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Mammals
Here are some descriptions of high profile mammals followed by a species list.
Black Bear
There have been several reports of sightings of the black bear, which
has been known to range several miles in one day. However, most of the
sightings indicate that only one bear was seen, and this is because
bears do not live in the nature preserve. They may spend a day or two
in the preserve during the summer, but in general, the conditions of
our nature preserve do not provide an ideal habitat. Bears prefer
exposed rock to build their dens, which is abundant across the street
on Bunn Hill Road and toward Nuthatch Hollow but absent in the preserve
itself. Also, despite popular belief, Bears are omnivores. Although
they will scavenge the carrion of smaller animals such as rabbits and
voles, they prefer soft green, new growth plants, spring shrubs and
fruits, which the huge deer population has decimated.
Finally, it is important to note that these bears are more afraid of
you than you are of them. Their senses of smell and hearing are
excellent, and they are able to see movement (but not detail) very
well, and if they detect a human in the area, they will more than
likely run away. They are timid animals in general, so if you see a
bear, make yourself known. Try to yell, scream, or even make yourself
look large and it will probably escape. Be sure to give it enough room
to flee; though timid, bears will fight if they are cornered. Since the
Nature Preserve is mostly open land, this will probably not be a
problem.
Bears will not likely be seen during the school year, as there are too
many people around. Bears have been spotted up on Lehigh Avenue, eating
from people's bird feeders and traipsing around their gardens. Though
the general population of black bears is growing in this area, sighting
are still very rare.
Information courtesy of Michael
Armstrong.
Coyotes
Unlike bears, evidence collected from the pipeline, CIW and infirmary
woods has shown that coyotes have paired up and denned to raise
litters. They have also been spotted toward the southwestern edge of
the preserve bordering private property and crossing the main road in
the early mornings, scavenging for food. Populations have recently
expanded to the CIW woods and marsh areas, but this is probably due to
population shift due to resource depletion and not an actual increase
in number.
Coyotes have been blamed for the local decline in deer population,
which is untrue on many levels. Coyotes hunt in pairs, not packs, and
it is very difficult for a pair to take down a deer. Instead, coyotes
mainly eat small mammals and birds, and, very rarely, very small deer.
They are very tenacious, moving very fluidly as they skulk low to the
ground. They are quiet and agile, and are rarely seen by people. When
coyotes are spotted, it is either because the viewer knows what he or
she is looking for, or it is a complete accident.
Like bears, coyotes are very afraid of people. The same rules apply; if
you make yourself known, it is likely to retreat.
Information courtesy of Michael
Armstrong.
White-Tailed Deer
The deer on campus is 500-600 times more abundant than would be
sustainable in CIW and Pipeline Woods, where they are frequently
spotted. These deer are considered loners and generally do not like
people, but they can learn. Many have been so used to seeing people
that they have become borderline petting zoo pets. They are wonderful
to observe as long as you are subtle about it.
In the actual Nature Preserve, the number of deer is a bit lower, but
still abnormally high. These deer are more wild and rather skittish
about people. Deer have also been seen close campus and on Murray Hill
Road and Lehigh Avenue, residents having been encouraging their
appearances by feeding them.
For more information on the overpopulation of deer and its effects on
the preserve, click here.
Information courtesy of Michael
Armstrong.
Beaver
Sign of the work of beavers can be seen throughout the wetland
areas of the Nature Preserve. Along the
Marsh Trail, many trees have been felled by the industrious beavers. They feed on the cambium layer of bark,
usually from Aspen trees. Along the shores of the wetlands many “beaver
canals” can be found. Over the years,
beavers have built four major dams in the wetlands and three smaller dams in
the Marsh Trail Ditch. Two dams are
visible from the ‘87 walkway, the bridge.
The lines of vegetation making the ‘shoreline’ east and west of the
bridge are beaver dams. Beavers have
also built many lodges which have cycled through use and deterioration. Many of the lodges are used by muskrats and
as Canada Goose nests.
Since 2000, there has been a single dominant family: “Big
Guy” the male (who appears to be close to 50 lbs), a female, and usually two
offspring consisting of the current year’s kit and the previous year’s
“teenager.” The family seems to have one
kit at a time, but many kits are possible.
The offspring usually disperse (or are kicked out) in their second
summer. The dispersing young often “train”
in the Marsh Trail ditch before leaving the Preserve completely. In 2002, a family of nine beavers (four
adults and five kits) tried to move into the Nature Preserve, but they were
promptly driven off by the dominant original family. In the winter of 2004, one beaver died on the
bank of the Marsh Trail ditch next to the lodge of unknown causes (possibly
sick or of old age.) The Beaver
population seems to be in transition. In
January 2007, a large beaver, possibly “Big Guy” getting himself kicked out by
a younger male, moved from the main pond to the Marsh Trail Ditch. He made a quick fix to the lodge in the ditch
for the winter. There seems to be a
different male in the main pond who is a little more skittish than “Big Guy.”
The mother beaver usually waits in the water, protecting the
kit, while the male brings branches to her to eat. Interestingly, the beavers have become active
later and later as the years go by. As
more people use the Nature Preserve, the beavers have changed their activity
time from during the day, to evening, to late night. Sometimes, they can be seen in the early
evening, but sighting them is becoming increasingly rare. (Muskrats are often mistaken for beavers)
Mammal List
In Nature Preserve= Definitely observed visually or by sign
Possible Occurrence= possibly in NP by virtue of being within range
Didelphimorphia (American Marsupials)
In Nature Preserve
Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana
Soricomorpha (Insectivores)
In Nature Preserve
Northern Short-tailed Shrew Blarina
brevicauda
Star-nosed Mole Condylura cristata
Possible Occurrence
Hairy-tailed Mole Parascalops breweri
Masked Shrew Sorex cinereus
Water Shrew Sorex palustris
Smoky Shrew Sorex fumeus
Long-tailed Shrew Sorex dispar
Pygmy Shrew Sorex hoyi
Least Shrew Cryptotis parva
Eastern Mole Scalopus aquaticus
Chiroptera (Bats)
In Nature Preserve
Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus
Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus
Red Bat Lasiurus borealis
Eastern Pipistrelle Pipistrellus subflavus
Possible Occurrence
Keen's Bat (Northern Long-Eared Bat) Myotis
septentrionalis
Indiana Bat Myotis sodalis
Small-footed Bat Myotis leibii
Silver-haired Bat Lasionycteris noctivagans
Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus
Canidae (Dogs)
In Nature Preserve
Coyote Canis latrans
Red Fox Vulpes vulpes
Gray Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Ursidae (Bear)
Occasionally in Nature Preserve
Black Bear Ursus americanus
Procyonidae (Raccoons)
In Nature Preserve
Raccoon Procyon lotor
Mustelidae (Weasels and relatives)
In Nature Preserve
Ermine Mustela erminea
Long-tailed Weasel Mustela frenata
Least Weasel Mustela nivalis
Mink Mustela vison
Fisher Martes pennanti Tracks in Preserve 2007 and 2008
In Broome
County
River Otter Lontra canadensis
Marten Martes americana
Mephitidae (Skunks)
In Nature Preserve
Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis
Felidae (Cats)
Likely occasionally In Nature Preserve (no reports)
Bobcat Lynx rufus
Artiodactyla (Even-Hoofed ungulates)
In Nature Preserve
White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus
In NYS
Moose Alces alces
Rodentia (Rodents)
In Nature Preserve
Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus
Woodchuck Marmota monax
Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
Red Squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Southern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys
volans
Northern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys
sabrinus
Beaver Castor canadensis
Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus
White-footed Mouse Peromyscus leucopus
Alleghany Woodrat Neotoma magister
Southern Red-backed Vole Clethrionomys
gapperi
Meadow Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus
Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum
Possible Occurrence
Rock Vole Microtus chrotorrhinus
Pine Vole Pitymys pinetorum
Southern Bog Lemming Synaptomys
cooperi
Black Rat Rattus rattus
Norway Rat Rattus norvegicus
House Mouse Mus musculus
Meadow Jumping Mouse Zapus
hudsonius
Woodland Jumping Mouse Napaeozapus
insignis
Lagomorpha (Rabbits/Hares)
In Nature Preserve
Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus
In NYS
New England
Cottontail Sylvilagus transitionalis
Varying Hare Lepus americanus
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