OCCASIONAL PAPERS:14 "•JITIT IT

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MUSEUOF NATURAL HISTORMY UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

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Distribution, Natural History, and Parasites of Mammals of Cook County, Minnesota BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY . UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

17TH AND UNIVERSITY AVES. S.E. . MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

OCCASIONAL PAPERS: NUMBER 14

Distribution, Natural History, and Parasites of Mammals of Cook County, Minnesota

By Robert M. Timm Bell Museum of Natural History University of Minnesota Minneapolis, 55455

30 December 1975 Price: $3.00 Table of Contents

ABSTRACT 1 INTRODUCTION 1 History 1 Soils 2 Topography 2 Climate 3 Vegetation 3 History of Mammalian Investigations in Cook County 3 METHODS AND MATERIALS 8 ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES 10 Species of Verified Occurrence 10 Species of Unverified Occurrence 38 DISCUSSION 40 Analysis of Parasite Fauna 40 Comments on Zoogeography 45 Impact of Man's Activities 48 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 49 LITERATURE CITED 50 1

ABSTRACT

Natural history, distributions, and parasites of mammals of Cook County, Minnesota, were studied from the summer of 1971 through the summer of 1973. The purposes of this research were twofold. First, to determine species composition and relative abundance of individual species present in the county today. These base-line data may be used to project both back in time and into the future to assess man s effects on the mammalian fauna of the area. Second, to develop a technique for analyzing similari- ties and differences between the parasite fauna of groups of hosts as a tool in systematic and ecological research. Data on the mammalian fauna of Cook County were obtained through field collecting, by examination of mammal specimens from the county in collections, from discussions with individuals familiar with the local mammalian fauna, and from the published literature. The present mammalian fauna of Cook County is composed of 48 species of verified occurrence. Eleven other species may be inhabitants of the county, but documentation of their occurrence there is lacking. Data presented for verified species includes localities of record, comments on abundance, re- iroduction, habitats, taxonomy, parasites, and pertinent literature. Known distributions and pertinent fiterature are presented for the eleven species or unverified occurrence. All mammalian species of veri- fied occurrence have been reported from the state previously; however, the records of Sorex arcticus, Sorex palustris, Condylura cristata, Myotis keenii, Lasionycteris noctivagans, Lasiurus borealis, Microtus chrotorrhinus, Synaptomys cooperi, Napaeozapus insignis, Procuon lotor, Martes americana, Martes pennanti, and Lynx canadensis especially aid in our understanding of their distribution and natural history. Ectoparasites representing three widespread groups of parasitic arthropods (Anoplura, Siphonaptera, Acari) were found parasitizing 20 species of small mammals in the county. Host-parasite records are pre- sented for 23 species of fleas, 11 species of mites, 6 species of sucking lice, and 3 species of ticks. New host records are reported for six species of mites and one species of tick. New state records are recorded for seven species of mites and five species of fleas. A technique was developed which produced an artificial classification of the mammalian fauna based entirely on the similarity of the ectoparasitic fauna between species. Similarity was calculated using Sorensen's similarity coefficient. An agglomerative clustering program utilizing within-group sums of squares was used to produce a two dimensional phenogram of the hosts. This clustering technique may prove to be of value in comparisons of similarity and difference between hosts or other communities. Man's effect on the mammalian fauna has been to increase species diversity. The recent additions to the mammalian fauna are of deciduous forest affinity, are widespread in North America, or are intro- duced. Two species of coniferous forest affinity, Gulo gulo and Rangifer tarandus, have been extirpated recently from the county. It is hypothesized that most future additions to the mammalian fauna of Cook County, Minnesota, will be of deciduous forest, widespread, or the introduced category of faunal affinity.

INTRODUCTION History Cook County was organized in 1874 as south greatest breadth of 54 miles. Grant the extreme northeastern county in Min- (1899) estimated that the county covered nesota. Named in honor of Major Michael 1680 square miles including 274 square Cook, a territorial and state senator who miles of lakes. The highest point in Min- was killed during the Civil War, the county nesota, Eagle Mountain (elevation 2,301 is situated between 89° 30' and 91° 00' feet), is centrally located in the county. west longitude and between 47° 30' and Grand Marais is the county seat and the 48° 15' north latitude (Fig. 1). The Canadian largest town within the county, having a province of Ontario borders to the north, population of approximately 1,200. Lake County, Minnesota, to the west, and Cook County contains a large portion of Lake Superior to the south and east. The the Superior National Forest, several state northern boundary was negotiated with the parks, and the Grand Portage Indian Reser- British at the 1783 Treaty of Paris. The vation. Superior National Forest was estab- center of the voyageurs canoe route from lished in Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties Lake of the Woods in the western part of by proclamation of President Theodore the state east to the mouth of the Pigeon Roosevelt on February 13, 1909. Numerous River was designated as the final interna- tracts of land have been added to the na- tional boundary (Upham, 1920). Shaped tional forest since 1909. Under the Wilder- roughly as an isosceles triangle with the ness Act of 1964, 1,062,000 acres of the for- base to the west, Cook County has an est were set aside as the Boundary Waters east-west length of 72 miles and a north- Canoe Area (BWCA) for preservation of 2

I Pigeon Pigeon River River

Mineral Brule Center Grand Portage River River 'M Temperance Hovland ':"'; / tS R'Ver ; Poplar \ River Grand Marais

Lutsen

II Superior National Forest "^Schroeder 'Taconite H Grand Portage Indian Harbor Reservation Miles

FIGURE 1. Map of Cook County, Minnesota, showing locations of place-names mentioned in text. wilderness areas. Grand Portage, the ear- by two separate glacier lobes. The Rainey liest settlement inhabited by European man Lobe, the first chronologically, moved in Minnesota, played a major role in the north to south depositing a brown sandy till northwestern fur trade from the 1730's until upon which developed the Milaca-Cloquet the early 1800's when it served as a trading soil type. The Superior Lobe, which came post and rendezvous site. Grand Portage from the east-northeast, followed the Lake Indian Reservation, which covers approxi- Superior basin and covered only a narrow mately 65 square miles on the extreme east- strip of the county bordering the lake. It ern edge of the county, was established for deposited the red clay or till that provided the Chippewas in 1854. the parent material for the Ontonagan soil group of gray and light grayish-brown clay Soils loams. The Ontonagan soils are suitable for The bedrock exposed as surface out- agriculture and support the limited farming crops in many areas of Cook County con- tbat takes place along the coastal hills. The sists primarily of Duluth gabbro, basalts, Milaca-Cloquet soils are best suited for for- Saganaga granite, rhyolite, diabase, lavas, est production (Grout et al, 1959; Mc- and greenstones of Precambrian origin, Miller, 1947). Discussions of the geological some 2.6-2.7 billion years old. Other de- history of the area may be found in Grout posits are of Pleistocene or Holocene origin. et al (1959), Sharp (1953), and Wright and The area was covered by continental gla- Ruhe (1965). ciers at least four times during the Pleisto- cene, i.e., Nebraskan, Kansan, Illinoian, and Topography Wisconsin. The youngest of these, of Wis- Cook County was divided into three consin age, was represented in the county physiographic regions by Grout et al. 3

(1959). The Coastal Hills area, which ex- — 40° F are not uncommon. (Climatogra- tends in a narrow belt along the north shore phy of the United States, no. 85-17, Dicen- of Lake Superior, ranges in altitude from nial census of United States climate-month- 602 feet near the shore to 1840 feet at its ly averages for state climatic divisions, highest point. It is characterized by long 1931-1960, Minnesota, 1963; and United parallel, northeasterly trending ridges witb States Weather Bureau, Climatological long intervening valleys. The Interior Up- Data, Minnesota Sec., Washington, D.C., lands are typically gentle, rolling hills with Annual Summary 1972, vol. 78, no. 13, pp. altitudes of 1300-2200 feet, separated by 215-225.) broad, shallow valleys. Two parallel sets of ridges, the Brule Hills and the Misquah Vegetation Hills, are located there. The third physio- Before the instigation of logging in the graphic region, the Northern Ridges and 1870's, much of the vegetation of Cook Valleys, are characterized by rugged, par- County was that of a true coniferous forest allel ridges with long, intervening narrow with immense stands of white pine (Finns valleys. However, wide, flat valleys of gla- strobus) and red pine (Pinus resinosa). Be- cial lake clay are found in some areas. The cause of forest fires and extensive logging in altitudes range from 602 feet to 2100 feet. subsequent years, little of the climax forest Grout et al. (1959) divided the approxi- remains today. Weaver and Clements mately 1124 lakes in Cook County into five (1938) described the Great Lakes area as major classes depending on their origin as the Lake Forest Climax Formation, with follows: ". . . (1) lakes lying wholly in bed- white pine, red pine, and hemlock (Tsuga rock basins; (2) lakes in bedrock basins but canadensis) as the climax dominants. Hem- with depth of water increased through lock is continually expanding its range, but damming by glacial debris; (3) lakes in has not yet reached northeastern Minne- bedrock valleys dammed soley by glacial sota. Kiichler (1964) included northeastern debris; (4) lakes within depressions in gla- Minnesota in the Great Lakes Spruce Fir cial deposits; and (5) lakes dammed by Forest with the present dominants of bal- shoreline bars." The numerous rivers and sam fir (Abies balsamea) and white spruce streams of the county form two diverse (Picea glauca). He included red maple drainage systems. The northwestern town- (Acer rubrum), mountain maple (Acer spi- ships of the county, draining to the north, catum), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), red lie within the Hudson Bay watershed. The pine, white pine, quaking aspen (Populus remainder of the county is part of the St. tremuloides), mountain-ash (Sorbus ameri- Lawrence watershed and drains via several cana), and white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis) rivers into Lake Superior. as secondary components. I have followed Ohmann and Ream's Climate (1971) classification of the present plant The climate of Cook County is best de- communities in the Boundary Waters Canoe scribed as cool-temperate (Hovde, 1941). Area into 12 community types (Table 1). Long severe winters and short, cool, wet Several categories are successional stages summers are normal. Annual precipitation found in association with habitat disturb- averages about 27 inches with the majority ance. In many cases, the community types falling during the five-month period from are easily discernible in the field, thereby May through September. Snowfall averages allowing for correlation of the distribution 55-60 inches per year. Lake Superior's great and abundance of mammals with the re- volume of water tends to have a moderating spective habitats. effect on the local climate, especially in the History of Mammalian Investigations Coastal Hills area. The mean January tem- in Cook County perature for Grand Marais, along the north shore, is 14.6° F; that for Gunflint Lake, 32 Field investigations of mammals in Cook miles inland to the northwest, is —2.8° F. County began in August, 1879, with the The average July temperature for Grand work of E. Surber and T. S. Roberts. Subse- Marais is 59.4° F, that for Gunflint Lake is quent collecting trips by Surber were made 62.4° F. Winter temperatures of -30° F to in 1922 and 1923. W. J. Breckenridge, H. L. TABLE 1. The twelve major plant communities in northeastern Minnesota as defined by Ohmann and Ream (1971). Names of the community type, its dominants, codominants, and abundant species are listed along with comments concerning each.

Community Type Dominants-Codominants Abundant Species Comments

1. Lichen Cladonia mitis Pink corydalis (Corydalis Restricted to rock outcrops on ridges Cladonia rangiferina sempervirens) and upper slopes. Spotted peltigera Hairy-cap moss (Polytrichum) {Peltigera aphthosa) 2. Jack pine (Oak) Jack pine (Pinus banksiana) Red oak (Quercus rubra) Found on bald rock ridges and Bebb willow (Salix bebbiana) rock outcrops. Late sweet blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) 3. Jack pine (Fir) Jack pine White spruce (Picea glauca) Similar to Jack pine (Oak), but more Goldthread (Coptis groenlandica) consistently found on lower slopes and Twin-flower (Linnaea borealis) on northern and northeastern slopes. Running clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum)

4. Jack pine-Black spruce Jack pine Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) Usually on southern and Black spruce (Picea mariana) southwestern slopes. 5. Black spruce-Jack pine Black spruce Jack pine Mid to lower slopes usually facing Dicranum (Dicranum spp.) south and west. Plume moss (Hypnum crista-castrensis) Schreber's moss (Calliergonella schreberi)

6. Aspen-Birch Quaking aspen (Populus Beaked hazel (Corylus cornuta) Widespread, especially along Lake Superior. tremuloides) Green alder (Alnus crispa) Contains the greatest diversity, having at Paper birch (Betula Round-leaved dogwood (Cornus rugosa) least 112 different species. papyrifera) Clinton's lily (Clintonia borealis) Large-leaf northern aster (Aster macrophyllus) Upland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum)

7. Maple-Aspen-Birch Red maple (Acer rubrum) Quaking aspen Frequently in valleys but also on some Paper birch upper slopes. Common twisted-stalk (Streptopus roseus) Table 1.—Continued.

Community Type Dominants-Codominants Abundant Species Comments

False lily-of-the-valley (Maianthemum canadense) Star-flower (Trientalis borealis) Ground pine (Lycopodium obscurum) 8. White pine White pine (Pinus strobus) Bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) Generally on midslopes to ridgetops and Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) usually northeast, east, or south facing. Wood anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) 9. Red pine Red pine (Pinus resinosa) Red Oak Least diversity of the forest community White pine Juneberry (Amelanchier spp.) types, with only 67 different species. Sweet fern (Comptonia peregrina) Velvet-lead blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides) Cow-wheat (Melampyrum lineare) 10. Budworm-disturbed Balsam fir (Abies balsamea) White spruce Spruce budworm damage opens the canopy, Dewberry (Rubus pubescens) allowing dense growth of seedlings, Red raspberry (Rubus strigosus) saplings, and shrubs. Fringed bindweed (Polygonum cilinode) One-sided pyrola (Pyrola secunda) 11. Fir-Birch Balsam fir Mountain maple (Acer spicatum) Usually close to water and with a sparse Paper birch Sweet bedstraw (Galium triflorum) ground flora. Stiff clubmoss (Lycopodium annotinum) other mosses 12. White-Cedar White-cedar (Thuja Balsam fir Generally found on northern and occidentalis) Mountain-ash (Strobus americana) northeastern slopes. White spruce Fly honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis) Ground-hemlock (Taxus canadensis) Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) Bishop's cap (Mitella nuda) Violet (Viola spp.) Oak fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris) Hylocomium (Hylocomium splendens)

or 6

FIGURE 2. View of the Coastal Hills area and Lake Superior near the town of Tofte.

FIGURE 3. Boulder accumulation along the Gunflint Trail where an isolated population of rock voles, Microtus chrotorrhinus, was discovered. Sorex arcticus, S. cinereus, Blarina brevicauda, Eutamias minimus, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, Peromyscus maniculatus, Clethrionomys gapperi, and Napaeoza- pus insignis were taken in the surrounding forest. FIGURE 4. Birch forest along the Temperance River on 15 April 1974. Black spruce commonly was found growing along river banks. Sorex palustris, Blarina brevicauda, Condylura cristata, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, Peromyscus maniculatus, and Clethrionomys gapperi were taken frequently in this habitat type.

FIGURE 5. Second growth vegetation as a result of recent logging along the Gunflint Trail north of Grand Marais. Eutamias minimus and Clethrionomys gapperi were the most common mammals found in this habitat. 8

Gunderson, and B. Hayward made collec- 1974; and Van Ballenberghe and Peek, tions of small mammals in the late 1940's 1971), food habits and parasites of bobcats and early 1950s. O. T. Kalin and R. J. Oeh- (Rollings, 1945), and extensive research on lenschlager collected at several localities timber wolves (Byman, 1972; Mech, 1970 during the summers of 1966 and 1967 as and elsewhere; Seal et al, 1975; Stenlund, part of an investigation on small mammals 1955; Van Ballenberghe, 1972; Van Ballen- of Minnesota. These field crews were spon- berghe and Mech, 1975; and Van Ballen- sored by the Minnesota Museum of Natural berghe et al, 1975). Published distributional History (now Bell Museum of Natural His- and natural history records on Cook County tory) or the Minnesota State Department of mammals include those on the woodland Natural Resources. Specimens and some jumping mouse (Surber, 1923), least chip- field notes from these investigations are on munk (Orr, 1930), snowshoe hare (Cox, deposit in the Museum. Mammal specimens 1936), marten (Gunderson, 1965), fisher from Cook County in the University of (Balser and Longley, 1966), wolf (Van Bal- Michigan Museum of Zoology were ob- lenberghe and Erickson, 1973), and rock tained by W. Koelz in September of 1921. vole (Timm, 1974). A few miscellaneous specimens obtained State mammalian faunal accounts (see previously from the county are also on de- Ames, 1873; Herrick, 1892; Johnson, 1916; posit in the Bell Museum of Natural His- Johnson, 1930; Surber, 1932; Swanson, 1945; tory, the American Museum of Natural His- and Gunderson and Beer, 1953) are of a tory, the United States National Museum of general nature as are those of adjoining Natural History, and The University of smaller areas (Quetico Provincial Park by Kansas Museum of Natural History. Cahn, 1937; northern Lake County, Minne- Due in part to the limited amount of sota, by Johnson, 1922; and northeastern field work, there is a paucity of information Lake County by Rom, 1940). Major de- on the natural history of the mammalian scriptive accounts are available for some of fauna of northeastern Minnesota. Notable the same mammals in other parts of their exceptions are a few studies on game spe- range (Eastern United States by Hamilton, cies, including autecological studies of 1943; Eastern Canada by Peterson, 1966; black bears (Rogers, 1970; 1974), ecological Wisconsin by Jackson, 1972; and Canada by studies of moose (Peek, 1971; Peek et al, Banfield, 1974).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

My interest in the mammals of Cook sistance in obtaining specimens and to as- County, Minnesota began in the summer of semble data on distribution and abundance 1971 when a small collection of mammals of local game and fur-bearing species. was obtained there during two brief trips. Each species of mammal recorded pres- Subsequently, extensive collecting was con- ently or historically from Cook County, as ducted during the spring and summer of well as those possibly occurring there but 1972 followed by periodic field work whose presence is unverified by a specimen, through the summer of 1973. During this is treated separately in the accounts that time, more than four months were spent in follow. The basis of each species account is the field studying the mammals of the area. the natural history data obtained during At the beginning of this study, permission this study, including distribution, relative was obtained from the United States Forest abundance, reproductive characteristics, Service and the Minnesota Department of habitat use, molt, parasites, food habits, and Game and Fish to collect in Superior Na- taxonomic comments as appropriate. All tional Forest and the state parks in the known records from the county and refer- county. Restricted collecting on the Grand ences to pertinent literature are included. Portage Indian Reservation was authorized Standard external measurements (total by the local Indian council. Local trappers, length, length of tail vertebrae, length of conservation officers, and the area game hind foot, and height of ear from notch) manager were contacted to solicit their as- were recorded in millimeters and weight in 9 grams. On the basis of size and pelage liquid or as skulls have not beeen acces- characteristics, each animal was placed into sioned and are being preserved temporar- one of three age classes: juvenile, subadult, ily. Specimens listed under "Other records" or adult. Molt was classified as maturational were taken from the literature or were ex- or adult. The following reproductive data amined for me in the collections in which were recorded for males—(1) seminal vesi- they are housed. The order for listing speci- cles; minute, small, or large: (2) epididy- mens is according to locality of capture as mus; not convoluted, slightly convoluted, or follows: alphabetical by reference point, convoluted: (3) testes; length and width. then sequential north to south; those from The following reproductive data were re- the same latitude referenced to the same corded for females—(1) vulva; inactive, tur- point are in order west to east. Sight rec- gid, or cornified: (2) mammae; small, large, ords are listed in the individual species ac- or lactating: (3) pubic symphysis; closed, counts and unless otherwise described, in- slightly open, or open: (4) normal embryos; clude only my sightings. The arrangement number left and right: (5) resorbing em- of orders and genera follows Hall and Kel- bryos; number left and right: (6) embryo son (1959). Species within a genus are length; crown-rump length in millimeters: treated in alphabetical order. Scientific and (7) new uterine scars; number left and right: common names follow Jones et al. (1973). (8) highly pigmented old uterine scars; In a few cases common names judged to be number left and right: (9) lightly pigmented better known within the area are listed first, old uterine scars; number left and right: followed in parentheses by the common (10) corpora lutea; number left and right: name suggested by Jones et al. (1973). (11) corpora lutea (corpora albicantia) asso- Legal descriptions of collecting locali- ciation; unimplanted ova, embryos, new ties were used for animals collected during uterine scars, or old uterine scars: (12) cor- this study insofar as was possible. For the pora albicantia; present or absent. Cranial sake of brevity within accounts of species measurements were taken with dial calipers and for convenience of future workers, and recorded to the nearest tenth of a milli- however, only distance in miles to the near- meter unless otherwise noted. Definitions est town is routinely reported herein. Ex- of cranial measurements used are those ceptions exist when the locality is not a provided by Choate (1970) for shrews and "point" (i.e. Lower Brule River, T. 62 N, R. by Hall (1946) for other species. 3 E) or when confusion might result such as Although counts of placental scars may with specimens collected at or near the not give an accurate account of an individ- United States-Canadian border crossing of ual female's reproductive history, general Pigeon River. Two separate "point" locali- trends in reproduction can be detected by ties within the county and a river are detailed examination of placental scars and known as "Pigeon River." The old border ovaries. The dangers of utilizing data from crossing (Fig. 1) is designated Pigeon River placental scars to determine breeding po- on all present state and federal maps. When tential for individual Rattus were pointed the border crossing was moved to its pres- out by Davis and Emlen (1948). However, ent locality some 5/2 miles east of the orig- they emphasized that placental scars could inal site, it also became known as Pigeon be utilized to distinguish between parous River and is so designated by recent high- and nonparous individuals and as a crude way markers. It is likely that future maps record of reproductive history. also will designate the new site as Pigeon All specimens listed under "Specimens River. Localities plotted from the old town examined" were personally examined dur- of Pigeon River are labeled "Pigeon River" ing the course of this study. Voucher speci- with a legal description. All localities near mens from each collecting locality were the second site will be referenced by mile- saved for all except the most abundant spe- age from Grand Portage. Localities of spe- cies. All specimens preserved as skin and cimens collected prior to this study were skull or complete skeletons have been ac- standardized in accordance with the above cessioned into the main collection of the conventions. Data labels of some specimens Bell Museum, as have some preserved in from Cook County provide only a legal de- liquid or only as a skull. However, many scription of the locality where the specimen specimens of common species preserved in originated. These were converted to a form 10 with mileage from some point of reference logs, field notes, and data sheets are on per- as follows: manent file in the Bell Museum. Parasites NW X Sec. 8, T. 64 N; R. 1 W (= 20 mi. N, reported herein were identified by the fol- 6 mi. W Grand Marais) lowing individuals: lice by Ke Chung Kim, Sec. 33, T. 63 N, R. 1 E ( = 10 mi. N Grand Pennsylvania State University, University Marais) Falls; fleas by Allen H. Benton, State Uni- NE M Sec. 8, T. 64 N, R. 3 E (= 14 mi. N, 5 versity College, Fredonia, New York; ticks mi. W Hovland) by James E. Keirans, National Institute of NE J£ Sec. 22, T. 64 N, R. 3 E (= 12 mi. N, Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, 3 mi. W Hovland) Montana; mites by Nixon Wilson, Univer- NE }i Sec. 32, T. 63 N, R. 4 E (= 4X mi. N, sity of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls; and 1 mi. E Hovland) nematodes by Henry J. Griffiths, University NW M Sec. 33, T. 63 N, R. 4 E ( = 4 mi. N, of Minnesota, St. Paul. Parasite specimens 1 mi. E Hovland) are deposited in the collections of the re- SE % Sec. 8, T. 62 N, R. 3 E ( = 2 mi. N, 5 spective authorities or the institutions mi. W Hovland) which they represent, the Entomology col- NW X Sec. 16, T. 62 N, R. 3 E (= 1 mi. N, lection at the University of Minnesota, and 5 mi. W Hovland) the collection of the author. NE X Sec. 25, T. 62 N, R. 3 E (= % mi. S, 1 Abbreviations designating specimens in mi. W Hovland) other collections are as follows: NE X Sec. 33, T. 62 N, R. 3 E (= 2 mi. S, 4 AMNH American Museum of Natural mi. W Hovland) History NW X Sec. 31, T. 65 N, R. 2 W ( = 30 mi. N, CM Carnegie Museum 2 mi. E Lutsen) KU Museum of Natural History, The SW X Sec. 1, T. 62 N, R. 5 W (= Alton Lake, University of Kansas 23 mi. N, 1 mi. W Schroeder) FMNH Field Museum of Natural History SW X Sec. 7, T. 62 N, R. 4 W (= 22 mi. N UMMZ Museum of Zoology, University Schroeder) of Michigan NW X Sec. 18, T. 62 N, R. 4 W ( = 21K mi. USNM United States National Museum N Schroeder) of Natural History (including NW X Sec. 19, T. 62 N, R. 4 W (= 20K mi. collections of the United States N Schroeder) Biological Survey). NE X Sec. 29, T. 58 N, R. 5 W ( = 2J£ mi. S, 3 mi. W Taconite Harbor) Mammalian specimens collected from No taxonomic keys are included in this Cook County during this study are housed report. For identification of specimens from in the Bell Museum of Natural History this area, consult Burt (1969), Gunderson (MMNH) at the University of Minnesota, and Beer (1953), and Jackson (1972). Hall Minneapolis, and the United States Nation- and Kelson (1959) provided keys for the al Museum of Natural History. Field Cata- mammals of North America.

ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES

In the following accounts of mammals Species of Verified Occurrence from Cook County, 48 species belonging to six orders and 16 families are included on ORDER INSECTIVORA the basis of documentation of their occur- Sorex arcticus laricorum Jackson, 1925 rence in the county. These incorporate 1,244 Arctic Shrew specimens listed in "Specimens examined." Specimens examined (16).—17 mi. N, 3 mi. W In addition, comments are made concerning Grand Marais, 1; 17 mi. N, 1 mi. W Grand Marais, eleven species that may live or have lived 1; 6 mi. W Grand Marais, 2; Grand Marais, 2 within the county, but whose presence (USNM); Grand Portage, 1; 2 mi. S, 4 mi. W there lacks adequate documentation. Hovland, 2; 1 mi. E Mineral Center, 1; Poplar 11

River, Mouth of Caribou, 1; 37 mi. N, 7% mi. E cus taken from an old field- (see also Whi- Schroeder, 2; 21 mi. N Schroeder, 1; 1 mi. N, taker and Schmeltz, 1973). 1/2 mi. E Schroeder, 2.

This boreal shrew is widespread and Sorex cinereus cinereus Kerr, 1792 relatively common throughout the county. Specimens were collected in a variety of Masked Shrew habitats, but most were associated with Specimens examined (88).—Four Mile Lake, 1; open areas, either non-forested areas or 20 mi. N, 6 mi. W Grand Marais, 2; 18 mi. N, clearings within the forest. Arctic shrews 4 mi. E Grand Marais, 1; 17 mi. N, 3 mi. W Grand Marais, 1; 17 mi. N, 1 mi. W Grand Marais, 2; 16 were taken in dense grass along road ditch- mi. N, 2 mi. E Grand Marais, 1; 15 mi. N, 4/2 mi. es; in forest openings of grasses, straw- E Grand Marais, 2; 13% mi. N, 4)i mi. E Grand berries, and ferns; in a speckled alder Marais, 1; 13 mi. N, 3 mi. W Grand Marais, 1; 13 thicket (Alnus rugosa) cohabited with ferns mi. N, 1 mi. E Grand Marais, 2; Kimball Lake, 8 and Rubus; and in old field habitats. One mi. N, 5 mi. E Grand Marais, 1; 2'A mi. N, 8/2 mi. W Grand Marais, 2; 2'A mi. N, 2'A mi. W Grand arctic shrew was obtained from a white- Marais, 1; l'A mi. N, 5 mi. W Grand Marais, 2; 1 cedar, black spruce, and balsam fir forest. mi. N, 3 mi. W Grand Marais, 1; Grand Marais, 1; Bailey (1929) also reported this shrew as /2 mi. S, 1 mi. W Grand Marais, 3; VA mi. S, TA mi. common in marshes surrounding rice lakes W Grand Marais, 2; 'A mi. N, 1 mi. W Grand Portage, 10; Grand Portage, 1; Horseshoe Lake in Sherburne County. Portage, 1; 14 mi. N, 5 mi. W Hovland, 3; 14 mi. No embryos or placental scars were N, 3M mi. W Hovland, 1; 12 mi. N, 3 mi. W Hov- noted in any of six female Sorex arcticus, land, 1; Otter Lake, 10 mi. N, VA mi. W but two adult males from 22 June and 8 Hovland, 3; 10 mi. N, 1 mi. E Hovland, 1; 10 mi. N, 3 mi. E Hovland, 2; 9 mi. N, 3K mi. W July appeared to be in reproductive con- Hovland, 5; 4 mi. N, 6 mi. E Hovland, 1; 4 mi. dition, each having testes measurements of NE Hovland, 2; 3 mi. N, 1 mi. W Hovland, 1; 7x5 mm., convoluted epididymides, and 3 mi. N Hovland, 1; 2/2 mi. W Hovland on well developed seminal vesicles. Included highway 61, 5; 2 mi. S, 4 mi. W Hovland, 1; 30 mi. N, 2 mi. E Lutsen, 1; 15 mi. N, 4J£ mi. E among Bailey's (1929) specimens were two Lutsen, 1; 14& mi. N, 1 mi. W Lutsen, 1; 8 mi. pregnant females, one with six and one N, 1& mi. W Lutsen, 1; Northern Lights Lake, 1; with nine embryos. None of the specimens Pigeon River, SW V4 sec. 20, T. 64 N, R. 6 E, taken from Cook County was molting. A 3; 37 mi. N, 7% mi. E Schroeder, 1; 22 mi. N Schroeder, 2; 1 mi. N, U2 mi. E Schroeder, 2; 4 specimen from Grand Portage had abnor- mi. W Schroeder, 1; 3)2 mi. W Schroeder, 3; 2 mally pallid pelage. mi. S, 2 mi. W Taconite Harbor, 2. Hall and Kelson (1959) indicated that Additional record.—Grand Marais (UMMZ). Cook County was within the geographic range of S. arcticus arcticus, but they did The masked shrew is abundant and not examine specimens from the area. Arctic widespread in northeastern Minnesota. shrews examined during the course of this Specimens have been collected from almost study from northeastern Minnesota con- all habitat types within Cook County. It form well to Jackson's (1928) descriptions appeared to be the most abundant mam- and measurements of the southern sub- malian species at one locality, a balsam-fir species, S. arcticus laricorum (see Table 2). mountain-maple forest with leaf litter floor. Accordingly, all arctic shrews from Cook Ten Sorex cinereus were trapped at this County were assigned to this subspecies on site along with two Blarina brevicauda, the basis that the length of the palate, the five Peromyscus maniculatus, and a Cleth- interorbital breadth, and the condylobasal rionomys gapperi. This shrew was especial- length are substantially larger in S. arcticus ly abundant in Aspen-Birch, balsam fir, laricorum than in S. arcticus arcticus. white spruce forests, and sphagnum bogs. Species of ectoparasites recovered from Quimby (1943) found S. cinereus to be arctic shrews include fleas, Corrodopsylla extremely abundant and to occupy a wide curvata; mites, Haemogamasus liponyssoi- variety of habitats in Minnesota. Cahn des; and ticks, Ixodes angustus and I. muris. (1937) found it common in birch and In Pine County, Minnesota, Whitaker and poplar groves in Ontario. Pascal (1971) reported a tick, Ixodes muris, Four pregnant females have been col- and mites, Labidophorus soricis, Protomyo- lected in Cook County: one taken on 20 bia onoi, Amorphacarus elongatus, and July 1972 contained seven embryos, 11 mm. Androlaelaps fahrenholzi, from Sorex arcti- long (3L-4R); one from 29 August 1972 12

TABLE 2. Selected cranial measurements of Sorex arcticus laricorum and S. palustris palustris from Cook County, Minnesota. Means, range, and N are included.

Condylobasal Palatal Cranial Interorbital Maxillary Maxillary Length Length Breadth Breadth Breadth Toothrow

Sorex arcticus laricorum

19.2 (18.6-19.5) 10 | 8.2 (7.7-8.4)12 | 9.4 (9.0- 9.8)10 | 3.8 (3.6-4.0)12 | 5.3 (5.1-5.4) S| 6.9 (6.5-7.1)12

Sorex palustris palustris

20.6 (20.0-21.2) 24 I 9.0 (8.8-9.2) 27 |L0.4 (10.1-10.7) 2514.2 (4.1-4.4) 25 I 6.3 (5.9-6.4) 191 7.7 (7.4-8.0) 27

carried six embryos, 4 mm. long (3L-3R); This semi-aquatic insectivore is distri- and two other females from 12 August and buted throughout Cook County and may be 2 September 1966 contained large, fresh locally abundant. All of the 32 specimens corpora lutea, but implantation sites of known from the county were collected in embryos were not yet visible. Two males close proximity to water. Nineteen speci- collected on 24 March 1973 each had testes mens were taken from a single locality, a measurements of 4 X 3 mm., slightly con- mixed forest of white pine, paper birch, bal- voluted epididymides, and well developed sam fir, mountain maple, black spruce, seminal vesicles (indicating that they were beaked hazel, and black ash (Fraxinus entering breeding condition). Males in full nigra) at the headwaters of Sawbill Creek breeding condition (testicular measurements near Sawbill Lake. Most were trapped on of 6 X3,6 X 4, and 5 X 3 mm., respectively, moss-covered rocks along the creek or on highly convoluted epididymides, and well the forest floor, but two were taken in holes developed seminal vesicles) were collected under the roots of paper birch and Salix. on 9 July, 1 August, and 31 August 1972. Other specimens obtained during this study All masked shrews collected between mid- were trapped in dense grass around creeks September and early March appeared re- and beaver ponds or in hollows under productively inactive. An adult S. cinereus white-cedar in low marshy areas. obtained on 24 March 1973 was molting into Testicular lengths of 11 adult males summer pelage and an individual taken on from June, July, and August averaged 1.6 29 December 1972 displayed complete mm. (1-3 mm.). Two females obtained on winter pelage. 18 August 1966 showed signs of reproductive Invertebrates recovered from this species activity: corpora albicantia and an unde- include fleas (Nearctopsylla genalis), para- terminable number of old scars were pre- sitic mites (Androlaelaps fahrenholzi), and sent in one female; the second possessed various non-parasitic mites. Whitaker and nine placental scars. No other female showed Pascal (1971) noted two species of mites sign of reproductive activity. Conaway (Labidophorus soricis and Androlaelaps (1952) found that Sorex palustris navigator fahrenholzi) and one species of tick (Ixodes bred from February to August in Montana, muris) from Sorex cinereus in Pine County, with several litters being produced each Minnesota. In St. Louis County crickets and season and a modal litter size of six. lepidopterous larvae were found to be the Autumnal molt was noted on animals most common foods of the masked shrew taken on 10 August, with the fresh winter (Whitaker and Schmeltz, 1973). pelage being fairly comprehensive except on the head and neck regions of animals Sorex palustris palustris Richardson, 1828 collected on 20-25 August. Individuals trap- Water Shrew ped on 1 September and 27 December were Specimens examined (32).—1534 mi. N, 6 mi. E in complete winter pelage, but none of Grand Marais, 1; Kimball Lake, 8 mi. N, 5 mi. E eight specimens collected on 18 and 19 Grand Marais, 1; 6 mi. N, 9 mi. E Grand Marais, August had begun autumnal molt. The 1; & mi. S, 1 mi. W Grand Marais, 1; Grand Port- series of non-molting specimens was age, 2; 2 mi. S, 5JJ mi. W Grand Portage, 1; Otter Lake, 10 mi. N, IK mi. W Hovland, 2; 4 mi. NE collected in 1966, whereas all those that Hovland, 1; 15)4 mi. N, 1 mi. E Lutsen, 1; 14K were molting were obtained in 1972. In- mi. N, 1 mi. W Lutsen, 1; 11 mi. N, 3 mi. W terestingly, this appears contradictory to Lutsen, 1; 22 mi. N Schroeder, 19. the current concept of mammalian molt 13 being regulated by day length. Conaway The short-tailed shrew is one of the (1952) thought that the autumnal molt was most abundant and widely distributed the first molt for young of the year, but mammals of northeastern Minnesota. During otherwise was similar for both young and the course of this study only the deer mouse, adults. Peromyscus maniculatus, and meadow vole, Ectoparasites recovered from this species Microtus pennsylvanicus, exceeded Blarina include fleas (Corrodopsylla curvata), ticks brevicauda in abundance. Short-tailed (Ixodes angustus), and mites (Haemoga- shrews were found commonly in all habitats, masus ambulans). Whitaker and Schmeltz especially the Aspen-Birch community, low- (1973) identified ten species of ectoparasites lying white cedar forests, and marshes. In from Sorex palustris and compared food Ontario, Cahn (1937) found this insectivore habits of S. palustris and S. cinereus from "almost everywhere" and thus very abun- St. Louis County, Minnesota. dant. T. Surber's field notes recorded in Cook and Lake counties in 1922 noted this Blarina brevicauda brevicauda (Say, 1823) species as "the most abundant small mam- Short-tailed Shrew mal found in the region." Specimens examined (131).—Lower Brule Four pregnant females and four females River, 1; Caribou River, 1; Cascade Lake, 2; containing placental scars were obtained Cascade Lookout, 1 (KU); Cascade River, 1; Cascade (see Table 3). Mean litter size, as determin- River, near Eagle Mountain, 2 (KU); Mouth of ed by embryo and placental scar counts, Cascade River, 1; Cross River, 2; West Devil Track Lake, 2; Devil Track Lake, 2; Devil Track was 6.6, with a range of 5-8. All females River, 5; Fourmile Lake, 1; 20 mi. N, 6 mi. W containing embryos or placental scars from Grand Marais, 1; 18 mi. N, 4 mi. E Grand Marais, June through September appeared to be 2; 17 mi. N, 3 mi. W Grand Marais, 1; 17 mi. N, young of the year (as determined by tooth 1 mi. W Grand Marais, 4; 1534 mi. N, 6 mi. E wear) and none of the reproductively active Grand Marais, 1; 1334 mi. N, 434 mi. W Grand Marais, 1; Kimball Lake, 8 mi. N, 5 mi. E Grand females appeared to be multiparous. Only Marais, 1; 6 mi. N, 9 mi. E Grand Marais, 3; 2 mi. 10.9% of the adult population (6 99 and 2S3) N, 734 mi. W Grand Marais, 1; 2 mi. N, 3 mi. E sampled during the summer of 1972 were Grand Marais, 1; 134 mi. N, 10 mi. W Grand judged to be reproductively active (i.e., Marais, 1; 6 mi. W Grand Marais, 1; 34 mi. S, 1 mi. W Grand Marais, 1; 134 mi. S, 734 mi. W Grand embryos or uterine scars in females and Marais, 2; 2 mi. N, 4 mi. E Grand Portage, 4; testicular lengths over 6 mm. for males). Mount Maud, 34 mi. N, 4 mi. W Grand Portage, Pearson (1944) found Blarina from several 3; 34 mi. N, 1 mi. W Grand Portage, 3; Grand localities in the northeastern United States Portage, 3; 134 mi. S, 2 mi. W Grand Portage, 2; 14 to have a mean litter size of 4.5 with some mi. N, 5 mi. W Hovland, 1; Otter Lake, 10 mi. N, 134 mi. W Hovland, 4; 10 mi. N, 2 mi. E Hovland, females producing at least two litters a year. 3; 10 mi. N, 3 mi. E Hovland, 1; 9 mi. N, 334 mi. Of the 130 short-tailed shrews from the W Hovland, 1; 434 mi. N, 1 mi. E Hovland, 1; 334 mi. N, 1 mi. W Hovland, 3; 3 mi. N, 1 mi. W Hovland, county, only two were molting: one from 27 2; 3 mi. N Hovland, 1; 4 mi. NE Hovland, 1; 2 mi. July 1923 and one from 24 August 1973. N, 5 mi. W Hovland, 1; 4 mi. W, 2 mi. S Hovland, Arthropodous ectoparasites obtained 3; % mi. S, 1 mi. W Hovland, 2; 30 mi. N, 2 mi. from Blarina brevicauda in Cook County E Lutsen, 1; 15 mi. N, 434 mi. E Lutsen, 1; 11 mi. include the following: fleas (Corrodopsylla N, 3 mi. W Lutsen, 1; 134 mi. N, 434 mi. W Lutsen, 1; 5 mi. W Lutsen, 2; 2 mi. W Mineral Center, 2; curvata, Ctenophthalmus pseudagyrtes, 1 mi. E Mineral Center, 1; Pigeon River, SW Nearctopsylla genalis, Epitedia wenmanni, sec. 20, T. 64 N, R. 6 E, 1; Poplar Lake, 1; and Megabothris asio), mites (Eulaelaps Poplar River, 4; Saganaga Lake, Superior National stabularis, Haemogamasus ambulans, H. Forest, 1 (USNM); Islands in Lake Saganaga, 1; 39 mi. N, 334 mi. E Schroeder, 1; 3834 mi. N, 434 liponyssoides, and Myonyssus jamesotii), mi. E Schroeder, 2; 3734 mi. N, 4 mi. E Schroeder, and ticks (Ixodes angustus). 1; 37 mi. N, 734 mi. E Schroeder, 2; 23 mi. N, 1 mi. W Schroeder, 1; 22 mi. N Schroeder, 5; 21 mi. N Condylura cristata cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) Schroeder, 1; 4 mi. N, 5 mi. W Schroeder, 5; 2 mi. N Schroeder, 2; 1 mi. N, 134 mi. E Schroeder, Star-nosed Mole 2; 4 mi. W Schroeder, 3; 2 mi. S, 2 mi. W Taconite Specimens examined (18).—Cascade River, near Harbor, 3; Temperance River, 1 (KU); Mouth of Eagle Mountain, 1; 234 mi. N, 234 mi. W Grand Temperance River, 2 ( 1 KU); 15 mi. N, 2 mi. W Marais, 1; 2 mi. N, 2 mi. W Grand Portage, 1; 134 Tofte, 1; Tofte, 1. mi. S, 2 mi. W Grand Portage, 1; Otter Lake, 10 Additional records.—Grand Marais, (Bole and mi. N, 134 mi. W Hovland, 2; 30 mi. N, 2 mi. E Moulthrop, 1942); Poplar Lake, (FMNH). Lutsen, 3; 8 mi. N, 134 mi. W Lutsen, 2; 3734 mi. 14

TABLE 3. Reproductive data from eight female Blarina brevicauda from Cook County, Minnesota.

Uterine Horn Date Embryos or Embryo Placental Scars Left Right Length

21 May 1972 7 embryos 4 3 10.0 21 June 1972 5 embryos 3 2 11.0 7 July 1972 5 placental scars 2 3 4 1 August 1966 8 embryos 4 — 3 August 1972 8 placental scars 4 4 3 August 1972 7 placental scars 4 3 26 August 1972 7 placental scars 4 3 4 1 September 1972 6 embryos 2 —

N, 4 mi. E Schroeder, 1; 22 mi. N Schroeder, 1; gamasus ambulans, and Hirstionyssus talpae 5 mi. N, 2 mi. E Schroeder, 1; 1 mi. N, 1J4 mi. E were found parasitizing Condylura cristata Schroeder, 2; Schroeder, 1; Swan Lake portage, in Cook County. This is the first record of South Brule River, 1. Androlaelaps fahrenholzi, Eulaelaps stabu- The star-nosed mole, the most amphi- laris, and Hirstionyssus talpae from star- bious of the North American talpids, was nosed moles. taken only in close proximity to water. High populations of Condylura cristata were ORDER CHIROPTERA noted in the Aspen-Birch community type Myotis keenii septentrionalis near Lake Superior and in lowland cedar (Trouessart, 1897) forests. Other specimens were collected in Keen's Myotis associaion with sedges, willows, and sparse to dense grasses around lakes, streams, Specimens examined (5).—Otter Lake, 10 mi. marshes, and springs. Runs of star-nosed N, 1/2 mi. W Hovland, 2; 1 mi. E Mineral Center, 1; 21 mi. N Schroeder, 2. moles, both surface and subterranean, were seen commonly in moist areas and were Myotis keenii, a small brownish bat noted in snow, attesting to the winter having long ears, is distributed throughout activity of this species. Minnesota and relatively common in the A single female obtained on 18 July northeastern part of the state. It is second in 1972 had five placental scars (3L-2R), abundance only to the little brown bat, whereas three others collected in June and which it resembles superficially. However, July evinced no sign of reproductive activity. it is greatly outnumbered by the latter Testes of adult males showed appreciable species. regression from July to December, as Four adult males and one adult female follows (length X width—actual measure- were collected. Three males and the female ments or mean and number of specimens were shot early in the evenings of 16-18 examined): July, 11 X 6 mm. (1); mid August as they foraged for insects along August, 8 X 5.5 mm. (2); late August, 6X4 roads and over gravel pits. One male was mm. (3); and December, 3x2 mm. (1). In dislodged from underneath the tarpaper New York, Condylura cristata was found to covering of a shack on 4 July 1971. No have only a single litter a year following evidence of molt, reproductive activity, or mating in early spring; mean litter size was external parasites was detected from any of 5.25 (Eadie and Hamilton, 1956). the specimens. Testicular measurements of One adult male obtained on 9 July 1972 four adult males taken in July and August was in the process of molting, and adults are as follows: 5X3 mm., 5X3 mm., collected on 27 October and 28 December 3X2 mm., 3 X—mm. It generally is 1972 were in fresh winter pelage. The re- believed that a single young is born early mains of a Condylura were found in the each summer (Hamilton, 1943). Swanson stomach of a fisher trapped in early Febru- and Evans (1936) and Rysgaard (1942) ary of 1973. occasionally found Keen's myotis hibernat- A single species of tick, Ixodes angustus, ing with Eptesicus fuscus and Myotis and four species of mites, Androlaelaps lucifugus in the sandstone caves of south- fahrenholzi, Eulaelaps stabularis, Haemo- ern Minnesota. 15

Myotis lucifugus lucifugus (Le Conte, 1831) TABLE 4. Testicular measurements (length and width in mm.) of 11 adult male Myotis lucifugus Little Brown Myotis collected in 1972.

Specimens examined (24).—6 mi. N, 9 mi. E Date Testicular Measurements Grand Marais, 2; Grand Marais, 7; Otter Lake, 10 mi. N, 1)£ mi. W Hovland, 4; 15 mi. N, 1 mi. E 6 July 6X4 Lutsen, 1; Caribou Lake, 5 mi. N, lA mi. E Lutsen, 21 July 8X5 5; 2)4 mi. Nr VA mi. E Mineral Center, 1; 1)4 mi. 27 July 7X5 N Mineral Center, 2; Pigeon River, SW M sec. 20, 28 July 10X6 T. 64 N, R. 6 E, 1; Carlton Peak, 1 mi. N, 1 mi. 10 August 6X4 W Tofte, 1. 17 August 6X4 19 August 6X3 The little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus, 23 August 6X4 is the most abundant chiropteran in north- 23 August 5X3 eastern Minnesota. This widespread species 25 August 4X2 is found throughout much of North America 25 August 4X3 in a variety of habitats, ranging from arid Perhaps the three tree bats (Lasion- grasslands to coniferous forests. Myotis ycteris noctivagans, Lasiurus borealis, and lucifugus often utilizes attics, shingles, and Lasiurus cinereus) are actually more com- siding of buildings for daytime retreats. In mon than data suggests, largely because Cook County, individuals were taken from they are difficult to detect with the large underneath the tarpaper coverings of shacks, expanses of forest and water available to in attics, in exterior opening crevices of log them in this area. cabins, and foraging over roads. Five little brown bats were removed Eptesicusfuscusfuscus (Palisot de from a large colony in an attic in Grand Beauvios, 1796) Marais on 3 August 1972. The five included two adult females, each possessing a single Big Brown Bat placental scar, an apparently nonrepro- The big brown bat is an uncommon ductive adult female, and two volant sub- resident of northeastern Minnesota. A bat adults (1 male and 1 female). Testicular re- of this species was roosting with a small gression during July and August was evi- colony of Myotis lucifugus in an attic at dent for all males captured in 1972 (Table Grand Marais on 23 July 1972. Identification 4). of this bat was certain but it escaped. Peter- An adult male obtained on 6 July was son (1966) reported Eptesicus fuscus in the molting. Fat deposits were noted first on District of Thunder Bay, Ontario, and Allin individuals captured on 8 August 1972. (1942) found a colony of big brown bats Ectoparasites collected from the little brown hibernating in an Ontario cave approxi- myotis include fleas (Myodopsylla insignis), mately 60 miles northeast of Grand Portage. mites (Spinturnix americanus), and chiggers Eptesicus often is found utilizing man- (Trombiculidae). made structures for daytime retreats and for hibernacula. Such habits probably have Lasionycteris noctivagans (Le Conte, 1831) aided the species to increase its range and numbers. Several studies have been con- Silver-haired Bat ducted on hibernating Eptesicus in central Specimen examined (1).—Pigeon River, SW % and southern Minnesota (Beer, 1955; Beer sec. 20, T. 64 N, R. 6 E. and Richards, 1956; Evans, 1934; Goehring, 1954; Goehring, 1971; Goehring, 1972; An adult female silver-haired bat was Rysgaard, 1942; and Swanson and Evans, captured in a cabin at the closed border 1936), but little is known of its movements crossing of Pigeon River on 29 August 1972. and natural history elsewhere within the She evinced no sign of molt or reproductive state. activity. Although widespread in North America, Lasionycteris apparently is un- Lasiurus borealis borealis (Muller, 1776) common in Cook County. In Sherburne County, Bailey (1929) considered this bat Red Bat to be outnumbered only by Myotis luci- Specimen examined (1).—9 mi. N, 3/2 mi. W fugus. Lutsen. 16

An adult female red bat was shot on 25 horn, on 4 July 1972. Two adult females August 1972 as she foraged over a gravel taken on 27 July 1972 were both repro- road. She contained no embryos or placental ductively active: the first carried a single scars and was not molting. No other in- embryo 62 mm. and had at least two placent- dividual having the characteristic flight of al scars; the second was lactating and had this species was observed. Red bats ap- two placental scars that appeared to be of parently are uncommon summer residents different ages. An adult female taken 10 in Cook County (but see account of Lasion- August 1966 contained an undeterminable ycteris noctivagans). Cahn (1937) reported number of placental scars; an adult male this species as common in Quetico Pro- taken 18 July 1972 had testes measurements vincial Park, Ontario. of 30 by 8 mm. Three juveniles are available from the county; two were collected by Lasiurus cinereus cinereus (Palisot de T. S. Roberts in August of 1879 and the third Beavois, 1796) was obtained on 1 August 1966. Subadults were obtained on 30 July 1967 and 8 and 18 Hoary Bat July 1972. The young female from 30 July Specimen examined (1).—21 mi. N Schroeder. 1967 and the male from 8 July 1972 were the size of subadults, but molt into the Lasiurus cinereus is the largest bat that adult pelage was visible. The two repro- occurs in Minnesota. Like Lasionycteris ductively active adult females from 27 July and Lasiurus borealis, it is a solitary, tree 1972 were completing molt into the adult inhabiting species. One adult female was pelage. Three adults in complete winter shot on 30 July 1967 as it foraged over a pelage were collected on 21 March 1962 gravel pit; it displayed no evidence of and a fourth was obtained on 3 February molt or reproductive activity. Extensive 1973. efforts made during the summer of 1972 to net and shoot bats failed to produce Ectoparasites recovered from this additional specimens of this species, which species in Cook County include fleas (Cedi- therefore cannot be considered a common opsylla simplex, Tamiophila grandis, and species in the area. Megabothris quirini) and the common rab- bit tick, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris. ORDER LAGOMORPHA In Morrison County, Minnesota, preg- Lepus americanus phaeonotus J. A. Allen, nant females were found from March through 1899 August with an average of 2.84 embryos per female (Aldous, 1937). A large series of Snowshoe Hare Lepus americanus was examined for sea- Specimens examined (16).—20 mi. NE Grand sonal changes in food habits (Aldous, 1936), Marais, 2 mi. W Greenwood Lake, 3; 10 mi. W and Webb (1937) studied sex ratios over a Grand Marais, 1; Grand Marais, 1 (KU); North Shore, W of Grand Marais, 2; Mount Maud, % mi. five-year period for snowshoe hares at this N, 4 mi. W Grand Portage, 2; McFarland Lake, same locality. Rongstad and Tester (1971) 14 mi. N, 4 mi. W Hovland, 1; 22 mi. N Schroeder, investigated maternal behavior of snow- 1; Sawbill Lake, 22 mi. N Schroeder, 2; 1 mi. N, shoe hares in south-central Minnesota and 1/2 mi. E Schroeder, 3. damage inflicted on trees by high popu- Additional record.—Grand Marais (UMMZ). lations of hares was discussed by Aldous Lepus americanus was found commonly (1947). throughout the county. Population densities of this species could not be considered high during the study, but snowshoe hares were ORDER RODENTIA seen each of the three summers spent in the Tamias striatus griseus Mearns, 1891 field. Tracks in the snow were noted often Eastern Chipmunk during the winter. Extreme population Specimens examined (27).—Cascade Lookout, 1; fluctuations of this species have been docu- 21 mi. N, 2'A mi. W Grand Marais, 3 (1 USNM); mented by Seton (1909), Keith (1963 and North Shore, W of Grand Marais, 3; 1 mi. S, 2'A elsewhere), and in Cook County by Cox mi. W Grand Marais, 1 (USNM); VA mi. S, 4% (1936). mi. W Grand Marais, 1; 2 mi. N, 2*A mi. E Grand Portage, 1 (USNM); Mount Maud, A' mi. N, 4 mi. A pregnant adult female carried four W Grand Portage, 1; 10 mi. N Hovland, 1; 10 mi. embryos (18 mm.), all in the left uterine N, 2 mi. E Hovland, 1; 4)i mi. N, 1 mi. E Hov- 17 land, 1; 16 mi. N, 1)4 mi. E Lutsen, 1 (USNM); TABLE 5. Reproductive characteristics of adult fe- Pigeon River, SW X sec. 20, T. 64 N, R. 6 E, 3;- male Tamias striatus from Cook County, Minne- 37 mi. N, 3)4 mi. E Schroeder, 1; 22 mi. N Schroe- sota. der, 2; 4)4 mi. N, 1 mi. W Schroeder, 1; 1 mi. N, 1)4 mi. E Schroeder, 2 (1 USNM); 2 mi. S, 2 mi. Date Reproductive Characteristics W Taconite Harbor, 1; Britton Peak, 1 mi. N, )4 mi. W Tofte, 1; 3 mi. N, 1 mi. W Tofte, 1. 3 July 1971 lactating, 6 placental scars (3L-3R) Additional records.—Grand Marais (UMMZ), 20 May 1972 undetermined number of placental scars 20 May 1972 lactating, 5 placental scars (3L —2R) Tamias striatus was seen frequently in 8 July 1972 6 placental scars; 4 highly association with pines, spruce, fir, and in pigmented (L), the Aspen-Birch community type in north- 2 lightly pigmented (1L-1R) eastern Minnesota. The least chipmunk, 8 July 1972 5 embryos (2L-3R) Eutamias minimus, most often was found 28 July 1972 2 placental scars (L) 18 Aug 1972 7 placental scars (4L —3R) in areas disturbed by man (i.e. heavily forested or burned areas), although the Pidduck and Falls, 1973). The only avail- two species were occasionally found oc- able evidence of summer breeding by east- cupying the same habitat, especially in ern chipmunks in northern Minnesota is a disturbed hardwood forests and around re- specimen (12328) captured in Cass County sorts. A distinct ecological separation was on 16 August 1973. This adult female pur- noted between Tamias and Eutamias where portedly was carrying five embryos in the they occur sympatrically in the Itasca State right uterine horn and four embryos in the Park region (Forbes, 1966). Johnson (1922) left horn. found Tamias common in northern Lake Adult summer molt, as described by County, but Cahn (1937) described eastern Howell (1929) and others, was noted on chipmunks as being rare in adjacent Canada specimens obtained 22 June, 28 July, and except near the United States-Canadian 4 August 1972. Post-subadult molt was boundary. seen on two eastern chipmunks collected All adult females collected in 1972 were 17 July and on one each on 10 August, 19 or had been reproductively active that August, and 1 September 1972. Eastern season as evidenced by embryos or pla- chipmunks in the study area were observed cental scars (Table 5). No female young-of- feeding on ripe blueberries, ripe thimble- the-year was found to be reproductively berries, and seeds of Clinton's lily. active. Data obtained during this study Ectoparasites recovered from Tamias suggest that a single litter per year is the striatus include Hoplopleura erratica (lice); norm in northeastern Minnesota. A single Ctenophthalmus pseudagyrtes, Tamiophila female obtained on 8 July 1972 had both grandis, Orchopeas caedens, Megabothris highly pigmented and lightly pigmented acerbus, and M. asio (fleas); and Ixodes placental scars, but it could not be deter- angustus (a tick). mined if they represented a single litter in which two embryos had been resorbed or Eutamias minimus neglectus if they were from two separate litters. The (J. A. Allen, 1890) only reproductively active male was ob- Least Chipmunk tained on 15 April 1972; testes measured 22 X 12 mm., epididymides were highly con- Specimens examined (46).—Caribou River, 1; voluted, and seminal vesicles were well Cascade Lake, 2; Cross River, 1; Devil Track River, 1; 21 mi. N, 2)4 mi. W Grand Marais, 1; developed. Other adult and subadult males 20 mi. N, 6 mi. W Grand Marais, 2; 17 mi. N, 1 collected later during the spring and sum- mi. W Grand Marais, 3; 13 mi. N, 3 mi. W Grand mer were not in breeding condition. In Marais, 1; North Shore, W of Grand Marais, 1; northwestern Minnesota, Forbes (1966) Grand Marais, 2; 2 mi. N, 234 mi. E Grand Portage, found no indication of late summer breed- 2 (USNM); 1)4 mi. N, 2 mi. E Grand Portage, 2 (1 USNM); 14 mi. N, 5 mi. W Hovland, 1; 14 mi. ing or of two litters per year in either N, 3)4 mi. W Hovland, 1; 10 mi. N, 2 mi. E Hov- Tamias striatus or Eutamias minimus, al- land, 1; 8 mi. N, K mi. W Hovland, 2 (USNM); beit several authors have described two 434 mi. N, 1 mi. E Hovland, 1; 4 mi. NE Hovland, breeding seasons for the eastern chipmunk 1; 1 mi. N, 5 mi. W Hovland, 1; Lewis Island, Lake Saganaga, 2; 16 mi. N, 134 mi. E Lutsen, 1 elsewhere in its range (Condrin, 1936; (USNM); 15 mi. N, 4)4 mi. E Lutsen, 1; 14 mi. Yerger, 1955; Smith and Smith, 1972; and N, 2 mi. W Lutsen, 1 (USNM); 13 mi. N, 1 mi. 18

E Lutsen, 2 (1 USNM); Pigeon River, SW X sec. TABLE 6. Reproductive characteristics of adult fe- 20, T. 64 N, R. 6 E, 1; 43 mi. N, 1 mi. E Schroeder, male Eutamias minimus from Cook County, Min- 1; 22 mi. N Schroeder, 1; 2VA mi. N Schroeder, nesota. 1; 20J4 mi. N Schroeder, 2; 4 mi. N, 2 mi. W Schroeder, 1; 1 mi. N, VA mi. E Schroeder, 3 (1 Date of Reproductive Characteristics USNM); 15 mi. N, VA mi. W Tofte, 1; West Devil Capture Track Lake, 1. Additional records—Grand Marais (UMMZ). 2 July 1967 5 placental scars (2L-3R) 20 June 1972 5 placental scars (4L-1R) 9 July 1972 4 placental scars (L) The least chipmunk is the smallest 27 July 1972 3 corpora albicantia (L) sciurid found in northeastern Minnesota 9 August 1972 7 corpora albicantia (3L-4R) and one of the smallest in North America. 18 August 1972 4 placental scars (1L-3R) Eutamias minimus superficially resembles 19 August 1972 3 placental scars; 1 highly pigmented (L), 2 lightly pig- the eastern chipmunk, but is considerably mented (1L-1R) smaller and has dorsal stripes that extend to the base of the tail, whereas they fade Marmota monax canadensis into the reddish rump patch in Tamias (Erxleben, 1777) striatus. Additionally, Eutamias has two Woodchuck upper premolars in each toothrow com- pared to the single one found in T. striatus. Specimens examined (2).—21 mi. N Schroeder, 1; North Shore, West of Grand Marais, 1. Eutamias was common in recently log- ged or burned areas, in disturbed habitats The woodchuck is widely distributed around campsites and resorts, and along in Cook County; however, it cannot be con- the rocky shore of Lake Superior. Speci- sidered abundant. In addition to the two mens also were obtained in black spruce, specimens examined, three sight records black ash, and balsam fir stands. In general, were noted during the summers of 1971 least chipmunks appeared to occupy earlier and 1972 (8 mi. north and )i mi. west of successional habitat stages than did eastern Hovland; IOJ2 mi. north of Lutsen; and 15 chipmunks; the least chipmunk appeared mi. north and VA mi. west of Tofte). to be completely replaced by the eastern An adult female taken on 4 July 1972 chipmunk in stands of mature pine. Johnson was lactating and had six highly pigmented (1922) considered E. minimus to be more placental scars (2JL.-4R). She was not molt- common than T. striatus in Lake County, ing. The second animal, a young of the and Cahn (1937) found it abundant in year obtained in 1879, was molting into Quetico Provincial Park. its adult pelage. Several specimens of the All adult female Eutamias minimus widespread mite, Androlaelaps fahrenholzi, were reproductively active each year, as were the only ectoparasites found on the indicated by placental scars or corpora adult. lutea (Table 6), but no young of the year evinced reproductive activity. Forbes (1966) Sciurus carolinensis hypophaeus found no indication of a second annual Merriam, 1886 litter being produced by this chipmunk at Gray Squirrel Itasca State Park. Although specimens of gray squirrels The last premolar and the first molar are not available from Cook County, in- are missing from the left dentary of an dividuals are found occasionally in the adult male obtained on 17 July 1971; the Coastal Hills area. Local residents near two teeth apparently were never present. Schroeder and Taconite Harbor reported Least chipmunks were observed feeding that gray squirrels were very rare, but upon ripe blueberries and ripe thimble- occasionally were shot during hunting berries during the summer of 1972. season. Sight records from Tofte, Lutsen, Ectoparasites recovered from this spec- and Grand Marais were reported to me. ies include lice (Hoplopleura arboricola), Gunderson and Beer (1953) listed a sight fleas (Ctenophthalmus pseudagyrtes, Orch- record from the county but gave no details. opeas caedens, Megabothris acerbus, Mega- This record probably originated from bothris asio, Megabothris quirini, and Gunderson's field notes, which state that Monophyllus eumolpi), and mites (Andro- a resident reported sighting a gray squirrel laelaps fahrenholzi). near Grand Marais. 19

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus hudsonicus deal of individual variation in the date of (Erxleben, 1777) onset and duration of molt: in general, Red Squirrel vernal molt began at the nose and pro- gressed to the tail, whereas autumnal molt Specimens examined (45).—Mouth of Cascade began at the base of the tail and proceeded River, 1; 20 mi. N, 6 mi. W Grand Marais, 2; 17 mi. N, 1 mi. W Grand Marais, 1; 254 mi. N, 3 mi. forward. Specimens collected from Cook E Grand Marais, 1 (USNM); North Shore, W of County on 19 June 1922, 2 and 3 July 1967, Grand Marais, 3; Grand Portage, 1; 12 mi. N, 3 20 and 21 May 1972, and 5 July 1972 were mi. W Hovland, 1; 11 mi. N, 2 mi. W Hovland, 1; in the process of molting into the summer Otter Lake, 10 mi. N, 1)4 mi. W Hovland, 1; 9)4 mi. N, 2 mi. W Hovland, 1; 3 mi. N Hovland, 1; pelage. The specimen from 21 May had % mi. S, 1 mi. W Hovland, 1; 30 mi. N, 2 mi. E essentially completed the vernal molt ex- Lutsen, 2; 15 mi. N, J4 mi. E Lutsen, 1; 9 mi. N, cept for a small area near the base of the 3)4 mi. W Lutsen, 1; Lutsen, 2 (USNM); 1)4 mi. S, tail. Progression of molt on the squirrel from 3 mi. W Lutsen, 1; 1 mi. S, 1 mi. W Pigeon River, 20 May was only about one-third of the way SW y4 sec. 20, T. 64 N, R. 6 E, 1; 1% mi. S, % mi. W Pigeon River, NW V« sec. 36, T. 64 N, R. 5 E, down the back. Both were reproductively 1; Islands in Lake Saganaga, 1; 22 mi. N Schroeder, inactive adult females. Molt into winter 1; 21)4 mi. N Schroeder, 1; 21 mi. N Schroeder, pelage, beginning at the rump, was noted 2; 16)4 mi. N, )4 mi. E Schroeder, 1; 4)4 mi. N, 1 on a specimen from 2 September 1966, and mi W Schroeder, 1; 4 mi. N, 2 mi. W Schroeder, 1; 3)4 mi. W Schroeder, 3 (2 USNM); 15 mi. N, on a series of six specimens from 22 Septem- 2 mi. W Tofte, 5; Britton Peak, 1 mi. N, )4 mi. ber 1972. Red squirrels from 16 April and W Tofte, 1; Tofte, 3 (USNM). 28 December 1972 were in winter pelage, whereas a large series from July and August The red squirrel is doubtlessly the most were in summer pelage. abundant and widespread sciurid found in Remains of a red squirrel were found in northeastern Minnesota. It was found com- the stomach of a marten (Martes americana) monly throughout Cook County during the taken on 14 December 1972. A feeding re- entire study period, and W. J. Brecken- lationship between red squirrels and yellow- ridge's field notes report red squirrels as bellied sapsuckers on jackpine sap was being common there in 1938 and in 1947. noted by Hatfield (1937) in Carlton County Johnson (1922) considered them widespread and by Coulter (1961) at Itasca State Park. but not plentiful in adjacent Lake County; The taxonomy of Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Cahn (1937) noted that Tamiasciurus hud- in the Lake Superior region has been dis- sonicus was the only diurnal tree squirrel cussed by Nelson (1945) and Kramm et al. in Quetico Provincial Park, where it was (1975). especially common in jackpine forests. Ectoparasites recovered from red squir- Only four female red squirrels examined rels in Cook County included the following: from the county possessed placental scars lice (Neohaematopinus semifasciatus), fleas as evidence of past pregnancy. Dates of (Monopsyllus vison and Orchopeas cae- capture and location of scars include: 9 dens), ticks (Ixodes angustus and I. muris), August 1966, 2L-2R; 17 July 1971, 2L-3R; and mites (Androlaelaps fahrenholzi, Hae- 5 July 1972, 1L-2R; and 17 August 1972, mogamasus ambulans, and H. reidi). 2L-2R. The mean and modal litter size of this small sample was four. No female ap- peared to have had two litters, and no Glaucomys sabrinus sabrinus (Shaw, 1788) juveniles were noted in the population Northern Flying Squirrel after July. Two litters per summer have been reported for red squirrels in many Specimens examined (2).—4 mi. N, 6 mi. E Grand Marais, 1; Islands in Lake Saganaga, 1. areas (Millar, 1970; and other authors), but this evidently is not the case in north- Despite the paucity of voucher speci- eastern Minnesota. Testes of adult males mens, the northern flying squirrel undoubt- were large through the first weeks in June, edly is widely distributed in Cook County. but regressed later in the month and re- The limited number of specimens probably mained small throughout the summer. reflects the difficulty in obtaining flying Seasonal molt in red squirrels from squirrels. Local residents reported them as northeastern Minnesota has been described common in several areas, especially in the briefly by Nelson (1945). He found a great Coastal Hills region near Lake Superior. 20

Surber s field notes for 1922 state that flying of Cascade River, 2 (1 KU); Cross River, 4; Four squirrels were especially common near the Mile Lake, 4; 19 mi. N, 4 mi. W Grand Marais, 1; 18 mi. N, 4 mi. E Grand Marais, 4; 17 mi. N,s 1 mouth of the Cascade River, the lower mi. W Grand Marais, 2; 16 mi. N, 2 mi. E Grand Poplar River, and north of Tofte. Cahn Marais, 3; 15 mi. N, 1 mi. E Grand Marais, 2; 13 (1937) considered the northern flying squir- mi. N, 1 mi. E Grand Marais, 5; Kimball Lake, 8 rel common in Quetico Provincial Park, mi. N, 5 mi. E Grand Marais, 7; 4 mi. N, 11 mi. E Grand Marais, 2; 2 mi. N, 3 mi. E Grand and Johnson (1922) made similar con- Marais, 1; 154 mi. N, 1 mi. E Grand Marais, 3; clusions for northern Lake County, although Grand Marais, 8 (7 UMMZ); North Shore, W of neither obtained many documented rec- Grand Marais, 12; 54 mi. S, 1 mi. W Grand Marais, ords. 2; 2 mi. N, 25a mi. E Grand Portage, 5; Mt. Maud, An adult female trapped in a balsam 1 mi. N, 4 mi. W Grand Portage, 4; 54 mi. N, 4 mi. W Grand Portage, 1; 54 mi. N, 1 mi. W Grand fir-sugar maple stand on 24 August 1972 Portage, 3; Mt. Rose, Grand Portage, 2; Grand evinced no sign of reproductive activity or Portage, 4; Horseshoe Lake, 1; 14 mi. N, 5 mi. W molt. Fleas (Orchopeas leucopus and Opi- Hovland, 5; 12 mi. N, 3 mi. W Hovland, 1; Otter sodasys pseudarctomys), lice (Neohaemato- Lake, 10 mi. N, VA mi. W Hovland, 5; 10 mi. N, 2 mi. E Hovland, 9; 354 mi. N, 1 mi. W Hovland, pinus sciuropteri), and mites (Haemo- 10; 3 mi. N, 1 mi. W Hovland, 8; 3 mi. N Hovland, gamasus ambulans) were recovered from 1; 254 mi. N, 5 mi. E Hovland, 2; 2 mi. N, 5 mi. this specimen. W Hovland, 1; 4 mi. NE Hovland, 2; 2 mi. S, 4 mi. W Hovland, 1; 30 mi. N, 2 mi. E Lutsen, Castor canadensis canadensis Kuhl, 1820 1; 1554 mi. N, 1 mi. E Lutsen, 1; 9 mi. N, 354 mi. W Lutsen, 2; 8 mi. N, 154 mi. W Lutsen, 1; Beaver 154 mi. N, 4M mi. W Lutsen, 8; 5 mi. W Lutsen, 1; Onion River, 154 mi. S, 454 mi. W Lutsen, 5; 254 Specimen examined (1).—Grand Portage Indian mi. N, 1 mi. E Mineral Center, 3; 2 mi. W Mineral Reservation. Center, 4; Northern Light Lake, 1; Pigeon River, SW 54 sec. 20, T. 64 N, R. 6 E, 19; Poplar River, Beaver have played a major role in shap- 3; 40 mi. N, 3 mi. E Schroeder, 1; 37 mi. N, 354 ing the post-Columbian history of this area, mi. E Schroeder, 9; 22 mi. N Schroeder, 11; 21 mi. more so than any other non-human animal. N Schroeder, 3; 5 mi. N, 2 mi. E Schroeder, 2; Early exploration and settlement in the 454 mi. N, 1 mi. W Schroeder, 2; Temperance River, county revolved primarily around securing 1 mi. N, 1 mi. E Schroeder, 1; 1 mi. N, 154 mi. E Schroeder, 10; 4 mi. W Schroeder, 4; 354 mi. and trading beaver pelts. Some of the ab- W Schroeder, 12; 3 mi. W Schroeder, 2; 2 mi. S, uses and other items of historical interest 2 mi. W Taconite Harbor, 15; 254 mi. S, 3 mi. W regarding beaver in northeastern Minnesota Taconite Harbor, 2; N of Temperance River, 1; and adjacent Ontario were discussed by Temperance River, 2; Mouth of Temperance River, 2; 15 mi. N, 154 mi. W Tofte, 1; 3 mi. N, 1 mi. W Cahn (1937), Erickson (1939), and Longley Tofte, 1; 254 mi. N, 1 mi. W Tofte, 2; Britton Peak, and Moyle (1963). 1 mi. N, 1 mi. W Tofte, 3; Carlton Peak, 1 mi. N, Castor canadensis occurs throughout 1 mi. W Tofte, 22; W Devil's Track Lake, 2. Cook County. The single specimen examin- ed is a skull obtained from a trapper on the The deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus Grand Portage Indian Reservation. The gracilis, is undoubtedly the most abundant following localities were sites of active bea- and widespread mammal in Cook County. ver colonies seen during the summer of It was trapped commonly in most habitat 1972: 18 mi. north and 5 mi. west of Grand types during all seasons of the year. Large Marais; 9 mi. north and 2M mi. west of cattail, sedge, and sphagnum marshes were Hovland; 15/2 mi. north and 1 mi. east of the only habitats where Peromyscus was Lutsen; and 15 mi. north and 332 mi. east of conspicuously absent; however, they usually Lutsen. Byman (1972) frequently found could be collected along the periphery of remains of beaver in wolf scats collected these marshes. Deer mice were common in in Cook and Lake counties. the Aspen-Birch community type along the north shore of Lake Superior, especially in Peromyscus maniculatus gracilis areas of habitat disturbance by man and (Le Conte, 1855) along rocky outcrops. Peromyscus appeared Deer Mouse to be the most common small mammal at several localities; for example, at Carlton Specimens examined (299).—Brule Lake, 2; Lower Brule Lake, 2; Caribou River, 2; Cascade Peak, 1 mi. north and 1 mi. west of Tofte, Lake, 3 (1 KU); Cascade Lookout, 3 (1 KU); elevation 1526', 22 Peromyscus maniculatus Cascade River, near Eagle Mountain, 1; Mouth and one Napaeozapus insignis were the 21

only mammals trapped in birch forest on TABLE 7. Characteristics of all reproductively ac- 7 July 1972. Success in trapping deer mice tive female Peromyscus maniculatus gracilis available from Cook County, Minnesota. If more during the winter was highly variable. It than one litter was present, the number of placen- appeared as if they were relatively inactive tal scars present from the earliest litter is indi- during periods of inclement weather; al- cated on the following line. A question mark fol- most no mice were taken, even in protected lowing the number of corpora lutea (or mature follicles) denotes uncertainty in count. Deer mice areas, during severe snow storms or periods captured between mid-September and mid-March of extremely cold temperatures. Trapping never evinced reproductive activity. during milder winter conditions generally was productive. Data on reproduction were obtained p,acental from 234 deer mice, trapped during all Date Embryos Corpora Lutea or Scars Mature Follicles seasons of the year. Of the 208 individuals collected during this study, 88 were females 24 March 1973 3L-2R x 4.0 mm. 3L-2R 24 March 1973 — — 3L-3R (42.3%) and 120 were males (57.7%). Repro- 24 March 1973 — — 5L-5R ductive data are available from a total of 16 April 1972 — — 2L-4R 16 April 1972 — — 2L-3R 92 female deer mice from Cook County; 39 16 April 1972 — — 2L-3R 16 April 1972 — — 3L-3R of these had embryos or placental scars. 16 April 1972 — — 3L-4R The mean ± S.E. (and range) number of 16 April 1972 — — 4L-4R 21 May 1972 — 2L-4R 2L-4R embryos calculated for six pregnant fe- 21 May 1972 3L.-2R x 12 mm. — 3L-2R males was 5.2±.54 (3-7) (see Table 7). 21 May 1972 — 2L-3R 2L-3R 1 July 1951 3L-4R x 5.0 mm. ? ? Several others had active corpora lutea, but 5 July 1972 — 1L-3R 3L-3R implanted embryos were not detected. 4L-0R? 6 July 1972 — 2L-2R 4L-2R Thirty-five mice retained placental ?L-?R 6 July 1972 — 2L-4R 3L-3R scars as evidence of past reproductive 2L-4R activity. Of these, 14 had scars that ap- 8 July 1972 — 4L-1R 4L-1R 9 July 1972 — 4L-0R 2L-3R peared to be of two ages and two pregnant 1L-5R females also possessed placental scars, in- 9 July 1972 0L-3R x 16 mm. — 2L-3R 20 July 1972 — 4L-1R 3L-4R dicating that two litters per season is not 4L-1R 29 July 1972 — 3L-3R 3L-3R uncommon. Evidence of a second litter 4L-2R during the summer was found in both sub- 30 July 1967 — 2L-3R ? 1 Aug. 1972 — 3L-2R 3L-2R adults and adults. No females examined 4L-1R during this study were judged to have had 2 Aug. 1972 — 3L-4R 3L-4R 9 Aug. 1972 — 2L-0R 3L-1R three litters. 2L-2R The youngest breeding females had not 10 Aug. 1966 — 2L-3R ? 10 Aug. 1973 — 3L-0R 4L-2R completed molt from the light gray juvenile 12 Aug. 1966 — 3L-3R ? 12 Aug. 1966 — 4L-1R ? pelage into the grayish-brown subadult 16 Aug. 1972 — 3L-2R 3L-2R pelage. Breeding appeared to cease in 2L-1R 16 Aug. 1972 — 3L-2R 3L-4R August; no pregnant females were collected 16 Aug. 1972 — 2L-2R 5L-4R? in September and few were taken in August, 4L-0R 17 Aug. 1972 — 3L-1R 3L-1R even though large samples were available 4L-4R for both months. Mean testicular lengths 17 Aug. 1972 — 2L-3R 2L-4R 17 Aug. 1972 — 3L-3R 3L-3R? and widths for summer-captured, subadult 19 Aug. 1972 — 2L-3R 3L-2R and adult males include: 11.7 X 8.0 mm. 1L-2R 23 Aug. 1972 — 4L-4R 4L-4R (N = 6), June; 7.6 X 4.6 mm. (N = 35), July; 25 Aug. 1972 — 2L-3R 2L-3R and 4.4 X 2.6 mm. (N = 47), August. 2L-2R 25 Aug. 1972 — 1L-5R 0L-6R All Peromyscus captured on 15-16 April 3L-1R 31 Aug. 1966 3L-3R x 11.0 mm. ? 1972 were reproductively active. Testicular 31 Aug. 1972 — 5L-1R 5L-1R length and width of 14 males averaged 12.1 31 Aug. 1972 — 2L-3R 2L-3R 31 Aug. 1972 — 1L-3R 2L-2R X 7.8 mm. and all had highly convoluted 1 Sept. 1972 — 1L-3R — 1L-3R epididymides and well developed seminal 2 Sept. 1966 2L-4R ? vesicles. Seven females trapped during this period appeared to be at the instigation of it could not be determined if the others had breeding. All had big, fresh corpora lutea mated. A female with near term embryos (5 and highly vascularized uteri. Minute, im- embs. 12 mm. long) and two others having planted embryos were observed in one, but striated placental scars (evidence of recent 22 parturition) were obtained on 21 May 1972. wenmanni, Ctenophthalmus pseudagyrtes, March 24 was the earliest day on which a Orchopeas leucopus, Megabothris quirini, pregnant female was trapped in 1973. Other Monopsyllus vison, Monopsyllus wagneri, females from that trapping period had en- and Peromyscopsylla catatina); mites (Eu- larged ovarian structures, but their stage of laelaps stabularis, Androlaelaps fahrenholzi, development appeared by gross analysis and Haemogamasus ambulans); chiggers more like mature follicles than fresh corpora (Trombiculidae); and ticks (Ixodes angus- lutea. Uterine development also appeared tus). A subadult Peromyscus maniculatus less than that of recently impregnated ani- was found in the stomach of a juvenile red mals. Although the data are meager, it ap- fox (Vulpes vulpes) on 18 August 1972. pears that breeding began a month earlier in the spring of 1973 than it did in 1972, and that breeding was more synchronous in Clethrionomys gapperi gapperi 1972 than in 1973. It is of interest that the (Vigors, 1830) first warm days in the spring of 1972 fell on the 15th and 16th of April when the tem- Gapper's Red-backed Mouse perature reached the low 60's, whereas the Specimens examined (155).—Caribou River, 2; spring of 1973 was considerably warmer Cascade Lookout, 7; N of Cascade River, 2; Mouth and milder. of Cascade River, 2; Echo Lake, 1; Four Mile Lake, 1; 20 mi. N, 6 mi. W Grand Marais, 9; 18 No evidence of fall or early- to mid- mi. N, 4 mi. E Grand Marais, 2; 17 mi. N, 1 mi. W winter breeding in deer mice was observed. Grand Marais, 9; 16 mi. N, 2 mi. E Grand Marais, Males captured during these seasons had 1; 15/2 mi. N, 7 mi. E Grand Marais, 1; 15 mi. N, 1 small testes, small, non-convoluted epididy- mi. E Grand Marais, 2; 13 mi. N, 3 mi. W Grand Marais, 1; 13 mi. N, 1 mi. E Grand Marais, 4; mides, and minute seminal vesicles. Fe- Kimball Lake, 8 mi. N, 5 mi. E Grand Marais, 1; males were not pregnant and showed no in- 4 mi. N, 6 mi. E Grand Marais, 1; 254 mi. N, 854 mi. dication of recent reproductive effort, i.e., W Grand Marais, 1; 154 mi. N, 10 mi. W Grand mammae were minute, ovaries appeared to Marais, 1; North Shore W of Grand Marais, 3; be inactive, and none of the placental scars Grand Marais, 1; 54 mi. N, 1 mi. W Grand Portage, 1; Mt. Rose, Grand Portage, 1; Grand Portage, 3; observed appeared to be recent. All deer 14 mi. N, 5 mi. W Hovland, 1; Otter Lake, 10 mi. mice captured in winter and early spring N, 154 mi. W Hovland, 2; 354 mi. N, 1 mi. W Hov- were judged to be adults on the basis of land, 1; 3 mi. N, 1 mi. W Hovland, 3; 3 mi. N, 1 pelage and size, providing additional evi- mi. E Hovland, 2; 3 mi. NE Hovland, 1; % mi. S, dence of early and complete cessation of 1 mi. W Hovland, 2; 2 mi. S, 4 mi. W Hovland, 1; 30 mi. N, 2 mi. E Lutsen, 7; 15 mi. N, 454 mi. breeding. Juvenile mice first appeared in E Lutsen, 2; 1454 mi. N, 1 mi. W Lutsen, 1; 13 mi. the traps in mid-June. Ten percent of the N, 454 mi. W Lutsen, 1; 9 mi. N, 354 mi. W Lutsen, Peromyscus taken in June were either in 2; 154 mi. N, 4M mi. W Lutsen, 2; 254 mi. N, 1 mi. juvenile pelage or molting from that into E Mineral Center, 1; Pigeon River, SW 54 sec. 20, the subadult pelage. In July, 47.9 percent T. 64 N, R. 6 E, 8; 43 mi. N, 1 mi. E Schroeder, 3; 40 mi. N, 3 mi. E Schroeder, 1; 39 mi. N, 354 mi. were juveniles, whereas only 13.0 percent E Schroeder, 2; 37 mi. N, 354 mi. E Schroeder, 1; of the August sample were in this age Alton Lake, 23 mi. N, 1 mi. W Schroeder, 2; 22 group. The reduced number of juveniles in mi. N Schroeder, 18; 5 mi. N, 2 mi. E Schroeder, August reflects the decreased reproductive 2; 454 mi. N, 1 mi. W Schroeder, 3; 2 mi. N Schroeder, 1; 1 mi. N, 154 mi. E Schroeder, 3; Swan effort in late summer. Peromyscus manicu- Lake, South Brule River, 1; 2 mi. S, 2 mi. W Tac- latus in juvenile pelage were not trapped onite Harbor, 10; 15 mi. N, 2 mi. W Tofte, 9; 3 mi. between September and May. No deer mice N, 1 mi. W Tofte, 1; Britton Peak, 1 mi. N, 54 mi. in complete adult pelage were found among W Tofte, 2; Tofte, 2. specimens collected between early August Additional records.—Grand Marais (UMMZ). and late September in Cook County. Ap- Clethrionomys gapperi is a common and parently all individuals greater than one widespread microtine rodent in Cook year of age have died by this time. A few County. It was trapped most often in the mice trapped in late September were molt- Fir-Birch, Aspen-Birch, Maple-Aspen-Birch, ing into the adult coat, but most appeared and the Black Spruce community types. to enter winter in subadult pelage. Blarina brevicauda and Sorex cinereus fre- Ectoparasites recovered from deer mice quently were caught in the same trap line include: lice (Hoplopleura hesperomydis); with red-backed mice. Population densities fleas (Hystrichopsylla dippiei, Eptedia of C. gapperi did not appear high at most 23 localities as only a few specimens usually rock vole was collected in 1921 near Burnt- were taken from a trap line. side Lake in St. Louis County by Vernon Adult red-backed mice in reproductive Bailey (Swanson, 1945). A specimen from condition were taken from 21 May through Ely was reported by Swanson to be a rock 21 September in 1972. A mean ±S.E. (and vole, but later was reidentified as a heather range) of 5.2 ± .22 (3-7) embryos was calcu- vole, Phenacomys intermedius (Handley, lated for twenty pregnant females. Fifteen 1954). It remains as the single record for additional females contained placental that species from the state. scars as evidence of previous litters. Placen- The two specimens of Microtus chrotor- tal scars of two age groups were observed rhinus were trapped on 9 and 10 August in four females. One adult trapped on 31 1973. Details of the habitat were described August 1972 appeared to have scars of three elsewhere (Timm, 1974), but generally it ages. Of the pregnant females, four also had was a long narrow accumulation of boulders visible placental scars. Apparently two lit- (frost-fracture rock outcrop) supporting ters per year is not uncommon and there is dominant vegetation of dry lichens, the evidence that some females have three lit- most common of which was reindeer moss ters. Mean testes length and width (N in (Cladonia). Balsam fir, black spruce, white- parentheses) of subadult and adult male cedar, white pine, aspen, paper birch, Clethrionomys for the spring and summer mountain maple, prickly rose (Rosa acicu- include: 10.0 X 6.5 mm. (2) in April; 11.8 laris), blueberries (Vaccinium), and red X 8.2 mm. (5) in May; 12.0 X 8.0 mm. (5) raspberries (Rubus strigosus) grew among in June; 11.5 X 7.5 mm. (21) in July; 11.8 the moss-covered rocks near the edge of the X 8.2 mm. (15) in August. rock stream (see Fig. 3). The adjacent for- Molting adults were trapped on 3 July ested area also included thimbleberry (Ru- 1967; 20 May, 21 June, and 3 July 1972; and bus parviflorus), bunchberry (Cornus cana- on 9 August 1973. Individuals molting from densis), Clinton's lily (Clintonia borealis), the juvenile pelage were trapped on 15 June and clubmoss (Lycopodium). A lactating and 16 and 24 July 1922; 2 July 1951; 3 July female taken on 9 August had seven 1967; and 5 and 9 July, 31 August, and 1 placental scars of two age groups. The and 21 September 1972. Ectoparasites re- other specimen was a non-breeding, sub- covered from red-backed mice include fleas adult male with testes 4 by 3 mm. Neither (Atyphloceras bishopi, Stenoponia ameri- animal appeared to be molting. cana, Catallagia borealis, Ctenophthalmus Ectoparasites were identified as: fleas pseudagyrtes, Orchopeas leucopus, Mega- (Peromyscopsylla catatina and Megaboth- bothris quirini, and Peromyscopsylla cata- ris quirini), mites (Laelaps alaskensis and L. tina), lice (Hoplopleura acanthopus), mites kochi), ticks (Ixodes angustus), and chiggers (Androlaelaps fahrenholzi, Eulaelaps stabu- (Trombiculidae). This record represents the laris, Haemogamasus ambulans, and H. first time Ixodes angustus, a relatively com- liponyssoides), chiggers (Trombiculidae), mon tick on small mammals, has been iden- and ticks (Ixodes angustus). This is the first tified as being parasitic on Microtus chro- record of Eulaelaps stabularis parasitizing torrhinus. External and selected cranial C. gapperi. measurements of the two voles were pro- vided by Timm (1974). The distribution of these rare voles is Microtus chrotorrhinus chrotorrhinus typically spotty throughout their range, but (Miller, 1894) it is possible they occur at other localities Rock Vole within the county. Trapping was conducted in all other frost-fracture rock outcrops Specimens examined (2).—17 mi. N, 1 mi. W noted during the study, but no additional Grand Marais. rock voles were captured. Most rock out- The two specimens of Microtus chrotor- crops were considerably smaller in size rhinus from Cook County represent the sec- than the one discussed above, and perhaps ond and third records of this species in they do not contain sufficient habitat to Minnesota (Timm, 1974). Minnesota's first sustain populations of this species. 24

Microtus pennsylvanicus pennsylvanicus counts of 16 pregnant females was 5.25 (Ord, 1815) (range, 4-7) (Table 8). Fifteen individual, non-pregnant females averaged 5.41 pla- Meadow Vole cental scars per litter in an estimated 17 lit- Specimens examined (140).—Cascade Lake, 1; ters. Placental scars in three of these fe- Cascade River, near Eagle Mountain, 10; Cross males were thought to represent two separ- River, 2; Four Mile Lake, 6; 18 mi. N, 4 mi. E Grand Marais, 1; 17 mi. N, 3 mi. W Grand Marais, ate litters and a single, lactating female was 2; 15& mi. N, 6 mi. E Grand Marais, 1; 15 mi. N, believed to have had placental scars of 1 mi. E Grand Marais, 1; 13& mi. N, 4% mi. W three ages. Three pregnant females also had Grand Marais, 5; 6 mi. N, 9 mi. E Grand Marais, placental scars. Fifty percent of the females 1; 1 % mi. N, 5 mi. W Grand Marais, 1; 6 mi. W Grand Marais, 4; North Shore, W of Grand Marais, that displayed reproductive activity, 1; 2 mi. N, 4 mi. E Grand Portage, 2; Grand Port- trapped on and after 5 July 1972 had pro- age, 8; VA mi. S, 2 mi. W Grand Portage, 1; 2 mi. duced two litters during the summer as de- S, 5Js mi. W Grand Portage, 1; 14 mi. N, 3X mi. W termined by the presence of placental scars Hovland, 1; 12 mi. N, 3 mi. W Hovland, 1; 11 mi. N, 3 mi. W Hovland, 2; Otter Lake, 10 mi. N, 1K and embryos. Evidently two litters per mi. W Hovland, 1; 4J» mi. N, 1 mi. E Hovland, 3; summer is common and some females may Islands in Lake Saganaga, 2; 30 mi. N, 2 mi. E produce three litters in Cook County during Lutsen, 2; 15& mi. N, 1 mi. E Lutsen, 2; 9 mi. N, the breeding season. mi. W Lutsen, 1; 8 mi. N, PA mi. W Lutsen, 1; No evidence of winter breeding, as has 5 mi. W Lutsen, 2; Mineral Center, 2; % mi. E Mineral Center, 1; 1 mi. E Mineral Center, 2; been observed elsewhere (Keller and Krebs, Pigeon River, SW % sec. 20, T. 64 N, R. 6 E, 6; 1970), was found. All M. pennsylvanicus Poplar River, 1; 40 mi. N, 3 mi. E Schroeder, 1; trapped during the winter and spring were 383s mi. N, 4'A mi. E Schroeder, 2; 37% mi. N, 4 mi. adults. In 1972 the first pregnant females E Schroeder, 4; 37 mi. N, mi. E Schroeder, 7; 37 mi. N, 14 mi. E Schroeder, 5; 22 mi. N were captured on 21 May. Juveniles first Schroeder, 1; 21 mi. N Schroeder, 11; 4% mi. N, 1 were noted in early June. Testes, seminal mi. W Schroeder, 6; 4 mi. N, 5 mi. W Schroeder, vesicles, and epididymides were not fully 3; 2 mi. N Schroeder, 1; 1 mi. N, 134 mi. E developed on adult males collected in mid- Schroeder, 16; 4 mi. W Schroeder, 1; Temperance River, 1; 15 mi. N, 2 mi. W Tofte, 2; Britton Peak, April, but their development appeared 1 mi. N, K mi. W Tofte, 1. complete on all adult males trapped after mid-May. Mean testicular measurements Microtus pennsylvanicus was relatively (and sample size) for summer caught adult abundant in northeastern Minnesota during males were: 15.0 X 9.6, (13) in June; 15.2 X this study. Mesic habitats, especially cattail 10.1, (13) in July; and 14.5 X 9.1, (8) in marshes, sphagnum bogs, and dense stands August. Reproductive data for all primipar- of grass and sedges around standing water, ous and multiparous females is summarized generally supported high populations of in Table 8. meadow voles. They also were found in The taxonomy of Microtus pennsylvani- drier upland communities, including mea- cus in northeastern Minnesota is poorly un- dows and grassy road ditches, but they derstood. Hall and Cockrum (1953) and were relatively less abundant in such habi- Hall and Kelson (1959) designated the tats. Microtus pennsylvanicus was never United States-Canadian border as the taken in dense upland forests, as was the boundary between M. p. drummondii, the congeneric M. chrotorrhinus. Populations northern subspecies, and M. p. pennsyl- numbers were not estimated precisely, but vanicus, the southern subspecies. Early de- densities did not appear to approach the scriptions of these two subspecies are 50-60 animals per acre that have been vague; however, M. p. pennsylvanicus is reported by Golley (1961) and others. considered the larger of the two. Cranial Reproductive data are available for 115 measurements, mean, range, and N, for individuals, including representatives from adult meadow voles from Cook County in- all seasons. Of the 104 meadow voles col- clude: condylobasal length, 25.1, (23.1 — lected during this investigation, 64 were 27.5), 43; zygomatic breadth, 13.9, (12.4- males and 40 were females. During the 15.3), 47; interorbital constriction, 3.5, summer months, all females trapped that (3.3-3.8), 50; lambdoidal breadth, 11.2, were under 24 g. were nulliparous and all (10.1-12.1), 47; length of nasals, 6.8, (5.9- those over 24 g. were reproductively active. 7.7), 45; length of maxillary toothrow, 6.0, The mean litter size as judged by embryo (5.4-6.5), 49. These measurements are 25

TABLE 8. Characteristics of all reproductively ac- bulans, H. liponyssoides, Laelaps alasken- tive female Microtus pennsylvanicus pennsylvani- cus available from Cook County, Minnesota. If sis, L. kochi, and Labidophoridae), and more than one litter was present, the number of chiggers (Trombiculidae). placental scars present from the earliest litter is indicated on the following line. A question mark following the number of corpora lutea denotes Ondatra zibethicus zibethicus uncertainty in count. Meadow voles captured (Linnaeus, 1766) between September and mid-May evinced no re- productive activity. Muskrat Specimen examined (1).—18 mi. N, 5 mi. W Grand Marais. Placental Corpora Embryos Date Scars Lutea Ondatra zibethicus was not abundant in 21 May 1972 3L-1R x 9.0 mm. 4L-1R northeastern Minnesota during this study. 21 May 1972 2L-2R x 7.0 mm. — 2L-2R Only a single, road-killed individual was 22 June 1972 2L-4R x 0.5 mm. — 2L-4R 22 June 1972 2L-4R x 7.0 mm. — 2L-4R seen, but muskrat "sign" was noted at sev- 22 June 1972 — 3L-3R 3L-3R eral localities. Professional trappers indi- 23 June 1972 2L-2R x 16.0 mm. — ? 3 July 1967 3L-3R x ? — ? cated that muskrats were found throughout 4 July 1972 3L-1R x 6.0 mm. — 3L-1R the region but not as plentifully as farther 5 July 1972 4L-2R x 23.0 mm. — 4L-2R 5 July 1972 1L-4R x 9.0 mm. — 1L-4R south in the state. Johnson (1922) and Cahn 7 July 1972 — 3L-3R ? (1937) found them common in adjacent 9 July 1972 — 3L-3R 3L-3R 17 July 1971 3L-4R x 8.0 mm. — ? areas; both reported that muskrats often 17 July 1971 2L-2R x 9.0 mm. — ? 17 July 1971 3L-4R x 6.0 mm. 4L-5R 3L-4R burrow into a bank rather than construct 18 July 1971 — 3L-3R ? the characteristic "house." 18 July 1971 — 3L-3R ? 18 July 1971 — 4L-1R ? 1 L-?R Synaptomys cooperi cooperi Baird, 1858 20 July 1971 3L-3R x 18.0 mm. — 3L-3R 27 July 1972 — 3L-3R 3L-3R 4L-4R Southern Bog Lemming 1 Aug. 1972 3L-2R x 16.0 mm. — 3L-2R 9 Aug. 1972 — 4L-0R 4L-0R Specimens examined (7).—1)4 mi. N, 10 mi. W 17 Aug. 1972 — 3L-2R 3L-2R Grand Marais, 1; Grand Portage, 1; 38Ja mi. N, 2L-0R 4/2 mi. E Schroeder, 1; 37 mi. N, 7)4 mi. E. 17 Aug. 1972 — 2L-2R ? 7L-3R total of Schroeder, 2; 21 mi. N Schroeder, 1; 15 mi. N, 2 three litte mi. W Tofte, 1. 18 Aug. 1972 — 2L-3R ? 2L-4R The southern bog lemming probably oc- 19 Aug. 1972 — 3L-1R 3L-1R 25 Aug. 1972 2L-2R x 9.0 mm. 3L-1R 1L-3R curs throughout the county, but populations tend to be restricted to specific habitats. Two specimens were trapped in runways through dense grass in a marsh. Other spe- about midway between those given by cies living in the marsh were Sorex arcticus, Bailey (1900) for M. p. drummondii and M. S. cinereus, Blarina brevicauda, Microtus p. pennsylvanicus. It is most likely that pennsylvanicus, and Zapus hudsonius. Syn- meadow voles from Cook County represent aptomys also was found in association with an intergradation between the two sub- high populations of Microtus pennsylvani- species. cus and Zapus in a large bed of Carex Maturational molt was found on speci- around a "beaver pond." A single specimen mens from 4, 5, 7, and 9 July; 4 and 8 Au- was taken from a subterranean runway in a gust; and 1 September 1972. Adult molt was low, wet area of mixed forest. A southern seen on voles from 1 July and 9 August bog lemming trapped in 1951 near Grand 1951, and on 21 May and 22 June 1972. Marais was in a bog of black ash, spruce, Ectoparasites recovered from M. penn- balsam fir, birch, and Lycopodium. sylvanicus in Cook County include lice Three adult males collected on 21-22 (Hoplopleura acanthopus), fleas (Hystri- June 1972 were in breeding condition chopsylla dippiei, Ctenophthalmus pseuda- (testes 6X5, 7X4, 8X5 mm.; well de- gyrtes, Orchopeas leucopus, Megabothris veloped seminal vesicles; and convoluted asio, M. quirini, Peromyscopsylla catatina, epididymides). A second young adult male, and P. hamifera), ticks (Ixodes angustus and trapped on 4 August, had testicular mea- I. muris), mites (Eulaelaps stabularis, An- surements of 6 X 4 mm. Neither of the two drolaelaps fahrenholzi, Haemogamasus am- adult females obtained on 5 July and 22 26

September 1972 evinced reproductive ac- N, 2 mi. E Hovland, 2; 2 mi. N, 5 mi. W Hovland, tivity. Molt, apparently into the summer 1; 4 mi. NE Hovland, 1; % mi. S, 1 mi. W Hovland, 1; 2 mi. S, 4 mi. W Hovland, 1; 1534 mi. N Lutsen, pelage, was visible on an individual taken 2; 15/2 mi. N, 1 mi. E Lutsen, 1; 143a mi. N, 1 mi. on 22 June; another was in fresh pelage on W Lutsen, 1; 5 mi. W Lutsen, 1; 1 mi. E Mineral 4 August 1972. Two specimens from 21 Center, 2; Pigeon River, SW X sec. 20, T. 64 N, R. June, one from 5 July 1972, and another 6 E, 1; 43 mi. N, 1 mi. E Schroeder, 2; 3834 mi. N, from 5 July 1951 were in worn pelage. 4)4 mi. E Schroeder, 1; 37)4 mi. N, 4 mi. E. Schroeder, 1; 37 mi. N, 7)4 mi. E Schroeder, 1; 37 Connor (1959) believed Carex to be pre- mi. N, 14 mi. E Schroeder, 1; Alton Lake, 23 mi. ferred habitat for Synaptomys in New Jer- N, 1 mi. W Schroeder, 1; 22 mi. N Schroeder, 14; sey, but observed densities of no greater 21 mi. N Schroeder, 6; 2034 mi. N Schroeder, 2; than five per acre in prime habitats. He 434 mi. N, 1 mi. W Schroeder, 1; 4 mi. N, 5 mi. W Schroeder, 2; 1 mi. N, 134 mi. E Schroeder, 2; 4 mi. found a mean and modal litter size of three. W Schroeder, 1. Arthropodous ectoparasites found on Synaptomys cooperi in Cook County in- The meadow jumping mouse was com- clude two fleas, Ctenophthalmus pseuda- mon in a wide variety of habitats through- gyrtes and Peromyscopsylla catatina; three out the county. Populations of Zapus ap- mites, Haemogamassus ambulans, Hirsti- peared to be high at a few localities but onyssus isabellinus, and Laelaps alaskensis; generally the species was not abundant at and two ticks, Ixodes angustus and I. muris. any one locality. Habitats associated with These observations constitute new host rec- high populations of meadow jumping mice ords for Haemogamassus ambulans and were usually wet, either marshes or the Hirstionyssus isabellinus. low-lying areas along streams with sedges, cattails (Typha), willows, and grasses being the dominant vegetation. Rom (1940) re- Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout, 1769) ported Zapus hudsonius from the tall grass Norway Rat around a beaver pond in northeastern Lake County. Preferred habitats in south-central Specimens examined (4).—34 mi. N, 1 mi. W Minnesota were sedge meadows and grassy Grand Portage, 3; 1 mi. N, 34 mi. E Lutsen, 1. willow-alder thickets (Quimby, 1951). Three specimens of the Norway rat were Nine adult females collected between shot at the Grand Portage dump on 20 July 1966 and 1973 were pregnant or had pla- 1972. One subadult and one adult were re- cental scars (see Table 9). A number of productively inactive females; the third was adult females collected during the summer a juvenile male. None was molting. Several were reproductively inactive, but one ob- other rats were seen in the dump that even- tained on 25 August 1972 appeared to have ing, indicating a high population of Rattus produced two litters that season. A single there at the time. The rat from near Lutsen juvenile was trapped on 9 July 1972, and was an adult male trapped at a human resi- subadults were obtained on 20 July 1972 dence. It appears that this introduced murid and 27 July 1922. Quimby found Zapus to is restricted in Cook County to areas of have an average of five to six young per lit- human habitation as no individuals or sign ter with a few females producing two litters were found in less disturbed situations. In per year. Bailey (1926) wrote that Zapus Ontario, Cahn (1937) reported Rattus nor- hudsonius intermedius had only a single vegicus from several localities, all closely litter per year in North Dakota. associated with man. Jumping mice undergoing molt were collected on: 5 July 1972; 1 August 1966, 18 Zapus hudsonius hudsonius August 1966 (3), 19 August 1966 (2), 24 (Zimmerman, 1780) August 1965, and 31 August 1966. Animals collected on 9 August and thereafter were Meadow Jumping Mouse storing fat, presumably for the oncoming Specimens examined (73).—Brule Lake, 1; winter. Despite extensive collecting efforts, Cross River, 1; Four Mile Lake, 5; Kimball Lake, no meadow jumping mice were collected in 8 mi. N, 5 mi. E Grand Marais, 1; 6 mi. N, 9 mi. 1972 after 25 August. Quimby (1951) found E Grand Marais, 1; 4 mi. N, 11 mi. E Grand some Zapus entering hibernation on 17 Marais, 3; 2 mi. N, 3 mi. E Grand Marais, 1; 934 mi. W Grand Marais, 1; 34 mi. N, 1 mi. W Grand September where he conducted an exten- Portage, 3; Grand Portage, 4; 12 mi. N, 3 mi. W sive ecological study of the species in south- Hovland, 2; 10 mi. N, 1 mi. E Hovland, 1; 10 mi. central Minnesota. 27

TABLE 9. Reproductive characteristics of nine mice occur at least as far south in Minnesota adult female Zapus hudsonius collected in Cook as Pine County (Beer, 1953), and as far County, Minnesota. west as Clearwater County (Clough, 1959). Date Reproductive Characteristics An adult female captured on 31 July had seven placental scars (4 L, 3 R), but one ob- 20 June 1972 5 embs. x 10 mm. (4L-1 R) tained on 6 July displayed no evidence of 22 June 1972 6 embs. x 10 mm. (4L-2R) reproductive activity. Testicular lengths of 1 July 1951 5 embs. (1L-4R) ten adult males collected between 7 July 8 July 1972 6 placental scars (4L-2R) 9 July 1972 4 placental scars (1L-3R) and 24 August averaged 5.7 mm. (4-7) in 1 Aug. 1966 7 placental scars (4L-3R) length. Jackson (1972) reported only one 9 Aug. 1972 6 placental scars (3L-3R) litter per year for Napaeozapus in Wiscon- 9 Aug. 1972 11 placental scars (6L-5R) sin. In the central part of the range, Whi- (probably two litters represented) taker and Wrigley (1972) found Napaeo- 25 Aug. 1972 1 visible placental scar (L) zapus to have breeding peaks in late spring and late summer, with many females pro- ducing two litters each year. The following parasites were collected Storage of fat was noted first on an adult from Zapus in Cook County: Megabothris male captured on 28 July 1972. Adults col- quirini (a flea), Androlaelaps fahrenholzi lected on 6 and 7 July and two from August and Haemogamasus liponyssoides (mites), were molting. Ectoparasites recovered from and Trombiculidae (chiggers). This record this species include mites (Androlaelaps represents the first time H. liponyssoides fahrenholzi) and fleas (Peromyscopsylla has been identified as a parasite of Zapus catatina). hudsonius. Davis and Ernst (1971) discussed the taxonomic status of jumping mice in the Erethizon dorsatum dorsatum extreme western part of Minnesota. (Linnaeus, 1758) Porcupine Napaeozapus insignisfrutectanus Jackson, 1919 Specimens examined (2).—Incorrectly specified locality (see below). Woodland Jumping Mouse Erethizon dorsatum once was extremely Specimens examined (15).—17 mi. N, 1 mi. W abundant across northern Minnesota, but Grand Marais, 1; 2 mi. N, 3 mi. E Grand Marais, 1; Lower Brule River, T. 62 N, R. 3 E, 1; 21A mi. porcupine numbers have been low in the N, 1 mi. E Mineral Center, 1; 22 mi. N Schroeder, past two decades. Several residents inde- 9; 1 mi. N, VA mi. E Schroeder, 1; Carlton Peak, 1 pendently drew the correlation between the mi. N, 1 mi. W Tofte, 1. increase in the fisher population and the Additional records.—90 mi. NE Duluth in Cook decline in numbers of porcupines, conclud- County (CM). ing that fisher predation was responsible Although known from Cook County by for the low numbers of porcupines. How- only 15 specimens, the woodland jumping ever, it seems unlikely that predation has mouse appears to be distributed in suitable been the sole causative factor in the demise habitat throughout the county. The first of porcupine populations. specimen of Napaeozapus insignis from Evidence of Erethizon dorsatum in the Minnesota was taken in 1923 along the county found during this study includes a Lower Brule River, T. 62 N, R. 3 E (Surber, single pile of old droppings, a quill frag- 1923). Three males captured on 1 August ment encased in the mandible of a fisher, 1966, and five males and one female col- and quill fragments embedded in the soft lected on 31 July 1967, were living along palates of three fishers and a mink. Addi- Sawbill Creek in a mixed forest of white tionally, a Lynx rufus obtained near Grand pine, balsam fir, mountain maple, and white Marais in 1939 contained ingested porcu- birch. The four specimens obtained in 1972 pine quills according to the data on record were trapped in dense growths of thimble- with the specimen. berry. Rom (1940) trapped a single wood- An adult female obtained on 10 April land jumping mouse in a poplar-birch- 1955 and her single near-term fetus, both spruce forest near Kekekabic Lake in north- prepared as skin and skull and deposited in eastern Lake County. Woodland jumping the Bell Museum, bear the locality "Grand 28

Rapids, Cook Co., Minnesota." Apparently Additional records— Approximately 50 mi. N this locality is an error as no point within Grand Marais; N of Grand Marais; Grand Marais; E of Gunflint Lake; Northern Cook County [un- the county is known as Grand Rapids. The specified] (Bell Mus. Documents); Gunflint Lake specimens may have originated from Grand (east of), Superior National Forest (Goldman, Marais or Grand Portage in Cook County or 1944). the town of Grand Rapids in Itasca County; The timber wolf (Canis lupus) is com- the origin of these specimens likely will re- mon throughout Cook County. Van Ballen- main unknown. The fetus was 287 mm. long berghe (1972) calculated a density of one and fully furred, including quills. Habitat wolf per 9.1 square miles in the Lutsen- selection and movements of porcupines has been studied at the University of Minne- Tofte area along the north shore of Lake sota's Forest Research Center near Cloquet, Superior. This is one of the highest densities approximately 60 miles southwest of Cook yet reported for the species. County (Marshall et al, 1962). The official listing of Canis lupus as a rare and endangered species by the United States Department of Interior has intensified ORDER CARNIVORA the controversy concerning management of Canis latrans thamnos Jackson, 1949 wolves. Bounties and predator claims of Coyote $50.00 per wolf were being paid routinely in the state until June of 1974. The predator Specimen examined (1).—Grand Marais. claim was a fee paid to a trapper who had Canis latrans is present in Cook County, been contracted to remove predators from at least in parts of the southern portion such an area where local residents claimed dam- as along the north shore of Lake Superior, age on domestic animals or wildlife. Con- but the status of the species in northeastern servation groups believe that wolves should Minnesota remains unknown. Several peo- be completely protected from man, but ple who have worked in this area agreed some sportsmen and farmers argue for less that coyotes were uncommon; responses stringent regulations, even including extir- varied from "extremely rare" to "seen once pation in extreme cases. The soundest pro- in a while." Johnson (1916) described the posal, at least judged biologically, would coyote as being found throughout the state seem to be an overall management plan in except the extreme northeastern portion which regulated numbers of wolves could and otherwise excluded them from his dis- be harvested. The wolf now receives com- cussion of Lake County mammals in 1922 plete protection from man by the Endan- (Johnson, 1922). Cahn (1937) considered gered Species Act. Using a broad array of them abundant in Quetico Provincial Park, data, Mech (1973a) estimated that 271 ± 14 Ontario. wolves occupied the Superior National The single specimen from Cook County, Forest in the spring of 1973. This repre- an adult female (MMNH 2473), was ob- sented a decline from his estimate of 300 ± tained by Arthur Johnson in January, 1948. 15 wolves occupying the forest in the spring It weighed 11.0 kg., and has the following of 1972. Roughly one-third of the forest is selected cranial measurements: condylo- within the boundaries of Cook County, basal length, 181.3 mm.; zygomatic breadth, which also is the area of greatest population 98.6 mm.; postorbital constriction, 34.1 density of wolves. From 1950 through 1952 mm.; interorbital constriction, 31.9 mm.; an average of 39 wolves were bountied each length of nasals, 70.1 mm.; and length of year in Cook County. Between 1960 and maxillary toothrow, 81.4 mm. 1964 that number averaged 52 (Van Ballen- berghe et al. 1975). Since retraction of the Canis lupus lycaon Schreber, 1775 bounty, an estimated two to three dozen wolves were taken each year by trappers Timber Wolf (Gray Wolf) and hunters in Cook County. This harvest Specimens examined (7).—Near Dunn Lake, did not seem to constitute a threat to the sec. 28, T. 64 N, R. 4 W, 1; Near Dunn Lake, sec. population in the state. 36, T. 64 N, R. 3 W, 1; Grand Marais, 1; 3 mi. S, 3 mi. W Grand Portage, 1; Hovland, 1; Poplar Two adult male wolves trapped near River, 1 mi. S, 1& mi. W Lutsen, 1; 3 mi. W Tac- Dunn Lake on 4 and 7 March 1938 are rep- onite Harbor, 1. resented in the Bell Museum by two com- 29 plete skeletons and a skin. An adult male and testes 20 X 8 mm.) obtained on 18 Au- trapped at Hovland on 1 March 1947 is in gust 1972. Stomach contents included the complete winter pelage with dense under- partially digested remains of a Sorex ciner- fur. It is dark gray, tending towards black, eus, a subadult Zapus hudsonius, a subadult whereas all other wolves examined by me Peromyscus maniculatus, and a dragonfly from the county are light gray with some (Odonata). Specimens listed above with reddish-brown areas intermixed. Occur- reference to Lutsen were found dead on the rence of both black and white color phases road. Specimens from Devil Track Lake and in a Great Plains subspecies of wolf (Canis Grand Marais are skulls obtained from local lupus nubilus) was discussed by Goldman trappers; the specimen with no specific lo- (1944) and by Mech and Frenzel (1971c); cality is represented only by a skin. In ad- C. 1. lycaon apparently exhibits only more dition to the specimens examined, red foxes subtle variations of the gray color phase. were seen several times during the summer Mech and Frenzel (1971c) reported that, of 1972, including one observation of an "the race of wolves now occupying north- adult and at least four pups (18 mi. north eastern Minnesota does show strong nubilus and 2 mi. west of Grand Marais). influence." Testes measurements of two Earlier students found Vulpes vulpes winter caught males were 50.8 X 28.5 mm. common in the Superior National Forest and 44.5 X 25.4 mm. Weights for three (Surber, 1932), northern Lake County males were 176.4 kg., 167.9 kg., and 145.5 (Johnson, 1922), and Quetico Provincial kg.; a single yearling female weighed 59.5 Park (Cahn, 1937). Field notes by W. J. kg- Breckenridge and T. Surber indicate that There has been a substantial amount of both the cross and the silver-black color research on the timber wolf in northern phases of red foxes commonly are seen in Minnesota, particularly in Cook, Lake, and this area. St. Louis counties. Johnson (1922), who studied in Lake County, and Cahn (1937) Urocyon cinereoargenteus ocythous who worked in Quetico Provincial Park, Bangs, 1899 commented that wolves were common dur- ing their mammalian faunal studies in these Gray Fox areas. The first field study specifically on Specimen examined (1).—Gunflint Lake. timber wolves in this area was that of Olson (1938). Recent studies by Byman (1972), The gray fox is a recent addition to the Mech (1970, 1973a, and elsewhere), Mech mammalian fauna of Cook County, where it and Frenzel (1971a), Seal et al (1975), is less abundant than the well-established Stenlund (1955), Van Ballenberghe (1972), red fox. Originally restricted to the decidu- Van Ballenberghe and Erickson (1973), and ous forest of southeastern Minnesota, gray Van Ballenberghe and Mech (1975) have foxes have been expanding their range provided valuable information concerning northward in the state. This expansion can population dynamics, movements, and be tracked chronologically. Johnson (1916) ecology of Canis lupus in Minnesota. A found Urocyon cinereoargenteus only in popular account by Stenlund (1974) sum- southeastern Minnesota. Bailey (1929) re- marized the history of wolf management in corded only one specimen from Sherburne the state. County, taken in 1927. Surber (1932) noted a range expansion from southern Pine County into Carlton County in the 1920's, Vulpes vulpes regalis Merriam, 1900 and Swanson (1945) reported Becker, south- Red Fox ern St. Louis, and Wadena counties as Specimens examined (6).—Devil Track Lake, 1; forming the northern limit for the species in Grand Marais, 1; 10 mi. N, 1 mi. E Hovland, 1; 1 Minnesota. Cahn (1921) and Johnson (1922) mi. S, 2 mi. W Lutsen, 1; 2 mi. S, 3 mi. W Lutsen, do not include Urocyon in their mammalian 1; Cook County [no specific locality], 1. faunal accounts of Itasca and Lake counties. Red foxes were common throughout Unpublished field notes written by W. J. Cook County during the study. The speci- Breckenridge state that the gray fox had not men from 10 mi. north and 1 mi. east of yet reached Cook County by 1938, whereas Hovland was a subadult male (weight 3 kg. his notes from 1947 provide two records for 30 the county. The first (MMNH 2331-a skin Rogers (pers. com.) has conducted an aute- only), referenced from Gunflint Lake, was cological study of bears in adjacent Lake taken on 24 November 1945. The second, County, where he concentrated on move- from Tofte, was not preserved or precisely ments and social structure. dated. The third gray fox known from the county was trapped in January of 1953 in T. Procyon lotor hirtus 62 N, R. 3 E [ca. 3 miles west of Hovlandl Nelson and Goldman, 1930 (M. Stenlund pers. com. to A. Erickson, 16 Raccoon March 1953). Rabbits, mice (Peromyscus and Micro- The raccoon evidently is uncommon in tus), and vegetation were found to be the Cook County. Records for the county in- primary food items for Urocyon in south- clude a reported sighting near Lutsen "sev- central Minnesota (Hatfield, 1939). Collec- eral years ago" and two males captured tively, these items comprised over 56% of during a separate study in traps set for tim- the total stomach contents. ber wolves (V. Van Ballenberghe, pers. com.). The first, taken in sec. 22, T. 61 N, R. Ursus americanus americanus Pallas, 1780 2 W on 27 July 1970, weighed about 7 kg. The second was trapped in sec. 8, T. 60 N, Black Bear R. 4 W on 7 August 1970. Most local trap- Specimens examined (3).—2/2 mi. N, 5 mi. E pers questioned had not taken or heard of Hovland, 1; Grand Marais, 1; 3/2 mi. W Schroeder, raccoons being taken in the area. Cahn 1. (1937) did not mention raccoons as being Additional record—17 mi. N, 1 mi. E Grand Marais (Aldous, 1937). found in Quetico Provincial Park, but Peter- son (1966) and Simkin (1966) reported a few Ursus americanus, the only bear found records from western Ontario. No specimen in Cook County in recent history, is com- of Procyon lotor from northeastern Minne- mon throughout northeastern Minnesota. sota has ever been preserved insofar as I Black bears often were encountered around could determine. garbage dumps and camp sites where they foraged. All dumps in the county apparent- Martes americana americana (Turton, 1806) ly are visited regularly by bears. The larg- est number observed by me at any one time Marten was 12, seen at the Tofte dump on 10 Au- Specimens examined (4).—Grand Marais Area gust 1972. This included a large adult fe- [no specific locality], 2; 1/2 mi. N Mineral Center, male and four young-of-the-year. In June of 1; Js mi. S, U mi. W Pigeon River, NW X sec. 29, T. 64 N, R. 6 E, 1. 1958 a sow and four cubs were photo- graphed at the same dump (Minneapolis Martens were once numerous through- Sunday Tribune, 24 August 1958 pp. 4-5 in out northern Minnesota (Swanson, 1945). Magazine Section). The modal litter size for By the early 1900's extensive trapping and black bears in this region is thought to be destruction of forests had reduced their three (L. L. Rogers, pers. com.). range in the state to the least accessible The three specimens examined are rep- areas near the Canadian boundary. Johnson resented only by skulls. Two were acquired (1922) found no evidence that they persisted from carcasses of adult black bears shot as in northern Lake County. By 1937 Cahn con- nuisances (male from 3M mi. west of sidered them extirpated from the Quetico Schroeder; female from 2/2 mi. north and 5 Provincial Park area of Ontario. From the mi. east of Hovland). The specimen from 1920's to 1953 there were only a few unveri- Grand Marais is an adult male obtained in fied trappers' reports of martens having 1880. been collected or of tracks having been seen Ursus americanus has been the subject in Minnesota, and all of these were in the of relatively more study than most mam- vicinity of the Canadian boundary. On 29 mals of this area. Aldous (1937) and Morse November 1953 a Mares americana was (1937) discussed hibernation and breeding trapped near the North Arm of Burntside of black bears in northeastern Minnesota. Lake (T. 64 N, R. 13 W) in St. Louis County A summary of black bear biology in the (Stenlund, 1954). Gunderson (1965) reported state was presented by Kinsey (1965) and the two specimens from the Grand Marais 31

area, which had been collected during the 8 mi. W Grand Marais, 1; Grand Portage Indian winter of 1961, and a fourth specimen that Reservation, 10; McFarland Lake, 15 mi. N, 3 mi. W Hovland, 1; M mi. S, 1& mi. W Lutsen, 1; 1& mi. had been trapped on 1 December 1963 near S, 3 mi. W Lutsen, 1; 1 mi. E Mineral Center, 1; Farm Lake in Lake County. Taconite Harbor, 1. The marten from Pigeon River was Additional records.—Grand Marais; 11 mi. N, trapped on 14 December 1972 in a mink set 3 mi. W Lutsen (A. Johnson pers. com. to H. L. baited with fish heads. It was a female Gunderson, 5 March 1948). young-of-the-year with no gross evidence of Martes pennanti is a common carnivore embryos. Remains of two short-tailed throughout Cook County. Trapping pres- shrews (Blarina brevicauda) and a red sure and habitat destruction during the late squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) with 1800's and the first half of this century badly worn cheek teeth were recovered greatly reduced the number of fishers in from the stomach and intestinal tract. The Minnesota and elsewhere. During the last marten from Mineral Center was a male twenty-five years they have made a strong young-of-the-year trapped by a professional comeback in the northeastern corner of the trapper in October of 1972. It is represented state, where they now are considered a only by the skull. The trapper indicated nuisance by some trappers. Surber (1932) that he had received $35.00 from a fur buy- stated that fishers were becoming scarce in er for the skin. He also spoke of a pine mar- northern Minnesota, and Cahn (1937) re- ten taken the previous winter (1971-72) near garded the species as "extremely rare" in Mineral Center. He believed it to be the Quetico Provincial Park, Ontario. Their in- first one obtained in the area for at least crease in numbers in northern Minnesota twenty-five years. A young-of-the-year male has been documented by Balser and Long- Martes americana having testes 8x4 mm. ley (1966). was trapped 8 mi. south and 3 mi. east of Twenty fishers from Cook County and a Babbitt, St. Louis County, on 4 December few specimens from adjacent Lake County 1972. Both martens from Cook County and were examined during this study. Addition- the one from St. Louis County were in fresh ally, a sight record was made at a place 6 winter pelage. Measurements of the only miles north and 1 mile west of Tofte on 20 available cranial materials preserved from May 1973. The carcasses of ten males and Minnesota are provided in Table 11. Unfor- six females were obtained from trappers tunately, the two specimens from near during the 1972-73 trapping season. Fol- Grand Marais are represented only by lowing the criteria set forth by Wright and skins. Coulter (1967), nine (five males and four There have been numerous sightings of females) were judged to be young-of-the- martens by local residents in northeastern year and the other seven (two males and Minnesota since 1971. These include one at five females) were adults. An adult female 2)2 mi. north and 2 mi. west of Grand Marais killed on 6 March 1973 contained a single in the early spring of 1972 and one at Mc- embryo 44 mm. long, whereas young-of-the- Farland Lake during the winter of 1972-73. year females did not appear to be pregnant. These two probably are valid, but insuffi- Testes measurements for an adult male cient background information is available killed on 18 February 1968, were 22 mm. in for the others to evaluate their validity. Al- length; those of one taken on 26 December though actually or nearly extirpated from 1972 were 22 X 18 mm. A road-killed juve- the state, the marten has made a remarkable nile male found on 7 July 1972 had com- comeback in recent years as indicated by plete milk dentition with only the emerging the increased number of sightings and of tips of the first premolars (both uppers and specimens collected. However, it still must lowers) visible in the jaws. be considered as rare in the state and in An albino male Martes pennanti need of complete protection. (MMNH 5024) was trapped 10 miles north of Grand Marais on 13 October 1960. A sec- ond albino fisher was obtained near Grand Martes pennanti pennanti (Erxleben, 1777) Marais during the 1973-74 trapping season, Fisher but unfortunately this individual could not Specimens examined (20).—10 mi. N Grand be obtained. Approximate percentage of Marais, 1; Near Grand Marais, 2; Grand Marais, 1; occurrence of food species in the stomachs 32

TABLE 10. Stomach contents of six Martes pennanti from Cook County, Minnesota.

Specimen Percentage Sex Date Food Species Number by Volume

12233 early February 1973 Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed deer) 50% Blarina brevicauda (Short-tailed shrew) 25% Condylura cristata (Star-nosed mole) 12.5% Accipiter striatus (Sharp-shinned hawk) 12.5% 12235 $ 6 March 1973 Lepus americanus (Snowshoe hare) 100% 12240 S Fall 1973 Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (Red squirrel) 100%

12241 c? Fall 1973 Odocoileus virginianus 33.3% Blarina brevicauda 33.3% Bonasa umbellus (Ruffed grouse) 33.3%

12242 t? Fall 1973 Odocoileus virginianus 100% 12390 c? 10 October 1969 Bonasa umbellus 100%

of six fall and winter trapped fishers is habits of short-tailed weasels in Lake of the shown in Table 10. The high incidence of Woods and St. Louis counties. insectivores (Blarina brevicauda and Con- None of the female Mustela erminea dylura cristata) is of interest because other collected displayed evidence of previous studies have found that insectivores com- reproductive activity. Testicular measure- prise only a minor portion of the fisher's ments of adult males include: 9 mm., 11 diet. White-tailed deer and ruffed grouse August 1966; 5 mm., 11 August 1966; 8X4 probably were consumed as carrion. mm., 4 August 1972; 5x4 mm., 1 Septem- ber 1972; and 7X4 mm., 12 December 1972. Short-tailed weasels in July and Au- Mustela erminea bangsi Hall, 1945 gust had complete summer pelage whereas Short-tailed Weasel (Ermine) one from 12 December 1972 was in com- plete winter pelage. A male young-of-the- Specimens examined (16).—Cascade Lake [ = Big Cascade Lake], 2; 15 mi. N, 1 mi. E year obtained on 1 September 1972 was just Grand Marais, 1; 2 mi. N, 4 mi. E Grand Marais, beginning molt into the winter pelage, al- 1; North Shore, W of Grand Marais, 2; 6 mi. W beit three others respectively from 1 Sep- Grand Marais, 1; Grand Marais, 2 (UMMZ); 2 mi. tember 1966, and 14 and 16 September 1921 S", 1 mi. W Grand Portage, 1; 4 mi. N, 1 mi. E had not begun the autumnal molt. Dental Hovand, 1; 3» mi. S, 1 mi. W Hovland, 1; 2 mi. S, 4 mi. W Hovland, 1; 1 mi. E Mineral Center, 1; abnormalities noted for adult Mustela er- & mi. S, K mi. W Pigeon River, NW & sec. 29, T. minea include an adult male with pi missing 64 N, R.6E, 1; Tofte, 1. from the left dentary, an adult female with Additional record—Grand Marais (Hall, 1951). pi missing from both dentaries, and an The short-tailed weasel is without a adult male with an aberrant incisor on the doubt the most abundant carnivore in left dentary. This tooth, i3, erupted slightly northeastern Minnesota and probably is the anterior and labial to the canine. It is no- most abundant carnivore throughout most ticeably larger than a normal incisor but of the state. It was collected in a variety of smaller than the canine. The aberrant in- habitats including cat-tail marshes; aspen, cisor apparently pressured the canine dur- balsam fir, and white spruce forests; open ing growth in such a way that it is posterior meadows; and in low lying white-cedar in placement to the corresponding right swamps. Mustela erminea probably occurs canine. A large indentation is formed in the within all natural habitat types within the maxillary and premaxillary bones where the county. Weasels of this species were com- influxed canine rests when the jaw is ar- mon in Lake County (Johnson, 1922), Sher- ticulated. This malformity apparently had burne County (Bailey, 1929), across the little or no effect on the weasel's hunting northern tier of counties in Minnesta (Al- ability as the animal was in excellent con- dous and Manweiler, 1942), and in Quetico dition when captured and the mandibles Provincial Park (Cahn, 1937). Aldous and articulate in an apparently normal manner Manweiler (1942) discussed the winter food with the cranium. 33

TABLE 11. Cranial measurements (individual or mean and range) for five species of mustelids from northern and central Minnesota. All specimens are from Cook County unless specified otherwise.

Catalog Length of Number or Condylobasal Zygomatic Postorbital Mastoidal Maxillary N and Sex Length Breadth Constriction Breadth Toothrow Martes americana americana 11/2 mi. N Mineral Center 12168 cf 82.5 42.3 17.2 35.5 30.1 1 1 /a mi. S, /4 mi. W Pigeon River, NW Va sec. 29, T. 64 N, R. 6 E 12169 ? 75.0 40.6 17.3 32.6 28.3 8 mi. S, 3 mi. E Babbit, St. Louis County 12170 c? 79.2 41.2 17.4 33.9 29.2 Near Ely, S of Farm Lake, in Lake County 5963 c? 77.7 41.2 17.7 33.9 29.2

Martes pennanti pennanti $9 99.9(98.2-102.8) 55.7(54.2-57.6) 20.1(19.2-21.1) 46.3(45.9-46.6) 38.2(37.2-39.6) dc? 113.7(106.0-121.9) 65.4(59.0-80.7) 21.5(1 7.5-25.3) 53.9(49.4-57.9) 44.8(40.6-47.9)

Mustela erminea bangsi

$$ 31.3(31.1-31.4) 17.0(16.9-17.1) 9.0(8.8-9.1) 15.8(15.5-16.1) 11.0(10.5-11.5) Jd 37.6(36.1-40.0) 21.8(20.1-23.0) 10.9(10.8-11.0) 19.2(18.1-20.7) 13.3(12.3-13.9)

Mustela vison Cook County 63.5(60.2-66.6) 36.4(34.6-38.9) 12.9(11.2-13.8) 32.3(30.3-33.8) 20.8(19.8-21.7) 59.2(57.9-60.3) 32.9(32.3-33.4) 11.2(10.4-12.3) 28.8(28.4-29.3) 19.2(19.2-19.3) St. Louis County

Anoka County rfc? 69.8(66.9-72.1) 40.8(36.8-43.4) 14.0(12.0-14.9) 35.8(32.9-37.1) 22.8(21.9-23.3) ?? 61.0(58.5-62.8) 34.6(33.6-35.7) 12.7(12.1-14.0) 30.1(29.9-31.6) 19.5(18.8-20.4)

Lontra canadensis canadensis St. Louis County 104.7(101.5-109.1) 66.0(64.7-67.3) 20.7(17.9-22.4) 62.6(60.2-65.1) 35.8(33.6-37.3)

Short-tailed weasels from Cook County Eleven of twelve skulls examined from represent an intergradation between M. er- the county contained obvious damage from minea bangsi, a large midwestern race, and the parasitic sinus nematode, Skrjabingylus M. erminea cicognanii, a smaller subspecies nasicola. The lesions produced by Skrjabin- found throughout sotheastern Canada and gylus varied from minute to complete de- northeastern United States. All short-tailed terioration of the supraorbital process. weasels from Minnesota were assigned to Megabothris asio, a common flea on small M. erminea bangsi by Hall (1951); however, mammals, was the only ectoparasite recov- Hall and Kelson (1959) included Cook ered from Mustela erminea. County within the range of M. erminea ci- cognanii. Selected measurements (see Table Mustela nivalis rixosa (Bangs, 1896) 11) are intermediate between corresponding measurements for M. erminea bangsi and Least Weasel (Weasel) M. erminea cicognanii as described by Hall There are no verified records of the least (1951), but average slightly closer to those weasel in northeastern Minnesota; however, of the larger M. erminea bangsi. Therefore, it undoubtedly is present there. In his field short-tailed weasels from Cook County are notes from the Lake Saganaga area written assigned to that subspecies. in 1937, Breckenridge reported that profes- 34 sional trappers indicated "that the large area), and the third from Anoka County in Long-tailed Weasel was taken frequently south-central Minnesota. All individuals here and that the Least Weasel also oc- measured had been obtained in November curred in varying numbers. The Short-tailed or December. Cranial measurements of the is the commonest." Swanson and Fryklund series from Cook County are considerably (1935) described a population eruption of smaller than those from Anoka County; this species in northwestern Minnesota. measurements of the series from St. Louis County are intermediate in size between Mustela vison lacustris (Preble, 1902) those of the northern and southern samples (Table 11). Mink It appears that mink in northeastern Specimens examined (12).—Within 14 mi. radi- Minnesota may best be referred to the east- us N and W of Grand Marais, 7; Grand Portage, 1; Grand Portage Indian Reservation, 3; 4 mi. N, ern subspecies, Mustela vison vison. The mi. E Lutsen, 1. cranial measurements from the Cook Coun- ty series agree closely with those of that Mustela vison is one of the most abun- subspecies (from Hollister, 1913), whereas dant carnivores found in northeastern Min- Hollister's sample from south-central Min- nesota, being second in abundance only to nesota (Elk River and Fort Snelling) agree the short-tailed weasel, and is the most closely to the Anoka County series; his common fur-bearer trapped each winter. In measurements of Mustela vison lacustris are addition to the twelve specimens obtained considerably larger than any of the Minne- from trappers, mink were seen twice during sota specimens. I reserve assigning the mink the summer of 1972; once at a place 19 mi. from Cook County unequivocally to M. north and 3 mi. west of Grand Marais, and vison vison until specimens to the east of at a place 1 mi. north and % mi. east of Lut- this study area are examined. sen. Mink were found to be common also in northern Lake County (Johnson, 1922) and Gulo gulo luscus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Ontario (Cahn, 1937). The mink from this region have been Wolverine assigned to the northern subspecies, Mus- The wolverine undoubtedly occurred in tela vison lacustris, although until the pres- Cook County in recent history; however, ent study they have not been examined cri- there exists a paucity of information con- tically. Hollister (1913) characterized M. cerning this mustelid in Minnesota and no vison lacustris as being larger and darker records are available for the county. John- than the more southern race, M. vison leti- son (1923) reported that in 1918 a fur buyer fera, which he described from Elk River, purchased a wolverine skin thought to be Minnesota. Mustela vison vison, smallest of from the northern portion of either Lake or the American mink, was listed originally as St. Louis County. Peterson (1966) recorded being found from central Ontario south to a specimen taken in 1955 in Ontario, just Lake Superior and east. The problems of north of Cook County. Records of wolver- geographic variation in this species and our ines in Minnesota were summarized by lack of knowledge of this subject were Swanson (1945) and Bimey (1974). pointed out by Hollister (1913) and Peter- son (1966). Mephitis mephitis hudsonica On separate occasions, two individuals Richards, 1829 (a game warden and a professional trapper) who had no professional training in mam- Striped Skunk malogy but who had a great deal of field Specimens examined (2).—2 mi. N, 4 mi. E experience with furbearers, volunteered the Grand Marais, 1; 1 mi. S, 2ft mi. W Grand Marais, information that mink from this region were 1. much smaller than those found in the Mephitis mephitis is represented from southern part of the state. Their observa- Cook County by two adults of unknown sex tions were substantiated later by examina- found on U.S. Highway 61 near the north tion of three series of mink skulls, the first shore of Lake Superior. A few sight records from the study area, the second from St. were reported by local residents and a Louis County (west and south of the study trapper mentioned having trapped one 35

"some years ago" along East Bearskin Lake Additional records.—Near Grand Marais- Sec. (approximately 20 mi. north and 3 mi. east 23, T. 61 N, R. 1 W (Bell Museum Documents). of Grand Marais). Johnson (1922) reported Lynx canadensis was abundant in Cook a female taken in northeastern Lake County County and throughout northeastern Min- in 1912. This species is not common in the nesota during this study. Mech (1973b) at- county. tributed the density peak in northern Min- Lontra canadensis canadensis nesota during the years 1972 and 1973 to (Schreder, 1776) dispersal from high populations in adjacent portions of Canada. The extreme fluctua- River Otter tions in numbers of this species are well This large, semi-aquatic mustelid was documented, although poorly understood. originally common throughout Minnesota, Long term records kept by the Hudson Bay but trapping greatly reduced its numbers. Company indicate that lynx population Johnson (1922) considered river otters un- densities fluctuate or "cycle" on an approxi- common in Lake County, but in 1937 Cahn mate ten year basis (Keith, 1963). thought they were increasing in numbers in A professional trapper on the Grand adjacent Ontario. In apparent response to a Portage Indian Reservation noted that the carefully regulated trapping season in the first lynx trapped in his area for several state, otters have increased in numbers and years was taken in the winter of 1971-72, are again common in northeastern Minne- and that he already had trapped five lynx sota. No river otter was collected during the in the 1972-73 season by the 28th of De- course of this study, but sight records were cember 1972. Numerous records of lynx made on two separate occasions. Three were reported from the county during 1972 Lontra canadensis were seen crossing a and early 1973. By fall of 1973 a decline in road at approximately 10/2 mi. north and 6 the population was suggested by the few mi. west of Schroeder, and several individ- lynx being reported by trappers and the uals were seen on the Pigeon River (SW lA scarcity of sightings. Unpublished records sec. 20, T. 64 N, R. 6 E). The two conserva- in the Bell Museum indicate that lynx were tion officers in the county tagged respec- abundant in northern Minnesota in the early tively, 22 and 53 river otters during the 1960s; the Museum obtained one in 1960, 1972 and 1973 trapping seasons (Longley, one in 1961, and 18 during the winter of pers. com.). However, these figures do not 1962-63. Additional records are available represent the exact harvest of river otters in for the early 1950's, but none was obtained the county during these years because some from 1954 through 1959 nor from 1964 of those tagged actually were trapped in through 1971. eastern Lake County and none of those The six L. canadensis examined from the trapped on the Grand Portage Indian Res- county, five males and one female, are all ervation was tagged. adults obtained during the winter of 1972- Use of the generic name Lontra follows 73. The female possessed two corpora albi- van Zyll de Jong's (1972) recent revision of cantia in each ovary in January 1973. Only New World river otters. He examined only one distinct placental scar was present. A four specimens from Minnesota, all from the male obtained in October of 1972 weighed southern portion of the state. He assigned 12.0 kg., and was molting into the winter these to the western subspecies, Lontra pelage. Contents of four stomachs included canadensis pacifica, but he assigned speci- the following foods: Lepus americanus mens from the Thunder Bay District of On- (100% of contents of two stomachs), Odo- tario to the eastern subspecies, L. c. cana- coileus virginianus (100% of contents of a densis; otters in Cook County thus are as- single stomach), and L. americanus and signed to the nominate subspecies on the traces of raven (Corvus cor ax) (one basis of geography. stomach). Selected cranial measurements, including mean, range, and N, of the female Lynx canadensis canadensis Kerr, 1792 followed by those for the males are: greatest length of skull, -; 128.3 mm., (122.0-133.2), Lynx 4; zygomatic breadth, 85.0 mm.; 88.3 mm., Specimens examined (6).—Grand Portage In- (86.5-91.5), 5; least interorbital constric- dian Reservation, 4; 2 mi. N Mineral Center, 1; 18 tion, 27.3 mm.; 28.2 mm., (27.0-29.6), 5; mi. N, 2 mi. W Schroeder, 1. 36 mastoidal breadth, —; 56.4 mm., (54.3 — canines are roughly equal in size, each 58.5), 2; length of maxillary toothrow, 39.4 being 11-12 mm. in length. DP 3 is still mm.; 42.1 mm., (39.8-43.3), 5. In addition present although P 3 is visible; P 4 has re- to the six specimens examined, a sight rec- placed DP 4 but is not fully erupted. The ord was noted during the summer of 1972 lacteal canines have been lost from the at a place 18& mi. north and 2 mi. west of mandible, where the permanent set was Grand Marais. erupting. The deciduous lower premolars The taxonomic position of the New remain in place, with no sign of the perma- World lynx is not well understood. Rausch nent premolars (see also Rollings, 1945). (1953) and Kurten and Rausch (1959) dis- The second specimen from Grand Marais is cussed the relationship between the New an adult of unknown sex, probably a male World lynx, Lynx canadensis, and the Old based on size. A young male from Tofte, World lynx, Lynx lynx, and suggested that obtained on 21 January 1958, has complete they may be conspecific. If this proves true, adult dentition, although P 3 and P 4 are then canadensis would be reduced to a not fully erupted. Saunders (1964) has subspecies of the Holarctic species Lynx shown that the permanent canines of Lynx lynx. Lynx canadensis is recognized here as canadensis erupt at five to six months of a distinct species until a complete revision age. of this group sheds more light on the prob- Rollings (1945) found snowshoe hares, lem. Many European workers, including white-tailed deer (both carrion and freshly Ellerman and Morrison-Scott (1951), do not killed), and porcupines to provide the main recognize the genus Lynx for this group of diet of bobcats in the northeastern and felids, but rather feel they are congeneric north-central parts of the state. One speci- with cats of the genus Felis. men from Grand Marais contained porcu- pine quills in the stomach, according to data with the specimen. In a separate study, Lynx rufus superiorensis Lepus americanus was found to be the main Peterson and Downing, 1952 food of bobcats in northern Minnesota Bobcat (Petraborg and Gunvalson, 1962). Specimens examined (3).—N of Grand Marais along'Gunflint Trail, 2; Tofte, 1. ORDER ARTIODACTYLA Lynx rufus probably was not found in Odocoileus virginianus borealis the coniferous forest zone of northern Min- (Miller, 1900) nesota before settlement of the state by White-tailed Deer European man. Habitat manipulation by Specimens examined (6).—Schroeder. man undoubtedly has led to northward range expansion of this species (de Vos, White-tailed deer were found through- 1964; Peterson, 1966). Surber (1932) con- out Cook County in 1972, but they could sidered southern Lake and St. Louis coun- not be considered abundant. All available ties as the northern limit of bobcats in the evidence indicates that Odocoileus virgini- state. W. J. Breckenridge's field notes for anus did not occur in Cook County until the the winter of 1936-37 state that several bob- late 1800's. Heavy logging and forest fires cats were collected in the Grand Marais removed much of the dense coniferous for- area, but Cahn (1937) found them extreme- est, and subsequent growth of deciduous ly rare in Quetico Provincial Park, Ontario. vegetation allowed this species to increase Rollings (1945) thought the bobcat had ex- its range to cover all of the state by the panded its range since 1900 to include all early 1900's. Karns (1967) documented the of northeastern Minnesota. rapid increase of deer in northeastern Min- The two specimens from Grand Marais nesota from 1900 through the 1930's. Petra- were obtained by C. T. Rollings as part of borg and Burcalow (1965) thought deer had his Master's degree research on food habits become common throughout northeastern of bobcats. One of these, a young-of-the-year Minnesota by 1920. The peak density of trapped on 24 November 1939, was under- Minnesota's deer herd was reached during going replacement of the deciduous denti- the 1930's. Since that time there has been a tion. The lacteal and the permanent upper continuing decline in the population, which 37 is a predictable result of natural deteriora- of the area by European man. Idstrom tion of the range resulting from succession (1965) thought they were completely re- (Karns, 1967; Petraborg and Burcalow, placed by caribou in Cook and Lake coun- 1965). ties, whereas other authors concluded they Six O. virginianus were examined after had been present in low numbers through- having been killed by cars near Schroeder out this area (Johnson, 1916; Surber, 1932; between 1 and 15 April 1972. Each of four Peek, 1971). It is certain that moose are adult females carried a single, near-term more numerous in the county now than fetus. The skull of one female was saved. they were before logging began in the late White-tailed deer occasionally were ob- 1800's. Surber (1945) noted several extreme served during the summers of 1972 and fluctuations in moose populations in Cook 1973, but they were not common. Several County between 1922 and 1943. winter deer yards are located along the Twenty-five moose were taken by hunt- north shore of Lake Superior (Erickson et ers in Cook County in 1971, during the first al, 1961). This area has less snowfall be- hunting season on moose held in Minnesota cause of the moderating effect of the lake in several decades. Although hunting statis- on the local climate. The annual migration tics for Cook County alone were not avail- of O. virginianus to these yards tends to able for the 1972 season, a total of 159 concentrate deer where human density is moose was registered from Cook and Lake highest in the county, resulting in increased counties (W. H. Longley, pers. com. ). The mortality of deer from both cars and dogs. single specimen of Alces alces examined Herds of 15 or more frequently are seen from the county, represented only by a along Highway 61 during the winter, par- skull, is that of an adult bull obtained in ticularly in areas where they are fed by 1938 by Carl Meyer. Five moose were ob- humans. served during the summers of 1971 and Byman (1972) found white-tailed deer, 1972: 3 mi. north and 1 mi. west of Hov- especially young of the year, to be the prin- land; 15 mi. north and 3 mi. east of Lutsen; cipal food item of Canis lupus throughout 15 mi. north and 4/2 mi. east of Lutsen; 2 mi. the year. He concluded that wolf predation west of Mineral Center; and 37 mi. north may limit the deer population in northeast- and 14 mi. east of Schroeder. ern Minnesota. An analysis of age and state Natural history and management of of health of deer killed by wolves during moose in this area were studied by Surber winter months showed that individuals old- (1940), Peterson (1953), Karns (1967), Peek er than the population average and debili- (1971; 1974), and Van Ballenberghe and tated and abnormal deer often fall prey to Peek (1971). Densities of 2-5 moose per wolves (Mech et al, 1971a). square mile were reported in the Isabella For information on management and area (Lake County) by Peek (1971). The numbers of deer in this area consult Burca- dynamics of moose aggregations were stud- low and Marshall (1958), Erickson et al. ied by Peek et al, (1974). Byman (1972) (1961), Fashingbauer and Moyle (1963), found Alces to be a primary food item of Petraborg and Burcalow (1965), and Wetzel wolves in this area. (1972). Rangifer tarandus sylvestris Alces dices andersoni Peterson, 1950 (Richardson, 1829) Moose Caribou Specimen examined (1).—Grand Marais. Specimen examined (1).—Tuscarora Lake. Additional record.—Temperance River (Peter- Caribou were once common throughout son, 1952). much of northern Minnesota, but have been The moose, a circumpolar cervid, is the extirpated from the state by man. Surber largest mammal in Cook County. Moose (1932) reported that they had been common were considered common in the area by all in the greater part of Cook County until residents questioned. There is some ques- 1885. Breckenridge (1949) stated that the tion as to the distribution of Alces alces in caribou was present along the North Shore northeastern Minnesota prior to settlement in 1890 and disappeared soon afterwards, 38

but occasional individuals were noted as the borders of Cook County. The eastern late as 1913 (Fashingbauer, 1965). Johnson cottontail was reported for Cook County by (1922) reported a sight record from the Gunderson and Beer (1953) on the strength Sawbill Lake area in 1917, and a herd of of a sight record; however, examination of about 20 animals was observed along Gun- their files used in preparation of The flint Lake from 1916 through 1925 (Hatton, Mammals of Minnesota revealed that this 1919; Peck, 1928). One of the last sightings record was hearsay and that they doubted near the North Shore was that of a single its validity at the time. Nevertheless, it was individual seen near Hovland in 1924 published as an authentic sighting. Addi- (Anonymous, 1924). tional records have been noted for Duluth The specimen from Tuscarora Lake (T. (Swanson, 1945) and elsewhere in St. Louis 64 N, R. 4-5 W) is a partial antler that was County (Breckenridge, unpubl.). It is pos- donated to the museum by Mr. Charles Ott, sible the eastern cottontail may be found in a former state conservation officer. It had Cook County in the future, especially the been gnawed on by rodents before being southwestern portion, but it is doubtful they found during the winter of 1935-1936, but exist there now. date of the animal's death is unknown. Lepus europeaus hybridus Desmarest, 1822 Species of Unverified Occurrence Sorexfumeusfumeus (Miller, 1895) European Hare Smoky Shrew The European hare first was introduced Although there are no records of Sorex into Ontario in 1912 as a game animal. Sub- fumeus from Minnesota, it is conceivable sequent introductions aided in the rapid that the species may be found in the ex- expansion of the range of Lepus europeaus treme northeastern corner of the state. Spe- within the province (Reynolds, 1955). Allin cimens from several localities in the Thun- (1950) recorded introductions of European der Bay District of Ontario denote the hares during the 1940's at localities only 40 western and southwestern documented lo- miles northeast of the United States-Canad- calities of record for the smoky shrew (An- ian border near the present city of Thunder derson, 1946; Prince, 1941). Bay in the District of Thunder Bay, On- tario. European hares apparently did not Microsorex hoyi hoyi (Baird, 1857) survive along the north and west shore of Lake Superior as none has been seen in the Pygmy Shrew area since 1949 (Dean and de Vos, 1965). Occurrence of pygmy shrews has not There are no specimens of L. europeaus been documented within the borders of known from Minnesota. Cook County, but they undoubtedly live there. Specimens have been recorded from Sciurus niger rufiv enter Ely, St. Louis County (Cahn, 1937); Itasca E. Geoffroy St.-Hilaire, 1803 State Park, Clearwater County (Quimby, 1943); and Quetico Provincial Park, Ontario Fox Squirrel (Cahn, 1937). Although Rom (1940) re- No evidence of the occurrence of Sciurus ported three specimens of a small shrew niger in Cook County was uncovered dur- obtained near Kekekabic Lake in north- ing this study When questioned, residents eastern Lake County as Microsorex hoyi, it were certain that this squirrel does not oc- is doubtful they represented that species cur in the area at present, and they doubted (Heaney and Birney, 1975). It is most likely that it ever occurred there. Gunderson and that his specimens were Sorex cinereus, Beer (1953) reported a sight record of a fox which is extremely abundant and superfi- squirrel for the county, but gave no further cially resembles the pygmy shrew. details. Hall and Kelson (1959) subsequent- ly reported it as a northeastern record for Sylvilagus floridanus mearnsi S. n. rufiventer. A specimen from one mile (J. A. Allen, 1894) south of Barnum, Carlton County (MMNH Eastern Cottontail 3708), represents the northeasternmost lo- No indication was found that Sylvilagus cality of verified occurrence of fox squirrels floridanus occurs or ever did occur within in Minnesota. 39

Phenacomys intermedins celatus the harsh winters and become permanently Merriam, 1889 established as far north as Cook County. Heather Vole Feral Myocastor have been reported in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota The single specimen of a heather vole (Gunderson, 1955), and in the District of from Minnesota was obtained by Shaler Al- Thunder Bay, Ontario (Allin, 1955). dous in 1940. Swanson (1945) and Gunder- son and Beer (1953) reported this specimen Mustelafrenata spadix (Bangs, 1896) as a rock vole, Microtus chrotorrhinus, but Handley (1954) reidentified it as Phena- Long-tailed Weasel comys intermedius. The locality of the spe- The only records of the long-tailed wea- cimen's origin is uncertain; the label and sel in Cook County are in the field notes of first published citation of the record denote W. J. Breckenridge. He wrote that long- Ely [St. Louis County] as the locality of tailed weasels were taken frequently in 1937 capture. However, Aldous' field notes indi- in the Lake Saganaga area of the north- cate that it was obtained at the Lake States western corner of the county. This may be Experimental Forest in Lake County. It is the sight record reported by Gunderson and not unlikely that heather voles occur within Beer (1953). The nearest verified records in the borders of Cook County, perhaps in Minnesota are from St. Louis County. John- populations of restricted size within dis- son (1922) did not mention long-tailed wea- continuous areas of suitable habitat. Num- sels in Lake County and Cahn (1937) re- erous collectors have spent a great deal of ported the species as extremely uncommon, time searching for this species in Minnesota but present in Quetico Provincial Park. without success. If this species is present in the state, its populations must be small and Felis concolor Kerr, 1792 isolated. Mountain Lion Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758 It is questionable whether or not Felis concolor has ever lived in Cook County. A House Mouse skull obtained by E. T. Seton from the Du- No records of this introduced murid are luth area in the early 1900's represents the available from northeastern Minnesota, but, northeastern most and possibly the last veri- notwithstanding extensive efforts made to fied record of a mountain lion in Minne- obtain house mice by trapping dumps and sota. Hall and Kelson (1959) cited two rec- other habitats thought to be suitable, it ords from Ontario, but these were only un- probably occurs there. Johnson (1922) made supported sight records. Numerous sight- no mention of this species in his discussions ings of mountain lions have been reported of rodents from neighboring Lake County. from northern Minnesota, Manitoba, and Peterson (1966) mapped several localities of Ontario (Bue and Stenlund, 1952, 1953; record for Mus musculus along Lake Su- Dear, 1955; Thomson, 1974); unfortunately perior in Ontario and Cahn (1937) described none of these is supported by tangible the species as common in Quetico Provin- documentation. A specimen of Felis con- cial Park. color was obtained recently in Manitoba (Nero, 1974). It is possible that mountain Myocastor coypus bonariensis lions are in Minnesota, either as occasional (E. Geoffroy St.-Hilaire, 1805) transients or as residents in low numbers. For example, several persons, including at Nutria least one experienced field biologist, work- The nutria, an aquatic caviomorph ro- ing at the University of Minnesota's Itasca dent intermediate in size between beavers Field Biology Station in Clearwater County and muskrats, was introduced from South reported sighting a mountain lion on sever- America and has been raised for its fur in al occasions during the summer of 1972. this country and in Canada. Individuals that Nevertheless, documentation is lacking, have escaped or have been released occa- most sightings were made at night, and the sionally are found living outside of captiv- probability seems high that the animals ob- ity, but it is unlikely that they could survive served were not Felis concolor. 40

Cervus elaphus canadensis Erxleben, 1777 out the state. On the other hand, Murie (1951) did not include northeastern Minne- Wapiti or Elk sota in his estimate of the pre-Columbian There is some question as to whether or distribution of elk. Cahn (1937) had two not elk were ever a part of the fauna of ex- separate records of antlers found just north treme northeastern Minnesota. No early lit- of the United States border in Ontario, and erature records make specific reference to Murie (1951) cited a single record from the this species in the area, although Johnson central part of that province. (1916) described the elk as ranging through

Analysis of Parasite Fauna hosts in Cook County (Table 14). Fleas are extremely mobile parasites and are found Parasitic arthropods were found on 20 often on a wide variety of hosts, although species of small mammals in Cook County. they usually require specific hosts to com- The groups of arthropods included Ano- plete their life cycle. Four species of fleas plura (sucking lice), Siphonaptera (fleas), are reported from Minnesota for the first Acari (mites, chiggers, and ticks). Host- time: Stenoponia americana, Atyphloceras parasite records are presented for 23 spe- bishopi, Tamiophila grandis, Nearctopsylla cies of fleas, 11 species of mites, 6 species of genalis, and Peromyscopsylla hamifera. A sucking lice, and 3 species of ticks. single specimen of Ctenocephalides felis, Mites and chiggers were found parasit- the common cat flea, is known from the izing 18 species of small mammals (Table county. This flea is found commonly on 12). Mites are usually associated with a domestic cats and dogs, and occasionally single taxon of hosts; however, some may be on wild carnivores. Ctenocephalides canis, found on a wide range of hosts (e.g., Andro- the common dog flea, is to be expected also laelaps fahrenholzi). During this study, in this area although none was obtained. seven species of mites were recorded from Six species of sucking lice were found on Minnesota for the first time: Myonyssus seven species of hosts (Table 15). In gener- jamesoni, Eulaelaps stabularis, Haemo- al, the Anoplura are host-specific; however, gamasus reidi, Hirstionyssus isabellinus, Hoplopleura acanthopus is found on several Hirstionyssus talpae, Laelaps alaskensis, species of microtine rodents. During this and Laelaps kochi. This large number of study, it was found commonly on both new state records reflects the lack of atten- Clethrionomys gapperi and Microtus penn- tion that mites have received from collec- sylvanicus. tors in this area. Also, new host records are In examining the entire ectoparasite reported for six species of mites as follows: fauna of a mammalian community, three Androlaelaps fahrenholzi, Eulaelaps stabu- primary and two secondary categories of laris, and Hirstionyssus talpae parasitizing parasites can be identified: 1) taxa-specific Condylura cristata; Eulaelaps stabularis parasites, including a) species-specific parasitizing Clethrionomys gapperi; Hae- parasites (e.g., Anoplura) and b) parasites mogamasus ambulans and Hirstionyssus associated with higher taxa (e.g., Orcho- isabellinus on Synaptomys cooperi; and peas caedens, a flea found on squirrels Haemogamasus liponyssoides on Zapus [Sciuridae]; 2) habitat-specific parasites, hudsonius. found on unrelated hosts that occupy simi- Of the three species of ticks found para- lar habitats (e.g., Ctenophthalmus pseuda- sitizing small mammals in Cook County gyrtes); and 3) cosmopolitan parasites found (Table 13), two species (Ixodes angustus on diverse taxa and in a wide variety of and I. muris) were found commonly on a habitats (e.g., Androlaelaps fahrenholzi). variety of hosts, whereas, the third (Haema- The hypothesis that the natural classifi- physalis leporispalustris) is a rabbit tick. cation of certain groups of parasites paral- Ixodes angustus was identified as being lels that of their hosts was proposed first by parasitic on Microtus chrotorrhinus for the H. Fahrenholz in the late 1800's. Fahren- first time. holz drew his conclusions concerning phy- Twenty-three species of fleas were found logenetic parallelism of parasites and hosts associated with 18 species of mammalian while working on feather-mites (Acarina), 41

TABLE 12. Mites and chiggers found on some mammals from Cook County, Minnesota.

\ CO \ LU § 5 \ 1- liponyssoides \ W ambulans CO isabellinus talpae fahrenhoizi 3 \ < «

jamesoni CO americanus

\ < stabularis Q E \ " co kochi CD alaskensis o E CD CO Myonyssus Eulaelaps Labidophorida e Androlaelaps Haemogamasus Haemogamasus Trombiculida e Hirstionyssus Laelaps HOSTS \ 3: Hirstionyssus Laelaps Spinturnix j

Sorex arcticus X So rex cinereus X Sorex palustris X Blarina brevicauda X X X X X X Condylura cristata X X X X Myotis lucifugus X X Tamias striatus X X Eutamias minimus X Marmota monax X Tamiasciurus hudsonicus X X X Glaucomys sabrinus X Peromyscus maniculatus X X X X Clethrionomys gapperi X X X X X Microtus chrotorrhinus X X Microtus pennsylvanicus X X X X X X X X Synaptomys cooperi X X X Zapus hudsonius X X X Napaeozapus insignis X X

but later hypothesized that it should be should enter a close association with the valid for both the sucking lice (Anoplura) ancestral host after which both would and the chewing lice (Mallophaga). Eichler evolve and speciate together. Thus specia- (1948) later proposed the term "Fahren- tion and specializations in the host would holz's Rule" for this hypothesis and coined be paralleled by those of its parasites. the following definition: "In groups of per- Although numerous individuals have manent parasites the classification of the discussed utilizing the classification of vari- parasites usually corresponds directly with ous groups of ectoparasites as a taxonomic the natural relationships of the hosts." This tool in the classification of their vertebrate work has remained unknown to most verte- hosts (see Clay, 1970; Ferris, 1951; Hopkins, brate taxonomists and, more surprisingly, to 1949; Jameson and Dusbabek, 1971; taxonomists working with the various Rothschild and Clay, 1957; and others), lit- groups of parasitic invertebrates despite the tle progress has been made. Two notable fact they have been utilizing and expanding exceptions exist: Machado-Allison (1967) on the original idea put forth by Fahren- examined the parasitic bat mites of the holz. family Spinturnicidae (Acarina: Mesostig- At the basis of the theory is the assump- mata) and proposed that the vampire bats tion that at some point in the evolutionary (three monotypic genera: Desmodus, Diae- history of host and parasite the parasite mus, and Diphylla) were more closely re- 42

TABLE 13. Ticks (Ixodidae) found on some mam- inae be ranked as a family rather than a mals from Cook County, Minnesota. subfamily of the Phyllostomatidae, and that the desmodontids are most closely related to the subfamily Phyllostomatinae of the Phyllostomatidae. They also discussed sev- eral other points in the taxonomy of the or- der Chiroptera that have yet to be investi- gated by mammalogists. Thus, through thorough examination of two separate groups of ectoparasites, two separate inves- tigations drew similar conclusions and shed considerable light on the relationships be- tween different mammalian taxa. I felt it would be interesting to expand on this idea and examine the ectoparasitic fauna of a mammalian community to see Sorex arcticus X what general relationships, if any, existed Sorex palustris X between the parasites and their hosts. Hosts Blarina brevicauda X and parasites obtained during this study Condylura cristata X proved ideal for such a comparison because Lepus americanus the taxonomy of both groups is reasonably Tamias striatus X well understood and not unduly complex in this region. Additionally, large numbers of Tamiasciurus hudsonicus X both hosts and parasites were obtained, yet Peromyscus maniculatus X extreme care was taken to avoid contam- Clethrionomys gapperi X ination. Principles that come to light here Microtus chrotorrhinus X may be applicable to other such groups Microtus pennsylvanicus X where the relationships are not well under- Synaptomys cooperi X stood. Parasitic Siphonaptera, Anoplura, Mesostigmata, and Ixodidae are included in lated to the New World leaf-nosed bats the following analysis; Prostigmata (fur (family Phyllostomatidae) than had been mites) were excluded because field collect- recognized previously and suggested that ing procedure did not adequately sample the vampire bat family (Desmodontidae) be the group. reduced to a subfamily of Phyllostomatidae. A two-dimensional phenogram of the Subsequent systematic studies of the rela- hosts based entirely on their ectoparasites tionships between the two taxa of bats have was generated using an agglomerative clus- supported this conclusion and the family tering program as outlined by Orloci (1967). Desmodontidae was reduced to a subfamily This clustering technique uses within-group of the Phyllostomatidae (Forman, et al., sum of squares as the agglomeration cri- 1968). Machado-Allison (1967) also pro- terion. Agglomeration is carried out in suc- posed that the Chilonycterinae, recognized cessive cycles such that within-group sums as a subfamily of the Phyllostomatidae, be of squares are minimized and the differ- elevated to familial status on the basis that ences between groups are maximized at its mites were sufficiently distinct from all each clustering cycle. The program com- other spinturnicid mites found on phyllo- pares the entire set of data points for each stomatids. Smith (1972) later monographed species to the entire set for the next species. these bats and elevated the group to famil- The host parameter utilized was Sorensen's ial status for which he resurrected the name (1948) similarity coefficient, representing Mormoopidae. the similarity of the parasite fauna between Wenzel et al. (1966) examined the stre- two hosts (see Fig. 6). Sorensen's similarity blid batflies of Central American bats and coefficient was calculated by the formula _ 2C Similarity (S) is equal to twice drew several conclusions concerning chirop- S = A + B, teran taxonomy. Independent of Machado- the number of ectoparasitic species in com- Allison, they proposed that the Chilonycter- mon (C) between two mammalian hosts di- TABLE 14. Fleas (Siphonaptera) found on some mammals from Cook County, Minnesota. The asterisks indicate species of fleas from the county in the Entomology collection at the University of Minnesota, not obtained during this study.

Q. c O c C •c6 •o E CO TO (0 CD 3 i k. TO CO CO CD O 3 Q. TO o cTOo £ X o •C TO CD o is CO CO Q. "O "O a -Q cQo . Q Q £ oQ . O O CD O O o E "O .CO O) c c- e: ^o o o 3. (D o o o a> is HOSTS o o oo o 5 5 5 5 o. 5 Sorex arcticus Sorex cinereus Sorex palustris Blarina brevicauda Myotis lucifugus Lepus americanus Tamias striatus Eutamias minimus Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Glaucomys sabrinus Peromyscus maniculatus Clethrionomys gapperi Microtus chrotorrhinus Microtus pennsylvanicus Synaptomys cooperi Zapus hudsonius Napaeozapus insignis Mustela erminea Host unknown w 44

TABLE 15. Lice (Anoplura) found on some mam- and below closely approximates a taxo- mals from Cook County, Minnesota. nomic grouping. The two members of the genus Sorex are clustered; Blarina brevi- cauda and Condylura cristata, two insecti- vores, are clustered; Clethrionomys gapperi and Microtus pennsylvanicus, two micro- tine rodents, are clustered and these clus-

\ W sciuropteri semifasciatus \ W tered closely to Peromyscus maniculatus (all \ h- \ W are members of the family Cricetidae); and acanthopus \ < arboricola erratica hesperomydis the two members of the family Zapodidae, \ K \ C

.57

.38 .40

.22 .50 .50 A*

.15 .08 .38 .29

V8> 0.0 0.0 .30 .15 .59

.33 .36 .30 .31 .35 .25

0.0 .29 .06 .22 .15 .17 .33 &

.12 .25 .48 .44 .27 .29 .38 .12

.23 .25 .48 .44 .27 .29 .38 .12 .63 -N®

.22 .25 .24 .20 .29 .15 .15 0.0 .33 .33

.30 .21 .57 .38 .40 .25 .33 .10 .62 .69 .48 A0 .33 .36 .50 .31 .35 .13 .38 .17 .38 .38 .46 .58

.14 0.0 .27 .25 .17 .36 .18 0.0 .25 .38 .25 .32 0.0

0.0 0.0 .14 .29 .18 .20 .20 0.0 .27 .27 .29 .22 .10 .40

FIGURE 6. Sorensen similarity coefficients comparing the ectoparasite faunas of 15 species of small mammals from Cook County, Minnesota. load, and conclusions based on the parasite rodents in the southwestern U.S.) than in fauna must take this into consideration. comparing a diverse group of taxa as was In this analysis Sorensen's similarity co- done here. efficient was utilized as an absolute value. Examination of an entire fauna of ecto- Several other indices are available and their parasites may prove to be a useful tool for use in this technique should be considered ecologists in determinations of similarities as should standardization of the data. and differences between hosts or communi- Weighing taxa of highly host specific cate- ties. gories would produce greater resolution. Comments on Zoogeography Similarly, species that are habitat specific could be utilized in comparisons of com- Fifty-nine species of mammals are munities. known or believed to occur in Cook Coun- As a taxonomic tool, this technique ty, Minnesota. Four of these are adventive. probably will prove more useful in examin- Thus, the native mammalian fauna of the ing the relationships between a single taxa county consists of 55 species of verified or of hosts over its geographic range or in possible occurrence. These can be divided analysis of taxa that exemplify great diver- into three groups on the basis of habitat sity within a limited area (e.g., heteromyid preference and presumed common zoogeo- 46

SOAR SO PA BL BR CO CR TA HU PE MA CL GA Ml PE Ml CH SYCO P NA IN ZA HU GLSA TA ST EU Ml

± J- _L JL 1 J. 1 I 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

FIGURE 7. Optimal agglomeration phenogram generated from similarity coefficients. Distance on the ordinate is average within-group dispersion as a percent of the total. The following codes represent the mammalian species shown in parentheses: SO AR (Sorex arcticus), SO PA (Sorex palustris), BL BR (Blarina brevicauda), CO CR (Condylura cristata), TA HU (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), PE MA (Peromyscus maniculatus), CL GA (Clethrionomys gapperi), Ml PE (Microtus pennsylvanicus), Ml CH (Microtus chrotorrhinus), SY CO (Synaptomys cooperi), NA IN (Napaeozapus insignis), ZA HU (Zapus hudsonius), GL SA (Glaucomys sabrinus), TA ST (Tamias striatus), EU Ml (Eutamias minimus).

graphic affinities as proposed by Hoffmann at the present time or probably were com- and Jones (1970). Included are coniferous mon in recent history. The paucity of infor- or boreal forest species, deciduous forest mation concerning Microsorex, Phena- species, and species of widespread occur- comys, and Gulo in Minnesota handicaps rence. Adventive species form a fourth, eco- interpretation of their present status. Wol- logically heterogeneous group. verines most assuredly have lived within Coniferous forest species.—Species as- the county during the past century, but no sociated primarily with the coniferous for- documentation of this exists, although they ests are generally restricted to the northern have been reported from adjacent areas third of North America and the coniferous both to the west and north. Microsorex forest zones that extend down the Appa- probably lives within the county at present; lachian, Rocky, Cascade, and Sierra Nevada specimens have been collected from St. mountain ranges. This group of 25 species Louis County to the west and Quetico Pro- comprises the largest single mammalian vincial Park to the north. Phenacomys is faunal unit in the county. Included are: known from Minnesota by only one speci- Sorex arcticus, S. cinereus, S. fumeus, S. men, which was trapped near Ely, St. Louis palustris, Microsorex hoyi, Condylura cris- County. Five coniferous forest species, tata, Lepus americanus, Eutamias minimus, Mustela erminea, M. nivalis, Gulo gulo, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, Glaucomys sa- Alces alces, and Rangifer tarandus, are of brinus, Clethrionomys gapperi, Phenacomys Holarctic distribution and several other intermedins, Microtus chrotorrhinus, M. species have closely related Palearctic pennsylvanicus, Synaptomys cooperi, Zapus counterparts. hudsonius, Napaeozapus insignis, Martes Deciduous forest species—Deciduous americana, M. pennanti, Mustela erminea, forest species, which generally are distri- M. nivalis, Gulo gulo, Lynx canadensis, buted throughout eastern North America, Alces alces, and Rangifer tarandus. Most of comprise the smallest of the three faunal these species are common in Cook County associations. Nine species in Cook County 47

are considered to be of deciduous forest In summary, 46 of the 55 native mam- affinity: Blarina brevicauda, Myotis keenii, mals of verified or possible occurrence in Lasiurus borealis, Sylvilagus floridanus, Cook County, Minnesota, have coniferous Tamias striatus, Marmota monax, Sciurus forest and widespread affinities. The 25 carolinensis, S. niger, and Urocyon cinereo- coniferous forest species comprise 46 per- argenteus. Two of these, Sciurus carolinen- cent of the native mammalian fauna, 21 sis and Urocyon cinereoargenteus, are re- widespread species comprise 38 percent, cent (within the past few decades), appar- and the nine deciduous forest species ac- ently natural additions to the mammalian count for the remaining 16 percent. fauna of Cook County. Four species (Lasi- Discussion.—M ammalian distributions urus borealis, Marmota monax, Sciurus are in dynamic equilibrium with the en- carolinensis, and Urocyon cinereoargen- vironment, and although they may appear teus) are not common in the county and the so at any given time, they are not static en- records of Sylvilagus floridanus and Sciurus tities. Most mammals are highly mobile and niger are questionable (see accounts of spe- opportunistic, capable of expanding their cies). Of the deciduous forest species, only ranges into suitable habitats as conditions B. brevicauda, M. keenii, and T. striatus are favorable to their living requirements are common in Cook County. met. Changes in the environment continu- Widespread species.—Species of wide- ously alter habitats; this allows colonization spread occurrence are not restricted to any by some species and concomitant reduction particular habitat type, but generally are of suitable habitat for others. found throughout much of North America. Pleistocene glaciers, which persisted in Twenty-one mammalian species are in- northeastern Minnesota until 9,000-10,000 cluded in this category from Cook County years BP, played a major role in determin- as follows: Myotis lucifugus, Lasionycteris ing the topography and vegetation of Cook noctivagans, Eptesicus fuscus, Lasiurus cin- County. Some mammals of coniferous and ereus, Castor canadensis, Peromyscus mani- widespread affinity already were in the area culatus, Ondatra zibethicus, Erethizon dor- before retreat of the glaciers. However, the satum, Canis latrans, C. lupus, Vulpes retreating ice and subsequent revegetation vulpes, Ursus americanus, Procyon lotor, allowed several species to immigrate into Mustela frenata, M. vison, Mephitis me- the area from the south. Fluctuating mar- phitis, Lontra canadensis, Felis concolor, gins of glaciers are known to be one causa- Lynx rufus, Cervus elaphus, and Odocoileus tive agent in isolating mammalian popula- virginianus. Four species, Canis latrans, tions, especially those characterized by low Procyon lotor, Lynx rufus, and Odocoileus mobility or narrow habitat requirements. virginianus, recently have extended their Relictual populations of Microtus chrotor- ranges to include Cook County, and three rhinus in Cook County apparently became others, Mustela frenata, Felis concolor, and isolated there as a result of such fluctua- Cervus elaphus, are lacking documentary tions. records from the county (see species ac- Forest fires played a major role in shap- counts and the following discussion). Most ing the vegetational patterns of northeastern species in this widespread group are com- Minnesota long before the arrival of Euro- mon in the county, at least at certain times. pean man. Periodic fires burned huge sec- Introduced species.—Lepus europaeus, tions of the forest, destroying some com- Rattus norvegicus, Mus musculus, and munity types while creating conditions for Myocastor coypus have been introduced by earlier serai stages. Heinselman (1969; man and thus are not native to North 1973a) and Swain (1973) have described America. L. europaeus and M. coypus and quantified fires and their effects on the probably are not established in Cook Coun- forest community in northeastern Minne- ty at the present time. The two murids, sota during the last 1,000 years. They esti- Rattus and Mus, have spread throughout mated that each area burnt an average of much of North America since 1492. Norway every 70-80 years over the past millennium, rats were found living as commensals with and concluded that fire has had a positive man in Cook County and house mice almost effect on the long-term stability of the area surely are resident there today, although by increasing diversity of vegetational this is unverified. types. The importance of forest fires in the 48 ecosystem, with special reference to this species failed to regenerate in many areas area, has been discussed recently by Wright (Heinselman, 1969). Aspen, birch, and fir (1974), Wright and Heinselman (1973), and reforested such areas and for several years Heinselman (1973b). By increasing vegeta- provided excellent habitat for pioneer- tional and community diversity, fire un- stage species, including some species (e.g., doubtedly has been instrumental in the di- white-tailed deer) that were able to expand versification of the mammalian fauna of their ranges to include Cook County. Cook County. Differential abilities of small Other human disturbances of the en- mammals to recolonize after fire was re- vironment, such as creating roads and grassy cently investigated in this area by Krefting road ditches through the forest, provided and Ahlgren (1974). corridors for immigration of certain prairie species. For example, Franklin's ground squirrels (Spermophilus franklinii) and Impact of Man's Activities thirteen-lined ground squirrels (S. tridecem- The search for furs, especially beaver, lineatus), recently have extended their led to early exploration and settlement in range into the Duluth area (Robins, 1971; northeastern Minnesota. By the late 1600's, Gunderson and Beer, 1953), but apparently several French explorers (e.g., Pierre Esprit have yet to reach Cook County. Radisson, Sieur des Groseilliers, Sieur Du Of the 48 species of mammals known to Luth, and Jacques De Noyon) had visited occur in Cook County, Minnesota, at least the region. Since 1731, when Sieur de la six (Sciurus carolinensis, Cants latrans, Verendrye established a series of trading Urocyon cinereoargenteus, Procyon lotor, posts with the Indians throughout the re- Lynx rufus, Odocoileus virginianus, and gion, man's exploitation of the fauna has possibly Lasiurus borealis) are there as a been severe. Pigeon River took its name result of recent expansion of their ranges; from the huge flocks of passenger pigeons one species (Rattus norvegicus ) was intro- that nested there. Today, of course, the spe- duced by man; and two species (Gulo gulo cies is extinct. Only two of the original and Rangifer tarandus) have been extirpated mammalian inhabitants (Gulo gulo and recently. The recent arrivals in Cook Rangifer tarandus) have been extirpated County are of deciduous forest or wide- from Cook County, and although their spread affinities and the abilities of most to ranges have been reduced considerably, co-exist with man are well known. The two both are still plentiful in other areas. Fur- extirpated species are of coniferous forest bearers were overexploited during the 19th affinity and both are known to be largely century, but proper management during unable to co-exist with man and intolerant this century has led to significant increases of human-related disturbances to the en- in their numbers, especially during the past vironment. Nevertheless, the overall effect 25 years. Beaver, mink, fisher, and otter are of man's activities on the post-Columbian again common throughout the region and mammalian fauna of Cook County has been the marten is becoming more numerous. In to increase diversity at the expense of two fact, allowing an annual harvest of fishers is species. now in order to utilize most efficiently those There is no indication that the native animals that are captured accidentally in small mammals of the region are threat- traps set for other fur-bearers. With proper ened currently by man. Most insectivores, management, successful harvests during a bats, rodents, and small carnivores are carefully monitored annual trapping season found throughout the entire region wherev- should not jeopardize the substantial er suitable habitat exists. Habitat des- breeding populations of fishers in north- truction in small areas (e.g., such as re- eastern Minnesota. The marten, however, sorts or communities) does not pose a threat remains in need of complete protection. to the continued existence in the state, or Extensive logging began in northeastern even Cook County specifically, for most Minnesota in the late 1800's. Red and white species, although local populations may be pine were the most desired trees, but decimated. The rock vole (Microtus chro- spruce, cedar, and tamarack also were torrhinus) and the heather vole (Phena- taken. Unlike forest fires, logging of pine comys intermedins) are exceptions to this stands removed the seed sources, and these generalization. Despite considerable col- 49 lecting in the area by numerous individuals, faunal elements would be to increase the only a single, small population of rock number of species of widespread and de- voles is now known to exist in the state of ciduous forest affinity and to decrease the Minnesota, and the status of the heather number of coniferous forest species. If suf- vole is unknown; if present, they probably ficient areas are left unchanged for wild- occur only in small, localized areas. Any life habitat, it is likely that man's activities disturbance by man of the limited natural will not endanger the populations of most habitat available to these voles would pose insectivores, bats, rodents, and small car- a definite threat to the continued existence nivores in the county. However, the impact of the species in the state. of an appreciable increase in the human As the population of Homo sapiens in population or of a major change in land the area increases, the continued harmon- usage could be considerable and the con- ious co-existence of some elements of the sequences should be considered seriously native mammalian fauna and man appears before such action is taken. unlikely. A predictable change in the

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This study was made possible by a from Cook County housed in the American grant from the W/M Foundation. I am Museum of Natural History and the Carne- grateful for this support and for the con- gie Museum is appreciated. John Jarosz tinued interest Wallace C. Dayton has provided records of carnivores captured in shown for this project. The Department of Cook County and prepared by him for use Ecology and Behavioral Biology at the in exhibits. University of Minnesota also provided sup- Clyde J. Jones and Don E. Wilson, Na- port in the form of research and teaching tional Museum of Natural History; Robert assistantships. S. Hoffmann, Museum of Natural History, The local council of the Grand Portage The University of Kansas; and Emmet T. Indian Reservation granted permission for Hooper, Museum of Zoology, The Univer- field investigations on Indian land within sity of Michigan, allowed me to examine the county's borders. William H. Longley specimens from Minnesota in their respec- of the Department of Natural Resources tive collections. was helpful in supplying harvest records I am grateful to Allen H. Benton, Henry on fur-bearers and big game. Daniel C. Ross, J. Griffiths, James E. Keirans, Ke Chung Conservation Officer from Schroeder, Wil- Kim, and Nixon Wilson for identification of liam Peterson, Area Game Manager from parasites. Ronald A. Hellenthal wrote the Grand Marais, Lloyd Scherer of Lutsen, computer program utilized in the analysis William Heigler of Taconite Harbor, and of parasite data. Carol Gobar and Linda John Hart of Grand Portage donated num- Forcier typed copies of the manuscript. erous carcasses of fur-bearers and shared I would like to thank David M. Arm- with me their knowledge of the local fauna. strong of the University of Colorado, Boul- John Peshek of Blaine, Minnesota, assisted der, and Evan B. Hazard, Bemidji State in several aspects of the field work; his ef- College, Bemidji, Minnesota, for their criti- forts are appreciated. cal review of the manuscript. Several of my colleagues in the Bell My graduate committee included: El- Museum of Natural History at the Univer- mer C. Birney, Robert C. Bright, Magnus sity of Minnesota assisted in criticizing my Olson, and Harrison B. Tordoff Each of- ideas and in giving needed technical ad- fered valuable criticisms of the manuscript. vice. I am grateful to Donna Day Baird, I acknowledge my advisor, Elmer C. Bir- Steven H. Fritts, Lawrence R. Heaney, ney, for his needed criticisms of my ideas Richard P. Lampe, and Jeanette A. Thomas. and use of the English language, and for his Lawrence R. Heaney's assistance in collect- continued assistance throughout this pro- ing specimens and in examining mammals ject 50

LITERATURE CITED

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No. 1. 1916 Out of Print Roberts, T. S. The winter bird-life of Minnesota. Being an annotated list of birds that have been found within the state of Minnesota during the winter months. 20 p. No. 2. 1926 Out of Print Roberts, T. S. The winter bird-life of Minnesota. P. 5-10. Roberts, T. S. The migration of Minnesota birds. P. 11-16. Roberts, T. S. March and April bird-lore in Minnesota. P. 17-22. Roberts, T. S. May bird-lore in Minnesota. P. 23-28. Four radio talks broadcasted in the University of Minnesota program over Station WCCO in Minneapolis, 1926. No. 3. 1930 $.50 Roberts, T. S. Some changes in the distribution of certain Minnesota birds in the last fifty years. P. 9-14. Kilgore, William. Breeding of the Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis), with special reference to Minnesota. P. 15-28. Breckenridge, W. J. Breeding of Nelson's Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsonii) with spe- cial reference to Minnesota. P. 29-38. Breckenridge, W.J. A hybrid Passerina (Passerina cyaneu + Passerina amoena). P. 39-40. No. 4. 1950 Out of Print Gunderson, H. L. A study of some small mammal populations at Cedar Creek Forest, Anoka County, Minnesota. 49 p. No. 5. 1952 Out of Print Olson, S. T., and W. H. Marshall. The Common Loon in Minnesota. 77 p. No. 6. 1953 Out of Print Gunderson, H. L., and J. R. Beer. The mammals of Minnesota. 190 p. No. 7. 1957 Out of Print Underhill, J. C. The distribution of Minnesota minnows and darters in relation to Pleistocene glaciation. 45 p. No. 8. 1961 Out of Print Tester, J. R., and W. H. Marshall. A study of certain plant and animal interrela- tions on a native prairie in Northwestern Minnesota. 51 p. No. 9. 1963 $.75 Dickerman, R. W. The song sparrows of the Mexican Plateau. 79 p. No. 10. 1971 $2.00 Phillips, G. L., and J. C. Underhill. Distribution and variation of the Catostomidae of Minnesota. 45 p. No. 11. 1972 $1.40 Eddy, S., R. C. Tasker, and J. C. Underhill. Fishes of the Red River, Rainy River, and Lake of the Woods, Minnesota, with comments of the distribution of species in the Nelson River Drainage. 24 p. No. 12. 1973 $1.50 Moore, J. W. A catalog of the flora of Cedar Creek Natural History Area, Anoka and Isanti counties, Minnesota. 28 p. No. 13. 1974 $125 Birney, E. C., J. B. Bowles, R. M. Timm, and S. L. Williams. Mammalian distri- butional records in Yucatan and Quintana Roo, with comments on reproduction, structure, and status of peninsular populations. 25 p. No. 14.1975 $3.00 Timm, R. M. Distribution, natural history, and parasites of mammals of Cook County, Minnesota. 56 p.