’ve found these to have the greatest retention and lowest corrosion rates of the various flipper tags we’ve tried in the past.”

Seaturtle.org – “The most commonly used Monel or Inconel flipper tags (Model Number 1005-681) are available from the National Band and Tag Company”

Celebrate turtles, and learn more about conserving them on May 23rd, with World Turtle Day! “The purpose of World Turtle Day, May 23, sponsored yearly since 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue, is to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive.”

Socially Distant Fundraiser Ideas for Conservation Organizations

Due to COVID-19, we are all staying socially distant. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to cancel your annual banquet and fundraiser. Usually, Bird Band Raffles are held in person. But here are some other ideas to keep the fundraisers going while staying safe:

Facebook Live Raffle – Have your chapter president go Live at a designated time. They can show off the auction items, take donations, and name the winner, all in 1 video.
Online Auction – If you have a website, set up a page where members can view raffle items, buy the number of bands or shotgun shell tags they want, and then mail it to them. Use social media, or email blasts to announce the winner of the drawing.
Waterfowl Slams – See Utah’s set up here. Bands are mailed out after the hunting season is over based on how much someone participated.

NWTF worked with NB&T to make an easy-to-use PDF order form to order shotgun shell tags or bird bands, and raffle tickets. If your organization is interested in creating something like this for your chapters, email us at tags@nationalband.com. If you are a smaller organization, who is interested in having a custom logo stamp made, learn more here. Paper Tickets numbered 1-100 are available (Style R2754) to help your drawing go smoothly.

Is your organization doing something else? Share your ideas in the comments below!

NEW Sea Turtle Tags Made from Incoloy

We are excited to announce our new, bigger, better, sea turtle tags! These new turtle tags, style 691IL are made from Incoloy material and are 3/8″ x 7/16″.

Our customers asked for a tag that would fit on the flippers of larger species of sea turtles. As well as a tag that younger sea turtles could grow into. The new 691IL meets this customer request, and more! The larger tag not only fits on larger species of sea turtles, but it also provides room for additional stamping. You can now fit more lines of text on one side of the tag, and a larger, easier to read, serial number on the other side of the tag. Shown below is a size comparison of the new 691IL tag to our other, smaller, turtle tag (style 681IC). sea turtle tags for large turtles made from Incoloy material. Another difference between our turtle tags besides size is the material. The new 691IL is made of Incoloy, while the 681IC is made of Inconel. These two materials are similar in that they both high-performance alloys that stand up to salt-water environments. Incoloy has less nickel, and more iron, in it than Inconel.

Both of our turtle tags are self-piercing, but the 691IL has a hole, while the 681IC has a bubble. Both these features ensure that when the tag is closed, it won’t get caught on anything, such as a fishing net. The hole makes sure that when the tag is closed, no stamping gets covered up. The hole also makes it impossible for the person placing the tag on the turtle to over-apply the tag.

For tips on how to apply turtle tags, check out this blog.

Ear Tags for Mice, Rats, and Small Animals

Our small animal ear tags (Style 1005-1) can be used for multiple purposes. Research labs, universities, and hospitals, all use these ear tags on mice and rats in their research. Wildlife conservation organizations use these tags on small animals such as rabbits and squirrels to track population and research species. Breeders and competition shows use our tags on animals like rabbits, chinchillas, and guinea pigs to track litters, and for showing animals to meet competition identification requirements.

FAQs:

Can a 1005-1 and the applicators go in an autoclave?
Yes, they can.

Can a 1005-1 go in an MRI?
No, they are made of metal.

Can you use a 1005-1’s on Chinchillas?
The stamped 1005-1s will work on chinchillas, but the laser etched ones will not because the lasered numbers can’t stand up to the dust bathes.

How do I order 1005-1s?
You can order online, call us at 859-261-2035, or email us at tags@nationalband.com to place an order. If you are ordering with a PO, we will need a copy of it. If you want to order our Quick Ship ear tags, you can order those online here.

How do you apply a 1005-1?
Place the ear tag in the applicator keeping the hole side of the tag flat against the jaw of the applicator with the indentation. Locate the tag within the ear, applying beyond a ring of cartilage. After sealing, be sure to check that the tag point has come through the hole and bent around sealing properly. Wash tags in alcohol or a similar cleaning solution to help prevent infection to the ear.

What are the customization options?
1005-1: Stamped 3 digit consecutive stamped number will fit on one side – 6 digit is available but will extend around the other side of the band. Numbering starts with two preceding 0’s (For example 001-1000).

1005-1L1: Laser etched, up to a 6 digit number or 1 letter with 5 numbers.

1005-1LZ: Laser etched, 7-11 characters.

1005-1L2: Laser etched numbers on 2 sides.

1005-1BC: 2d Bar Code with Human Readable Number on the other side of tag.

What is the difference between stamped, paint-filled and laser etched?
For stamped tags, the numbers are indented into the tag. The stamped tags can be filled with paint for a higher-contrasting look. Laser etched tags are engraved with a laser that creates a darker text and can fit more numbers onto a tag.

What is the turnaround time for 1005-1s?
2-4 weeks during the off times, 4-6+ weeks during the busy season, like in January and August when universities are back in session. For a quicker turnaround, try our Quick Ship tags, 1,000 tags numbered 1-1000 ships in 2 business days.

What material is a 1005-1 made from?
.018″ Monel. Monel is a group of nickel alloys, primarily made of nickel and copper.

International Owl Awareness Day

Fun Fact: There are over 200 species of owls in the world

August 4th is International Owl Awareness Day! NB&T is celebrating with the top 10 oldest banded owls according to the “USGS Bird Banding Laboratory’s Longevity Records of North American Birds“. According to the Bird Banding Lab, the oldest banded owl is a 28-year-old Great Horned Owl, located in Ohio. It was banded on 3/9/1977 and encountered on 3/24/2005. This Great Horned Owl was found with an injury and placed into captivity. On our oldest banded bird list, the 2nd, 5th, 7th, and 9th oldest birds are also Great Horned Owls. Other species on the top 10 list include Barred Owl, Snowy Owl, Northern Spotted Owl, and Great Gray Owl.

National Band & Tag Company manufactures metal leg bands that are also used to band owls. Different types of research and conservation organizations will band owls to monitor the population, mating, movement, diet, etc. so that they can better improve their conservation efforts. Many species of owls that are endangered, or threatened, is because of the loss of their natural environment. Owls are important for the environment because they help control rodent populations.

Have you ever encountered a banded owl? Share your story in the comments section below or join the conversation on social media by using #InternationalOwlAwarenessDay.

What do turtles and boats have in common?

They both wear tags!

This week (May 18th – 24th) is National Safe Boating Week and Tomorrow, May 23^rd is World Turtle Day. We are celebrating both holidays today with our HIN Tags and Sea Turtle Tags.

National Safe Boating Week is a program of the National Safe Boating Council to promote boating and life jacket safety. This campaign kicks off the weekend before Memorial Day when a lot of people will take to the water. Before you dust off those water skis this Memorial Day, also take the time to make sure your HIN (Hull Identification Number) Tag is up to date on your boat! HIN Tags are required by the Coast Guard, and our stainless steel HIN Tags will keep you up to date.

HIN Tag

Sticking with our water theme, up next is World Turtle Day! Sponsored by the American Tortoise Rescue, this day is used as an annual observance to help people protect and celebrate turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats around the world. Sea turtle conservationist use NB&T turtle tags to track and research sea turtles. Our tags are made from a durable incoloy material that stands up to saltwater and won’t hurt the turtle.

Turtle Tag
Photo Courtesy of Reef Doctor

National Band & Tag will be Closed Monday, May 27, 2019, for Memorial Day. We hope everyone has a happy and safe weekend.

Wild Things – Tagging Sea Turtles

On the popular Travel Channel TV show, Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan, the episode, “Paradise in Palau” (Published April 24, 2016), featured Dominic diving into the ocean to help the Palau Conservation Society Sea Turtle Division capture and tag a sea turtle. We were very excited to see that they used National Band & Tag’s Inconel sea turtle tag to I.D. the turtle on tv!

Learn more about tagging sea turtles and other conservation agencies that have used our sea turtle tags (Style 681IC).

sea turtle tag

National Wildlife Day

Today, February 22^nd is National Wildlife Day! Also celebrated on September 4^th, the 22^nd was added to honor the memory and birthday of wildlife conservationist, Steve Irwin.

National Wildlife Day was created to bring awareness of endangered animals that need to be preserved and rescued from their diminishing populations. This day is also used to acknowledge zoos and animal sanctuaries for everything they do to help preserve this planet’s animals and educate the public about conservation. National Wildlife Day is celebrated on two dates, to double the effort to help bring awareness of the plight of wild animals around the globe. NWD encourages wildlife lovers to stand up and fight for animals that need a voice, visit their local zoo, and donate what they can to make a difference in the lives of endangered animals.

National Band & Tag is excited to celebrate today by recognizing all our conservation, zoo, and sanctuary customers! The research and conservation efforts that our customers make is inspiring, and we are happy to know that they use our products to help make a difference. We have had the opportunity to meet a lot of these great people the past two years at The Wildlife Society Conference, and we are excited to get to work with more conservationists in the future to meet all their identification needs.

bird bands

sea turtle tag

fish tag

Learn more about National Wildlife Day here: http://www.nationalwildlifeday.com/

Promotional Waterfowl Bands

In the Ducks Unlimited article, “15 Great Places to Hunt Waterfowl” it lists top cities and areas in the United States and Canada to hunt all different species of waterfowl, such as mallards, Canadian geese, pintails, green-winged teal, mottled ducks, and more.

If your business is in the hunting industry and located in one of these popular waterfowl areas, try promoting your business with customized, promotional waterfowl leg bands! Have your company’s name, website, phone number etc. stamped on the band and hand them out to your customers to help spread the word and get repeat customers year after year. These fun souvenir bands make great giveaways for out of town people visiting to hunt. Customers can place the waterfowl leg bands on their lanyards and always have a reminder of your business.

Our style 1242-14 is the style used for mallard ducks, and a style 1242-28 is used on geese for those who want to be authentic. Otherwise our style 1242-24 is a popular size for promotional lanyard bands. All of our sizes and colors that are available can be viewed here.

Order today to have your customized bands in time for the upcoming season!

promotional waterfowl bands

National American Eagle Day

June 20th is National American Eagle Day! This day is used to commemorate the anniversary of the Bald Eagle being selected as our National Symbol, to celebrate its physical recovery to America’s skies, and to observe the American values, ideals, and attributes for which it stands.

eagle wearing a leg band

On June 20, 1782, the Bald Eagle was selected as the U.S.A.’s National Emblem, and in 1995, the American Eagle Foundation was able to get President Bill Clinton to recognize the first American Eagle Day.

Bald Eagles almost went extinct in the 1960’s due to loss of habitat, but they were brought off the endangered species list in 2007 due to the work of conservationists and strict protection laws. To better learn about eagles and to conserve them is where National Band & Tag comes in with our aluminum Lock-On Leg Bands and Rivet Leg Bands. These custom stamped and numbered leg bands help researchers and conservationist track eagles and learn more about them.

Aluminum Lock-On Bands have a tab that folds over and can be sealed using pliers while the Rivet Band uses pop rivets and a pop rivet gun to seal the rivet band around the bird’s leg. These unique features make these bands great for eagles and other birds of prey.

Bald Eagle: Size 8A or 9
Golden Eagle: Size 9, 9A or 9C

(These sizes are recommended from the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory and should only be used as a guide. NB&T is not responsible for incorrect sizes being ordered based on these recommendations.)

Lock On Band

Rivet Bands

To participate in Nation American Eagle Day, try various activities such as visiting the eagles at your local zoo, donating to an eagle conservation program, viewing live eagle nest cameras, or posting on social media using the hashtag #NationalAmericanEagleDay.

The Easter Bunny has an Earring?

rabbit ear tag

Did you know that we manufacture rabbit ear tags? These ear tags are used on rabbits for different research, breeding, and conservation purposes. NB&T offers a few different types of ear tags for rabbits, two of our most popular style is a self-piercing ear tag (style 893). Other styles include the style 1005-1 for small rabbits, or the 1005-3 and 1005-4 for larger rabbits. Your tag style and material may vary depending on the species and environments the rabbits are in. (Style 1841 Ear Tag and 1842 Colored Washers – Discontinued as of May 2025).

An alternative method for tagging rabbits in the ear, or any large-eared animal. is accomplished by first folding the ear in half. Next, locate the piercing point of the tag, half of the tag’s length, down on the folded ear, allowing the other half of the tag length to remain clear. Now pierce through both halves of the ear with a single squeeze of the applicator. This will result in two incisions in the ear. Simply pull the ear back up and the tag will now be located securely in the center of the ear with the number facing out at all times.

bunny ear tag

Metal Self Piercing Tags

National Band & Tag’s self-piercing tags are usually used as ear tags, but they can also go on wings, flippers, fins, and more. The first row of tags below is made from steel, and are typically used as ear tags for livestock. We offer smaller sizes for sheep and goats (style 505), medium sizes for swine and deer (styles 621, 62, 681), and larger sizes for cattle (styles 49 and 56).

The second row of tags is made from Monel, except for the 681IC which is made from Inconel. (Not shown: 1005-681). These tags are used for wildlife conservation and research purposes. Monel is a metal that has excellent corrosion resistance that performs well in rapid flowing freshwater and saltwater, while Inconel is oxidation and corrosion resistant, and will withstand pressure and heat. The smallest size we offer is the style 1005-1 for mice, the largest size we offer is the 1005-56 for large animals such as deer and elk, and we have everything in between. Our special Inconel tag, 681IC is for Sea Turtles and other animals that live in saltwater.

Sizes 681 and up have the option of both Steel or Monel. All self-piercing tags require an applicator to completely close and are tamper-resistant. The pointed end of the tag will pierce the ear when you are closing it, so a hole does not have to be pre-made.

metal ear tags metal ear tags for conservation