Species We Study: Terrestrial Mammals Active
USGS research into environmental stressors (e.g., climate, drought, floods, wildland fire) and anthropogenic stressors (e.g., energy production, urban encroachment, water abatement) provides managers with information to reduce or eliminate impacts from stressors to fish and wildlife populations and advances our understanding of the efficacy of conservation and adaptation actions to mitigate land-use and climate change impacts on sensitive species.
Terrestrial Mammal Research
The New Mexico Landscapes Field Station
Informing Renewable Energy Development Siting Decisions with Vertebrate Biodiversity Measures
Terrestrial Mammal Ecology Research
A Rapid CRISPR-based Field Test for the Non-invasive Detection of the Fungal Causative Agent of White-nose Syndrome
Bat foraging ecology along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon
Grizzly Bear Research at the Montana Wildlife CRU
Research to understand SARS-CoV-2 risks for wildlife
Conservation Genetics of the Hawaiian Hoary Bat
Field trials for testing of white-nose syndrome vaccine candidates
Understanding Greater Everglades Mammal Communities within and adjacent to the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
Bison Conservation
Spatial Ecology of Bobcats in the Greater Everglades
Recent data related to USGS terrestrial mammal research are listed below. A broader listing of USGS mammal-related data is available from the button below. To see USGS resources about a specific species, use the search box in the blue page header on the top right corner of the page.
Predator Movements and Duck Nests in Relation to Habitat Features in Suisun Marsh, CA (2016-2019)
Wolf noninvasive methods trial from 2019-2021 in the Superior National Forest metadata
Effects of deltamethrin applications on non-target small mammal populations in South Dakota, Colorado, and Idaho, 2010-2017
Detections of burros from helicopter aerial surveys in the southwestern US, 2016-2018
Histopathology of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) collected from a maternity roost in Leelanau County, Michigan, USA, in June 2014
Ungulate Migrations of the Western United States, Volume 2
Documented known and probable grizzly bear mortalities in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, 2015-2022 (ver. 2.0, April 2023)
Winter herbaceous utilization by elk and bison in the Great Sand Dunes National Park ecosystem of the San Luis Valley, Colorado, 2006 to 2008
Status and Trends of North American Bats Summer Occupancy Analysis 2010-2019 Data Release
Gene annotations for the hoary bat (Lasiurus [Aeorestes] cinereus) and alignments with other bat gene sets for evolutionary analysis
Marine Corps Base Hawaii Oahu Hawaiian Hoary Bat Acoustic Data 2019-2021
Time to removal of fetal materials by scavengers in SW Montana 2017 - 2018
Recent publications (2020-2022) related to USGS terrestrial mammal research are listed below. A listing of USGS mammal-related publications is available from the button below. To see publications about a specific species, use the search box in the blue page header.
Survival and reproduction in Arctic caribou are associated with summer forage and insect harassment
Can non-invasive methods replace radiocollar-based winter counts in a 50-year wolf study? Lessons learned from a three-winter trial
By land, air, and water — U.S. Geological Survey science supporting fish and wildlife migrations throughout North America
Rub tree use and selection by American black bears and grizzly bears in northern Yellowstone National Park
Testing environmental DNA from wolf snow tracks for species, sex, and individual identification – An addendum
Ungulate migration in a changing climate—An initial assessment of climate impacts, management priorities, and science needs
Susceptibility of beavers to chronic wasting disease
Positively selected genes in the hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) lineage: Prominence of thymus expression, immune and metabolic function, and regions of ancient synteny
Are little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) impacted by dietary exposure to microcystin?
Nocturnal light-specific temporal partitioning facilitates coexistence for a small mesopredator, the eastern spotted skunk
Book review of The bear doesn’t know-Life and wonder in bear country by Paul Schullery
Annotated bibliography of scientific research on pygmy rabbits published from 1990 to 2020
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- Overview
USGS research into environmental stressors (e.g., climate, drought, floods, wildland fire) and anthropogenic stressors (e.g., energy production, urban encroachment, water abatement) provides managers with information to reduce or eliminate impacts from stressors to fish and wildlife populations and advances our understanding of the efficacy of conservation and adaptation actions to mitigate land-use and climate change impacts on sensitive species.
Terrestrial Mammal ResearchFilter Total Items: 50The New Mexico Landscapes Field Station
The New Mexico Landscapes Field Station is a place-based, globally connected, ecological research group that studies ecosystem and wildlife dynamics, working with land managers, community leaders, and Tribes to deliver solutions that foster the linked health of human and natural systems. For over three decades, we have focused on shifting research needs from forest watershed health to wildlife...Informing Renewable Energy Development Siting Decisions with Vertebrate Biodiversity Measures
Renewable energy development is expanding in southwestern deserts, including in Arizona. Energy developers look to resource management agencies to provide siting guidance on public lands where there might be conflicts with wildlife. Often, agency guidance considers species of conservation concern and economic importance, but information on comprehensive vertebrate biodiversity has been hard to...Terrestrial Mammal Ecology Research
Understanding the population dynamics, predator/prey relationships and habitat ecology of terrestrial mammals, such as caribou and muskoxen, is critical for the management of these species and their habitats in Alaska.A Rapid CRISPR-based Field Test for the Non-invasive Detection of the Fungal Causative Agent of White-nose Syndrome
White-nose syndrome has killed more than five million bats since its discovery in 2006. USGS is developing a non-invasive and user-friendly CRISPR white-nose syndrome biosensor to allow for quick detection of the pathogen that causes the disease.Bat foraging ecology along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon National Park is a hotspot for bat diversity. Twenty-two bat species have been documented in the Park, more than any other national park unit.Grizzly Bear Research at the Montana Wildlife CRU
Sarah Sells ssells@usgs.gov received her BS from Oregon State University and MS and PhD from the University of Montana. She was a postdoctoral research scientist before joining the Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit in 2022. Dr. Sells is a basic and applied ecologist with expertise in animal behavior, spatial ecology, quantitative analyses, agency collaboration, and decision analysis. Her...Research to understand SARS-CoV-2 risks for wildlife
Multiple research endeavors at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center are ongoing to help assess the possible impacts of SARS-CoV-2 on wildlife.Conservation Genetics of the Hawaiian Hoary Bat
The Hawaiian Hoary Bat ( Lasiurus semotus ) or ʻōpeʻapeʻa is the only extant land mammal native to the Hawaiian archipelago and is listed as endangered due to apparent population declines, and a lack of knowledge concerning its distribution, abundance, and habitat needs. This study is designed to apply molecular techniques to document demographic information, assess genetic variability, describe...Field trials for testing of white-nose syndrome vaccine candidates
White-nose syndrome (WNS), caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), continues to decimate bat populations in North America, and efforts to develop treatment options have intensified. One potential method for controlling WNS is vaccination of bats with specific antigens to elicit a protective immune response.Understanding Greater Everglades Mammal Communities within and adjacent to the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
WARC Researchers are using a variety of methods to assess mammal communities across the Greater Everglades.Bison Conservation
USGS science in support of the Department of the Interior's Bison Conservation Initiative.Spatial Ecology of Bobcats in the Greater Everglades
WARC researchers will estimate the density and distribution of bobcats in relation to environmental variables through the development of spatially explicit capture-recapture and occupancy models. - Data
Recent data related to USGS terrestrial mammal research are listed below. A broader listing of USGS mammal-related data is available from the button below. To see USGS resources about a specific species, use the search box in the blue page header on the top right corner of the page.
Filter Total Items: 38Predator Movements and Duck Nests in Relation to Habitat Features in Suisun Marsh, CA (2016-2019)
This dataset describes mesopredator locations (raccoons and striped skunks), dabbling duck nest locations (mallard, gadwall, and cinnamon teal), northern harrier nest locations, and random locations in relation to a set of habitat features in Suisun Marsh, California during 2016 through 2019. We designed a series of questions to link fine-scale predator movements and vulnerability of dabbling duckWolf noninvasive methods trial from 2019-2021 in the Superior National Forest metadata
This dataset contains gray wolf (Canis lupus) study area section counts of pack wolves by method (observing radiocollared wolves and their packmates via aerial telemetry and also noninvasive methods including ground snow tracking, aerial snow tracking, camera trapping, community scientist reports) from a three winter noninvasive methods trial during 2019-2021 in the USGS Wolf Project study area (2Effects of deltamethrin applications on non-target small mammal populations in South Dakota, Colorado, and Idaho, 2010-2017
We trapped small mammals at two sites in Badlands National Park, Pennington County, South Dakota from 2013-2017; two sites in Larimer County, Colorado from 2010-2011; and four sites in Adams County, Idaho from 2014-2017. Each site contained at least one or more treated plots (deltamethrin dust applied to burrows or bait stations for flea control) paired with one or more non-treated plots. We trappDetections of burros from helicopter aerial surveys in the southwestern US, 2016-2018
Feral burros (Equus asinus) and horses (E. ferus caballus) inhabiting public land in the western United States are intended to be managed at population levels established to promote a thriving, natural ecological balance. Like many large ungulate populations, management agencies employ aerial surveys to obtain estimates of horse and burro population sizes. Double-observer sightability (MDS) modelsHistopathology of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) collected from a maternity roost in Leelanau County, Michigan, USA, in June 2014
This work is part of a study investigating the movement of microcystin from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems via trophic transfer. Little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus), feeding opportunistically on aquatic insects including Hexagenia mayflies, were collected from a maternity roost near Little Traverse Lake (Leelanau County, Michigan, USA). Bats and fecal samples were collected for dietary analysiUngulate Migrations of the Western United States, Volume 2
This is the data archive for the publication Ungulate Migrations of the Western United States, Volume 2 (Kauffman et al. 2022) and includes the collection of GIS map files that are mapped and described in the report. These map files are meant to provide a common spatial representation of the mapped migrations. This data release provides the means for ungulate migrations to be mapped and planned foDocumented known and probable grizzly bear mortalities in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, 2015-2022 (ver. 2.0, April 2023)
We evaluate mortalities for population segments within the DMA by deriving estimates of total mortality for independent-age (equal to or less than 2 years old) females and independent-age males, including estimates of unknown/unreported mortalities based on Cherry et al. (2002). We then determine the total annual mortality rate for these segments as a percent of their respective population estimatWinter herbaceous utilization by elk and bison in the Great Sand Dunes National Park ecosystem of the San Luis Valley, Colorado, 2006 to 2008
These data represent 2 years of plant clipping data in areas with elk plus bison and areas of elk only in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, USA from 2006-2008. Clipping plots were measured (clipped) in meadow sites, herbaceous riparian sites, and willow communities. We clipped 1/4 m2 (meter-squared) rings inside and outside of 1-m2 grazing cages, as well as within large ungulate exclosures that werStatus and Trends of North American Bats Summer Occupancy Analysis 2010-2019 Data Release
This data release contains the results from the North American Bat Monitoring Program's report titled 'Status and Trends of North American Bats Summer Occupancy Analysis 2010-2019'. Specifically, these data include tabular data and geospatial data for the species-specific results related to the status and trends of 12 bat species at multiple spatial scales including: 10 km x 10 km grid cells, statGene annotations for the hoary bat (Lasiurus [Aeorestes] cinereus) and alignments with other bat gene sets for evolutionary analysis
Bats of the genus Lasiurus occur throughout the Americas and have diversified into at least 20 species among three subgenera. The hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus, or synonymously, Aeorestes cinereus) is highly migratory and ranges farther across North America than any other wild mammal. Despite the ecological importance of this species as a major insect predator, and the particular susceptibility ofMarine Corps Base Hawaii Oahu Hawaiian Hoary Bat Acoustic Data 2019-2021
Acoustic sampling for presence of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus, also known as Aeorestes semotus) was conducted at 17 stations across four Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) properties on O‘ahu Island, Hawai‘i. Bats were confirmed as present at all properties; MCBH K?ne?ohe Bay on M?kapu Peninsula, Marine Corps Training Area Bellows (MCTAB) in Waimanalo, Camp H.M. Smith in HalawTime to removal of fetal materials by scavengers in SW Montana 2017 - 2018
We investigated the time to removal of bovine fetal materials, meant to simulate elk abortion materials, by scavengers in southwest Montana at 233 sites in February – June 2017 and 2018. Scavengers are likely to reduce the transmission risk of brucellosis, a bacterial disease that can lead to reproductive failure in infected elk, by consuming and removing infectious fetal materials from the landsc - Publications
Recent publications (2020-2022) related to USGS terrestrial mammal research are listed below. A listing of USGS mammal-related publications is available from the button below. To see publications about a specific species, use the search box in the blue page header.
Filter Total Items: 96Survival and reproduction in Arctic caribou are associated with summer forage and insect harassment
Investigators have speculated that the climate-driven “greening of the Arctic” may benefit barren-ground caribou populations, but paradoxically many populations have declined in recent years. This pattern has raised concerns about the influence of summer habitat conditions on caribou demographic rates, and how populations may be impacted in the future. The short Arctic summer provides caribou withAuthorsHeather E. Johnson, Beth Lenart, Dave Gustine, Layne G. Adams, Perry BarbozaCan non-invasive methods replace radiocollar-based winter counts in a 50-year wolf study? Lessons learned from a three-winter trial
Context: Monitoring low-density, elusive predators such as grey wolves (Canis lupus) has often been undertaken via live-capture and radio-collaring. Recent advances in non-invasive methods suggest live-captures may not be necessary for adequate monitoring. Further, non-invasive methods are considered best practice when possible.Aims: I evaluated whether a suite of non-invasive methods could replacAuthorsShannon Barber-MeyerBy land, air, and water — U.S. Geological Survey science supporting fish and wildlife migrations throughout North America
Countless species of animals—big game, birds, bats, insects, amphibians, reptiles, and fish—migrate to reach suitable habitats to feed, reproduce, and raise their young. Animal migrations developed over millennia commonly follow migration corridors—unique routes for each species—to move among seasonal habitats. Changes along those corridors, whether from human development (buildings, roads, dams)AuthorsMona Khalil, Mark Wimer, David H. Hu, Michael J. Adams, Melanie J. Steinkamp, Suzanna C. SoileauRub tree use and selection by American black bears and grizzly bears in northern Yellowstone National Park
Several of the world's bear species exhibit tree-rubbing behavior, which is thought to be a form of scent-marking communication. Many aspects of this behavior remain unexplored, including differences in rub tree selection between sympatric bear species. We compiled rub tree data collected on Yellowstone National Park's Northern Range (USA) and compared rub tree selection of sympatric American blacAuthorsNathaniel R. Bowersock, H. Okada, Andrea R. Litt, Kerry A. Gunther, Frank T. van ManenTesting environmental DNA from wolf snow tracks for species, sex, and individual identification – An addendum
No abstract available.AuthorsShannon Barber-Meyer, Victoria Zeller, Kristy PilgrimUngulate migration in a changing climate—An initial assessment of climate impacts, management priorities, and science needs
Executive SummaryMigratory behavior among ungulates in the Western United States occurs in response to changing forage quality and quantity, weather patterns, and predation risk. As snow melts and vegetation green-up begins in late spring and early summer, many migratory ungulates leave their winter range and move to higher elevation summer ranges to access high-quality forage and areas with vegetAuthorsKatherine C. MalpeliSusceptibility of beavers to chronic wasting disease
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a contagious, fatal, neurodegenerative prion disease of cervids. The expanding geographical range and rising prevalence of CWD are increasing the risk of pathogen transfer and spillover of CWD to non-cervid sympatric species. As beavers have close contact with environmental and food sources of CWD infectivity, we hypothesized that they may be susceptible to CWD priAuthorsAllen Jeffrey Herbst, Serene Wohlgemuth, Jing-Feng Yang, Andrew Castle, Diana Martinez Moreno, Alicia Otero, Judd M. Aiken, David Westaway, Debbie I. McKenziePositively selected genes in the hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) lineage: Prominence of thymus expression, immune and metabolic function, and regions of ancient synteny
BackgroundBats of the genus Lasiurus occur throughout the Americas and have diversified into at least 20 species among three subgenera. The hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) is highly migratory and ranges farther across North America than any other wild mammal. Despite the ecological importance of this species as a major insect predator, and the particular susceptibility of lasiurine bats to wind turbAuthorsRobert S. Cornman, Paul M. CryanAre little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) impacted by dietary exposure to microcystin?
The cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa, can produce the hepatotoxin microcystin. When toxic M. aeruginosa overwinters in the sediments of lakes, it may be ingested by aquatic insects and bioaccumulate in nymphs of Hexagenia mayflies. When volant Hexagenia emerge from lakes to reproduce, they provide an abundant, albeit temporary, food source for many terrestrial organisms including bats. LittlAuthorsDevon N. Jones, Gregory L. Boyer, Julia S. Lankton, Megan Woller-Skar, Amy L. RussellNocturnal light-specific temporal partitioning facilitates coexistence for a small mesopredator, the eastern spotted skunk
Eastern spotted skunks are of conservation concern where competition and predation are a possible cause of their decline. Using camera traps at a food subsidy, we investigated nocturnal temporal overlap of spotted skunks with co-occurring predators. Spotted skunks were more active during dark nights, when their activity overlapped with the largest predator (coyotes), but not with other mesopredatoAuthorsCourtney J. Marneweck, Cameron R. Forehand, Charles D. Waggy, Stephen N. Harris, Todd E. Katzner, David S. JachowskiBook review of The bear doesn’t know-Life and wonder in bear country by Paul Schullery
No abstract available.AuthorsFrank T. van ManenAnnotated bibliography of scientific research on pygmy rabbits published from 1990 to 2020
Integrating recent scientific knowledge into management decisions supports effective natural resource management and can lead to better resource outcomes. However, finding and accessing scientific knowledge can be time consuming and costly. To assist in this process, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is creating a series of annotated bibliographies on topics of management concern for western landsAuthorsNathan J. Kleist, Joshua S. Willems, Heidi L. Bencin, Alison C. Foster, Laine E. McCall, Jennifer K. Meineke, Erin E. Poor, Sarah K. Carter - News
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