ML070720636
| ML070720636 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Susquehanna  |
| Issue date: | 03/07/2007 |
| From: | State of PA, Game Commission |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| ALICIA MULLINS 301-415-1224 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML070720636 (5) | |
Text
Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency: 10.4 CWCS-Priority Mammals Advanced Search Outdoor Shop Hunting Trapping & Furbearers Wildlife Education Licensing State Game Lands Forms & Programs Laws & Regulations Reports/Minutes About PGC Employment Newsroom View as Text-Only Home Game News 2007-08 Bag Limits Pennsylvanias Wildlife Action Plan Search Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency Home Printable Version eMail 10.4 CWCS-Priority Mammals Mammals make up the best-known group of species in Pennsylvania. Some of our larger mammals have been studied for more than 200 years. While much has been learned, much more remains to be understood. We do not know where many of our smaller mammal species occur or how their populations are faring in the face of habitat loss and ecosystem changes. While some mammals are thriving, many are silently declining - and some species may have slipped away entirely. What follows is a listing of mammals of greatest conservation concern in Pennsylvania. It includes the species' scientific name, status with the Pennsylvania Biological Survey, habitat preferences and reasons for concern. Entries are color-coded based upon the Conservation Tier that they occupy. Responsibility species are indicated with an 'R.'
IMMEDIATE CONCERN Allegheny Woodrat - R Neotoma magister Status/notes: PA Threatened Northeast Region priority species
- warranting Federal prelisting consideration. Global rank G3G4.
Habitat: Rocky outcrops and talus slopes Reason(s) for concern: Declining throughout its range; greater than five percent of world's breeding population is found in Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania has a uniquely important position in the biology of this species, holding both the diminishing northeastern range margin and a core of still healthy populations. Northeast Region Special Concern Species; habitat specialist.
Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger cinereus Status/notes: PA Endangered; possibly extirpated from PA.
Sub-species Global rank G3.
Habitat: Open, park-like woods in southeastern PA Reason(s) for concern: extremely limited distribution Eastern Small-footed Bat - R Myotis leibii Status/notes: PA Threatened; habitat specialist. Northeast Region priority species - warranting Federal prelisting consideration. Global rank G3.
Habitat: Winter - caves and mines; Summer - forests, rock cliffs and talus Reason(s) for concern: unknown distribution and abundance.
Pennsylvania has high responsibility, since the majority of Wildlife Notes Wildlife Biologists Bird Watching State Wildlife Grants Endangered Species Conservation History Watchable Wildlife Wildlife Reports Mute swan in PA Waterfowl Brochure Home Summary Overview Allocations by State Priority Species 2001 Projects 2002 Projects 2003 Projects Table of Contents Forward Executive Summary Section 4 Section 5 Section 6 Section 7 Section 8 Section 9 Section 10 Section 11 Section 12 Section 13 Section 14 Section 15 Section 16 Section 17 Section 18 Section 19 Section 20 Section 21 Section 22 Section 23 Section 24 http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=496&q=164531 (1 of 5)3/7/2007 11:30:07 AM
Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency: 10.4 CWCS-Priority Mammals Breeding Bird Atlas Governor's Outdoor Conference occurrences and the largest populations of this species are in Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Indiana Bat Myotis sodalis Status/notes: Federally Endangered; habitat specialist. Global rank G2.
Habitat: Winter - cold caverns and mines; Summer - forests Reason(s) for concern: Species has experienced drastic declines nationwide due to loss and degradation of hibernation sites.
West Virginia Water Shrew (Southern Water Shrew)
Sorex palustris punctulatus Status/notes: PA Threatened; habitat specialist. Sub-species Global rank G3. Northeast Region priority species - warranting Federal prelisting consideration Habitat: mixed decid/coniferous forested banks of cold, clear streams, springs, bogs Reason(s) for concern: Unknown distribution and abundance; rely on high-quality upland streams HIGH LEVEL CONCERN Appalachian Cottontail - R Sylvilagus obscurus Status/notes: At-risk; habitat specialist. Global rank G4.
Habitat: brushy forest clearings; tornado blow-downs; high elevation scrub/shrub woodlands Reason(s) for concern: Extremely limited distribution in PA; occupies temporary habitats; greater than five percent of world's breeding population is found in Pennsylvania; Regional Special Concern Species Eastern Spotted Skunk Spilogale putorius Status/notes: At-risk; may be extirpated from PA. Global rank G5.
Habitat: open, rocky woodlands in south-central PA Reason(s) for concern: Extremely limited (2-county) distribution in PA; species has not been recorded in PA since the 1960's and may no longer occur in the Commonwealth Least Shrew Cryptotis parva Status/notes: PA Endangered; habitat specialist. Northeast priority species. Global rank G5. State rank S1.
Habitat: Grasslands, old fields, meadows, abandoned pasturelands Reason(s) for concern: Never common in PA; species now in decline throughout the northern periphery of its range due to loss and degradation of habitat; PA range now limited to one or two counties.
Northern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus Status/notes: Proposed state endangered; habitat specialist.
Global rank G5.
Habitat: Large tracts of mature conifer forest Watchable Wildlife Wildlife Management Units County Information Regional Information http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=496&q=164531 (2 of 5)3/7/2007 11:30:07 AM
Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency: 10.4 CWCS-Priority Mammals Reason(s) for concern: Limited distribution; small population in apparent decline; possible competition with southern flying squirrel Silver-haired Bat Lasionycteris noctivagans Status/notes: Rare; habitat specialist. Northeast Region priority species. Global rank G5, SUB.
Habitat: Winter - migrates from PA; Summer - mature conifer/
mixed forests Reason(s) for concern: vulnerable to habitat alteration Southeastern Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger vulpinus Status/notes: Global rank G5. State rank SU.
Habitat: open, park-like woods with sparse ground cover Reason(s) for concern: May be extirpated. Likely competition with S.n.rufiventer. Genetics unclear.
RESPONSIBILITY CONCERN Northern Long-eared Bat Myotis septentrionalis Status/notes: Habitat specialist. Global rank G4. State rank S3.
Habitat: Winter - caves and mines; Summer - mature deciduous forests Reason(s) for concern: vulnerable to habitat alteration; status unclear - not adequately surveyed PENNSYLVANIA VULNERABLE Rock Vole Microtus chrotorrhinus Status/notes: At-risk. Global rank G4.
Habitat: cool, damp rocky woodlands with lush forb cover; talus slopes along streams Reason(s) for concern: limited distribution in PA MAINTENANCE CONCERN Eastern Red Bat Lasiurus borealis Status/notes: Habitat specialist. Northeast Region priority species.
Habitat: Winter - migrates from PA; Summer -forests, forest edges Reason(s) for concern: Northeast Region priority species; PA common Fisher Martes pennanti Status/notes: Recently reintroduced (formerly extirpated from PA). Global rank G5.
Habitat: Large tracts of mature forest Reason(s) for concern: Reintroduced population is still establishing itself in PA Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=496&q=164531 (3 of 5)3/7/2007 11:30:07 AM
Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency: 10.4 CWCS-Priority Mammals Status/notes: Habitat specialist Habitat: Winter - migrates from PA; Summer -forests Reason(s) for concern: Northeast Region priority species; PA common Least Weasel Mustela nivalis Status/notes: Global rank G5. State rank S3.
Habitat: forests, mixed grasslands, fencerows, riparian areas.
Reason(s) for concern: Rare throughout it's range.
Northern Water Shrew Sorex palustris albibarbis Status/notes: Rare; habitat specialist. Global rank G5T5.
Habitat: springs, fast-moving streams with quiet pools in deciduous forest Reason(s) for concern: Limited distribution; rely on high-quality upland streams River Otter Lontra canadensis Status/notes: Recently reintroduced (formerly extirpated in PA). Global rank G5.
Habitat: high quality rivers and streams Reason(s) for concern: Population continuing to reestablish itself Rock Shrew Sorex dispar Status/notes: Global rank G4, State rank S3. PA lies in the core of the species' range.
Habitat: Mountainous, forested areas (deciduous or evergreen) with loose talus. Rocky damp areas with deep crevices covered by leaf mold and roots are preferred. May occur along small mountain streams.
Reason(s) for Concern: There is currently no information on population trends although it is suspected that this species is relatively stable Snowshoe Hare Lepus americanus Status/notes: At-risk; PA is near southern edge of range Habitat: brushy thickets of northern forests; upland swamps and bogs Reason(s) for concern: Requires thick brushy cover for habitat; vulnerable to habitat alteration and deer over-browsing of shrub layer. Pennsylvania populations may be important in maintaining north/south gene flow.
Southern Bog Lemming Synaptomys cooperi Status/notes: Occurs in scattered pockets across PA.
Habitat: Prefers boggy habitat but also common in marshes, wet meadows, and upland forests with thick humus layer (especially when conditions not hot and dry); areas with intermixture of herbaceous/shrubby vegetation.
Reason(s) for concern:
Table 10.1: Ranking Factors for WAP-Priority Mammals http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=496&q=164531 (4 of 5)3/7/2007 11:30:07 AM
Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency: 10.4 CWCS-Priority Mammals Content Last Modified on 8/4/2005 2:37:06 PM Search Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency Home Printable Version eMail Unsubscribe from eAlerts l Related Links l Privacy Statement l Contact Us l Pennsylvania State Website Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110-9797 http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=496&q=164531 (5 of 5)3/7/2007 11:30:07 AM