Mammalian Species of Special Concern in California
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MAMMALIAN SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN IN CALIFORNIA PREPARED FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THE RESOURCES AGENCY DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 Prepared by: Daniel F. Williams February 1986 Department of Biological Sciences California State University, Stanislaus 801 W. Monte Vista Ave. Turlock, CA 95382 (209) 667-3446 Originally published in 1986 Re-formatted October 4, 2007 from online version at: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/hcpb/info/mammal_ssc.shtml ABSTRACT The native species of land mammals of California which currently do not have state or federal Threatened or Endangered Species status were investigated in order to identify those potentially threatened with extinction Investigations concentrated on determining historic and current distributions, habitat associations, population status, and the nature and proximity of threats of extinction. Information was developed primarily from the literature, museum records, and field notes, and from contacts with biologists with knowledge of current developments in the field. Detailed studies were conducted in some areas, but only cursory field work was undertaken in other areas of concern. Populations of 36 species and subspecies were considered to be potentially jeopardized. These are placed in three priority categories. The 13 taxa in the Highest Priority face a high probability of extinction if current trends continue; the 1.1 taxa in the Second Priority are definitely declining in population size and appear jeopardized, but the threats are less immediate; the 12 taxa in the Third Priority appear not to face extinction soon, but their populations are declining seriously or they are otherwise highly vulnerable to human developments. Information on distribution, population status, habitat, and taxonomy, and recommendations for management actions are presented for each species on the List of Concern. Brief remarks are included for 56 other taxa considered in developing the final List of Concern. Species limited to or primarily dependent upon riparian and wetland communities have been affected most severely by human developments. Five geographic areas of critical concern are: the Colorado River riparian corridor; the San Joaquin Valley lowlands, including grassland, riparian and wetland communities; the tidal marshes of the Los Angeles Basin; the tidal marshes of San Francisco and San Pablo bays; and the grasslands of the southern California coastal basins. Loss and fragmentation of mature and old- growth forests, lack of data on population structure of some game and fur-bearing species, and human disturbances of sensitive species are other important factors generating concerns for several species. 1/ Wildlife Management Division Administrative Report 86- l (June 1986). Supported by federal Endangered Species Act grant-in-aid funds for Nongame Bird and Mammal Section project E-W-4, IV-14.1; and by internal Nongame Bird and Mammal Section research funds. i MAMMALIAN SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN IN CALIFORNIA Daniel F. Williams Department of Biological Sciences California State University, Stanislaus Turlock, CA 95382 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract.......................................................................................................................................................... i Table of Contents.......................................................................................................................................... ii Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................ v Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................ v Preface.......................................................................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................................ vi Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Methods......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Results ........................................................................................................................................................... 7 Highest Priority List ............................................................................................................... 11 Buena Vista Lake Shrew (Sorex ornatus relictus).............................................................................. 11 Suisun Shrew (Sorex ornatus sinuosus).............................................................................................. 11 Santa Catalina Shrew (Sorex ornatus willetti) .................................................................................... 13 Salt Marsh Wandering Shrew (Sorex vagrans halicoetes).................................................................. 15 Arizona Myotis (Myotis lucifugus occultus) ....................................................................................... 17 Arizona Cave Myotis (Myotis velifer velifer) ..................................................................................... 18 Riparian Brush Rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani riparius) ...................................................................... 20 Point Arena Mountain Beaver (Aplodontia rufa nigra) ...................................................................... 21 Los Angeles Pocket Mouse (Perognathus longimembris brevinasus)................................................ 22 Pacific Pocket Mouse (Perognathus longimembris pacificus)............................................................ 24 Tipton Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides) ................................................................ 25 Colorado River Cotton Rat (Sigmodon arizonae plenus).................................................................... 27 Yuma Mountain Lion (Felis concolor browni)................................................................................... 28 Second Priority List ................................................................................................................ 30 Southern California Salt Marsh Shrew (Sorex ornatus salicornicus) ................................................. 30 California Leaf-nosed Bat (Macrotus californicus) ............................................................................ 31 Townsend's Big-eared Bat (Plecotus townsendii)............................................................................... 33 Pocketed Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida femorosacca) ............................................................................. 34 California Mastiff Bat (Eumops perotis californicus)......................................................................... 35 Salinas Pocket Mouse (Perognathus inornatus psammophilus) ......................................................... 37 White-eared Pocket Mouse (Perognathus alticola alticola)............................................................... 39 Southern Marsh Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis limicola)............................................. 40 Riparian Woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes riparia).................................................................................... 41 White-footed Vole (Arborimus albipes) ............................................................................................. 42 Point Reyes Jumping Mouse (Zapus trinotatus orarius) .................................................................... 43 Third Priority List .................................................................................................................. 44 Big Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida macrotis)............................................................................................. 44 Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis)............................................................................................ 45 ii Oregon Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus klamathensis)................................................................ 47 Sierra Nevada Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus tahoensis) ........................................................... 48 Western White-tailed Hare (Lepus townsendii townsendii)................................................................ 49 Point Reyes Mountain Beaver (Aplodontia rufa phaea)..................................................................... 51 Tehachapi Pocket Mouse (Perognathus alticola inexpectatus) .......................................................... 52 Short-nosed Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys nitratoides brevinasus)........................................................ 53 Red Tree Vole (Arborimus longicaudus)............................................................................................ 55 Pacific Fisher (Martes pennanti pacifica)........................................................................................... 57 American Badger (Taxidea taxus) ...................................................................................................... 59 Channel Islands Spotted Skunk (Spilogale gracilis amphiala)........................................................... 63 Other Candidates...................................................................................................................