1999/2000. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science 108/109:122-144

MAMMALS OF THE GRAND CALUMET RIVER REGION

John O. Whitaker, Jr.: Department of Life Sciences, Indiana State University, Terre Haute. Indiana 47809

ABSTRACT. At least 37 of the 57 species of mammals occurring in Indiana are found in the Calumet

region. These include species as follows: the opossum, 3 shrews, 1 mole, 4 bats, 1 rabbit, 7 squirrels, the beaver, 10 mice, 9 carnivores and the white-tailed deer.

Keywords: Mammals, Indiana, Calumet, distribution

The objectives of this paper are to describe pation when humans populate the land be- the pre-settlement and present-day mammal cause they are more feared (bear, wolf, moun- communities of the Grand Calumet River ba- tain lion) than smaller animals, or they are sin and to discuss how dredging operations hunted and trapped (deer, elk, bison, fisher, may affect these communities. A further ob- beaver) more than smaller mammals. Also, jective is to present some restoration options they usually need larger tracts of undisturbed that might be implemented during the dredg- habitat. Smaller mammals live alongside hu- ing operations to enhance the mammal popu- mans more easily because they are not hunted lations of the area. and they can use smaller patches of habitat. The extirpated species are discussed below. PRE-SETTLEMENT/EARLY SETTLEMENT MAMMAL COMMUNITY EXTIRPATED SPECIES Pre-settlement records of mammals of American porcupine (Erethizon dorsa- northwest Indiana are scant and consist main- tum).—The American porcupine was clearly ly of diary records of explorers such as Mar- present in pre-settlement times; skeletal re- quette and LaSalle, and of trading-post fur re- mains were found by Rand & Rand (1951). cords. Records from the 1600s mentioned the The last known specimen was from 1918. Virginia opossum {Didelphis virginiana), the Gray wolf (Canis lupus).—There are sev- American beaver (Castor canadensis) and the eral reports of timber wolves from Indiana,

bison (Bos bison). "Panther" (mountain lion but there is some question as to whether they or possibly bobcats) were reported in the were wolves or coyotes. The last report of a 1830s. White-tailed deer were plentiful until timber wolf in the state was in 1908 (Mum- the 1870s, but they and beavers were extir- ford & Whitaker 1982). pated from the state by the turn of the century Black bear (Ursus americanus).—There (Mumford & Whitaker 1982). Deer reintro- are records of black bears in the area in the ductions began in the 1930s. There were an pre-settlement records, and Rand & Rand estimated 900 deer in Indiana by 1943, 5000 (1951) found skeletal remains of black bear. by 1951; and there were probably deer in ev- The last report of a bear living in Indiana was ery county by 1966. Both deer and beaver in 1850. The last time a bear was seen in the

were still scarce in the 1960s but have become Calumet region was in 1871, but that individ- abundant in the last two decades in northwest ual was apparently a stray driven south from Indiana and elsewhere. Wolves (possibly coy- Michigan by a great fire (Brennan 1923). otes) were reported as late as 1914 (Lyon Fisher (Martes pennanti).—Rand & Rand 1923), and black bears (Ursus americana) (1951) found fisher remains in the region, in- were present until about 1870. dicating that they were clearly present. The A total of about 10 species of large mam- last report of a fisher in Indiana was in 1859 mals that were here prior to European settle- (Mumford & Whitaker 1982). ment are no longer present (Table 1). Large River otter (Lutra canadensis).—The last mammals are generally most subject to extir- record of the river otter in northwest Indiana

122 WHITAKER—MAMMALS OF THE GRAND CALUMET 23

Table 1. —-Mammals taken by Mier/wa et al. (1991) in traps in the Grand Calumet River Basin. Area

1 = Dupont; 2 = Clark and Pine; 3 = Ivanhoe; 4 = Big Marsh/Indiana Ridge; 5 = Burnham Prairie/ Powderhorn Prairie, 6 = Egger's Woods. A trap-night is one trap set for one night.

Gray area Lake Calumet area

1 2 3 4 5 6 Total Trap-nights 1388 1444 1426 1310 1352 1265 8185

Virginia opossum 1 1 Masked shrew 4 20 11 35

Short-tailed shrew 4 1 4 9 Gray squirrel 7 2 2 12 23

Franklin's ground squirrel 1 1 2 White-footed mouse 12 35 4 2 6 8 67

Prairie deermouse 6 1 23 30

Meadow vole 1 3 8 13 25

House mouse 1 1

Norway rat 1 1 Totals 31 40 6 40 45 32

is from 1900. Otters were reintroduced into species possibly present now that was absent

Indiana at several localities between 1995 and in pre-settlement times is the western harvest

1999; they could be reintroduced or make mouse, Reithrodontomys megalotis. It moved their own way into the Calumet region. across Illinois between 1953-1969 and into Mountain lion (Felis concolor).—Panthers Newton County, Indiana around 1969, where were reported in the 1660s, and the last moun- it was first found at Willow Slough Fish and tain lion recorded from Indiana was seen in Wildlife Area (Whitaker & Sly 1970). By

1830. There is some question as to whether it 1974 (Ford 1977), this species occurred in at was identified correctly. least seven counties, but it had not crossed the

Canada lynx (Felis lynx).—The last Can- Kankakee River. If it is not already in the vi- ada lynx in the region was reportedly killed cinity of the Grand Calumet River, the harvest by Hunter Green in 1873 at Tremont, although mouse will likely make its way across the the identification of this species in Indiana has Kankakee to the Grand Calumet area relative- been questioned. The last record in the state ly soon. is from 1880. MAMMALS CURRENTLY PRESENT OR Bobcat (Felis rufus).—The bobcat is rare LIKELY TO BE PRESENT in Indiana, but there have been 42 confirmed reports in the state since 1970. It is possible Much information is available on mammals that this species still occurs at the Indiana of Indiana (Mumford & Whitaker 1982). Illi- Dunes National Lakeshore (INDU), but the nois (Hoffmeister 1989) and INDU (Whitaker last record there was in 1888. et al. 1994); but little is available specifically Bison (Bison bison).—The bison was pre- on mammals of the Grand Calumet River ba- sent in northwest Indiana until well into the sin. Three papers present data from areas ac- 19th century. The last record was in 1850. tually within the Grand Calumet River basin: American elk (Cervus canadensis).— Whitman et al. 1990), Mierzwa et al. (1991), Rand & Rand (1951) found skeletal material and Whitaker et al. (1994). of elk at INDU. Whitman et al. (1990) found 16 species of All but two of the species of mammals now mammals at Miller Woods: opossum, short- present were probably present in pre-settle- tailed shrew, masked shrew, eastern mole, cot- ment times. The exceptions are the old world tontail, white-footed mouse, prairie deer rats and mice: the housemouse, Mus muscu- mouse, meadow vole, muskrat, fox squirrel, lus, and the Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus. gray squirrel, thirteen-lined ground squirrel, They are exotics that arrived in North Amer- red squirrel, raccoon, long-tailed weasel and ica on ships with the early settlers. Another white-tailed deer. 124 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

^1 Indiana Dunes Indiana Dunes ' d National Lakeshore m State Park Q Beverly Shores Q Central Beach Q Chellberg Farm Chicago South Shore South Bend Railroad Clark and Pine area Q Cline Avenue Q Cowles Bog Dunes Acres DuPont area Furnessville Mt Baldy (Jj) © (D Grand Calumet River © Ogden Dunes (£) Heron Rookery ® Pinhook Bog (£) Ivanhoe area © Porter Beach (J> Kemil Beach SPort of Indiana © Kemil Road Roxanna Marsh Lake Calumet Salt Creek flj) © Little Calumet River © Town of Pines (Q Long Lake © Trail Creek Miller Station Tremont flj) Q Qj) Miller Woods © Waverly Road ® Mineral Springs Road ® West Beach

Figure 1 . —The Grand Calumet River area that parallels the shore of Lake Michigan. Sites mentioned in the text are indicated by the numbers.

Mierzwa et al. (1991) studied mammals at vole, muskrat, Norway rat, house mouse, red 15 sites in five different study areas in north- fox, raccoon, long-tailed weasel, mink and eastern Illinois and northwest Indiana as pos- striped skunk. He did not personally observe sible sites at which to establish an airport. specimens of eastern mole, muskrat, Norway Two of the areas were in the Grand Calumet rat, raccoon (a few were taken for fur each River area: one in Gary, the other near Lake year) or long-tailed weasel. He apparently felt Calumet. However, they reported only 10 spe- these records were reliable. That he personally cies of mammals in these two areas (Table 1): saw no raccoons would indicate that this spe- Virginia opossum, masked and short-tailed cies must have been uncommon at that time. shrews, gray and Franklin's ground squirrels, He reported that white-tailed deer, although deer and white-footed mice, meadow vole, extirpated for many years, had been fairly nu- house mouse and Norway rat. merous around 1875. Lyon reported that the Whitaker et al. (1994) included information white-footed mouse was the most abundant on Miller Woods, but otherwise they did not mammal at INDU, and it was especially abun- study areas within the Grand Calumet River dant in wooded dunes, swamps and marshes. basin; however, the habitats, and therefore the From foredunes he reported prairie deer mice mammals, of the Grand Calumet River basin and a few house mice. From interdunal mead- are similar to those of INDU. Therefore, in- ows, he reported white-footed mouse, prairie formation from that work and from other pa- deer mouse, prairie vole, pine vole and short- pers on the Indiana Dunes was used exten- tailed shrew. Lyon did not take the masked sively in this work. shrew, the meadow vole or the meadow jump- The first significant publication on the ing mouse. In addition to the 22 species that mammals of the Indiana Dunes was by Lyon he observed, Lyon (1923) listed nine species (1923). Lyon reported 22 species: opossum, as "almost certain to be found": little brown short-tailed shrew, eastern mole, eastern red myotis, northern myotis (Keen's myotis until bat, eastern cottontail, eastern chipmunk, recently), big brown bat, silver-haired bat, woodchuck, thirteen-lined ground squirrel, hoary bat, meadow vole, meadow jumping fox squirrel, red squirrel, prairie deer mouse, mouse, southern flying squirrel and gray white-footed mouse, prairie vole, woodland squirrel. He listed six species as probably oc- WHITAKER—MAMMALS OF THE GRAND CALUMET 125

LAKE MICHIGAN

. Figure 1 —Continued. curring: star-nosed mole, least shrew, masked eastern mole (exceedingly common as indi- shrew, southern bog lemming, American bad- cated by burrows), woodchuck (thousands ger and coyote. Lyon listed 1 1 species as "not present), red squirrel, gray squirrel, badger, now extant but whose remains may possibly and fox squirrel. be found," as "extinct," or as "probably ex- Lyon (1936) reported the least shrew, tinct,": timber wolf {Ccrnis lupus), fisher masked shrew, silver-haired bat, Franklin's (Martes pennanti), black bear (Ursus ameri- ground squirrel, meadow vole, meadow jump- canus), river otter (Lutra canadensis), moun- ing mouse and badger from the Lakeshore. tain lion (Felis concolor), Canada lynx (Felis Rand & Rand (1951) reported skeletal re- lynx), bobcat (Felis rufus), porcupine (Ereth- mains of 32 species of mammals in blowouts izon dorsatum), snowshoe hare (Lepus amer- in Indiana Dunes State Park, including 26 spe-

icanus), bison (Bison bison), and elk (Cer\>us cies still present: opossum, masked shrew, canadensis). We have listed evidenced extir- northern short-tailed shrew, eastern mole, sil- pated species of the Grand Calumet basin ex- ver-haired bat, big brown bat, eastern red bat. cept for the snowshoe hare, for which pres- eastern cottontail rabbit, eastern chipmunk, ence we find no evidence. woodchuck, thirteen-lined ground squirrel, Brennan (1923) relates early reports of bi- Franklin's ground squirrel, fox squirrel, red son, black bear, mountain lion, Canada lynx, squirrel, southern flying squirrel, white-footed bobcat, white-tailed deer (the last one shot and prairie deer mouse, meadow vole, musk- was in the early 1870s), elk, coyotes (Brennan rat, southern bog lemming. Norway rat, house cited many reports of timber wolves, and stat- mouse, raccoon, least weasel, long-tailed wea- ed that there were a few left between Dunes sel, mink and striped skunk. They also re-

Park and Michigan City until 1919. It is sus- ported six extirpated species: black bear, fish- pected by Whitaker et al. (1994) that all or er, beaver, porcupine, elk and white-tailed many of these were actually coyotes.), por- deer. New species recorded by Rand & Rand cupine, river otter, and beaver. Brennan re- were big brown bat, southern flying squirrel,

ported several mammals as still present as of southern bog lemming and least weasel, so the 1923: opossum, red fox (near the Furnessville new total species number from the area was Blowout), gray fox. raccoon, mink (in streams 34. and marshes), eastern skunk, muskrat (thou- A Texas Instruments team studied the sands in the marshes), cottontail (common). Cowles Bog area from 1975 to 1980, and they 126 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE collected or observed 25 species of mammals. DIDELPHIDAE Some of their more interesting records include (opossums) the little brown bat, woodland vole, and least Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana weasel. Surprisingly, they failed to capture Kerr.—The opossum is common in the Lake- any prairie deer mice, meadow voles, or prai- shore area, and likewise it is surely common rie voles. Species reported for the first time throughout the Grand Calumet River region. from the area by Texas Instruments were the It was found in 10 of the 24 habitats sampled little white-tailed deer, brown bat and the at INDU, and 93 were recorded as roadkills making a total of 36 species from the known (Whitaker et al. 1994). Texas Instruments, Inc. area. found this species in all six of the terrestrial Krekeler stated that the gray squirrel (1981) habitats they sampled, and Whitman et al. had been extirpated at one time but is now (1990) commonly found it at Miller Woods. common in certain areas. He also indicated Mierzwa et. al. (1991) recorded one in Egger's that the beaver had been extirpated but rein- Woods near Wolf Lake. troduced, and it had caused high water prob- lems at Dune Acres. His was the first definite INSECTIVORA recent record of the beaver at the Lakeshore. (shrews and moles) Krekeler states that skunks forage on the The Insectivora consists of the moles and beach and that tracks of the white-tailed deer shrews, six species of which conceivably are now regularly seen at the Lakeshore. could occur in the Grand Calumet River area: These additional species bring the total num- four species of shrews and two of moles. The ber of species recorded at the Lakeshore to 37. presence of only three species of shrews Whitaker et al. (1994) reported opossum, (masked, short-tailed and least) and one mole two species of shrews (masked and northern (eastern) have been confirmed there. short-tailed), eastern mole, three bats (red, sil- Northern short-tailed shrew, Blarina ver-haired and big brown), eastern cottontail, brevicauda. —The short-tailed shrew is one of seven squirrels (chipmunk, woodchuck, thir- the most common mammals in northwest In- teen-lined ground squirrel, and fox, gray, red diana, and it is common in the Grand Calumet and southern flying squirrels), beaver, eight River basin (Mumford & Whitaker 1982; mice and rats (white-footed mouse and prairie Krekeler 1981; Texas Instruments 1975-80; deer mouse, Norway rat, house mouse, prairie, Whitman et al. 1990; Whitaker et al. 1994). woodland and meadow voles and meadow Whitaker et al. (1994) took short-tailed shrews jumping mouse), ten species of carnivores in 17 of the 24 habitats studied. They were (coyote, red and gray foxes, raccoon, long- most abundant in upland terrestrial shrubland, tailed and least weasels, mink, American bad- wet prairie, old field, ephemeral lowland for- ger, striped skunk and feral cat) and white- est and mixed deciduous savanna. Mierzwa et tailed deer. Gray fox brought to 38 the number al. (1991) trapped nine short-tailed shrews: of species known to the Lakeshore. four at the DuPont area, four at the Burnham The diverse habitats of the Lakeshore thus Prairie/Powderhorn Prairie area, and one at create a home for approximately 38 of the 57 the Clark and Pine area. species of mammals presently known to occur Least shrew, Cryptotis parva (Say).—The in Indiana. Franklin's ground squirrel was least shrew is a small, brownish short-tailed probably present at the Lakeshore through the shrew, much smaller than Blarina. Its total

1940s, but then it apparently disappeared. length is only about 63-88 mm; its tail is only

However, it was recorded in the Grand Calu- 1 1-20 mm. It usually is found in fairly dry met River basin by Mierzwa et al. (1991). Fe- open fields. It occurs throughout Indiana, but

ral dogs and cats are present, and they may it is not taken often. There are few records in

partially fill the predator niche. Signs of bob- the northern part of the state. Lyon trapped a cat (state endangered) have been reported in least shrew in "subdunal woods" on 31 Oc-

the Heron Rookery area of the Lakeshore, but tober 1924. It was apparently from Tremont, their presence has not been verified. as Sanborn (1925) reported that Lyon took Species of mammals suspected to currently one there in the fall of 1924. The specimen reside in the Grand Calumet River basin are was deposited in the U.S. National Museum discussed below and are indicated in Table 2. (#240630). Whitaker et al. (1994) did not take WHITAKER—MAMMALS OF THE GRAND CALUMET 127

it at INDU, but it most likely lives sparingly tremely reduced, thus only three unicuspids in dry fields in the Calumet River area. are readily visible from the side). Masked shrew, Sorex cinereus Kerr.— TALPIDAE The masked shrew is common in several hab- (moles) itats at INDU and in the Grand Calumet River area, especially in wet areas. Mierzwa et al. Eastern mole, Scalopus aquaticus (Lin- (1991) captured 35 individuals in their Lake naeus).—The eastern mole is common at Calumet study area: four in the Big Marsh/ INDU (Krekeler 1981; Whitman et al. 1990; Indiana Ridge area, 20 in the Burnham Prai- Whitaker et al. 1994) and in the Grand Cal- rie/Powderhorn Prairie area, and 1 1 at Egger's umet River region. Whitaker et al. (1994) Woods. Mumford & Whitaker (1982) found found burrows of the eastern mole in 10 of 24 masked shrews in several habitats east of the habitats examined at INDU. This species was Bailey Generating Station, and 124 of 178 most abundant in pine plantations, oak savan- mammals (69.7%) taken at Cowles and Pin- na, excavated sand, and mixed deciduous for- hook Bogs and at Trail Creek Fen were est. The author saw a number of its burrows masked shrews. Whitman et al. (1990) re- in the sand on 20 July 1996 at the DuPont and ported masked shrews from Miller Woods. Clark and Pine areas in the Grand Calumet Whitaker et al. (1994) took only 35 during River basin. The eastern mole is common in their study of mammals at INDU. This in- many of the drier habitats at the Lakeshore. cluded individuals from eight habitats, al- Star-nosed mole, Condylura cristata (Lin- though they were most abundant in wet prairie naeus).—The star-nosed mole lives in muck- (1.83 per 100 trap-nights) and marsh (1.17 per land habitats. This habitat makes its burrows 100 trap-nights). Shrew populations were ap- quite evident; burrows of eastern moles are parently low at the time of this study. The usually in drier areas. The star-nosed mole has masked shrew lives in areas where the soil been documented only in the northeast portion retains moisture sufficient to maintain burrows of the state, and its range has apparently con- 100% saturated. Because of this moisture re- tracted in the 20th century. This species has quirement, the species often lives in dense never been taken at INDU. However, on 28 vegetation or in mossy areas. October 1982, Whitaker trapped one at Trail Pygmy shrew, Sorex (Microsorex) hoyi Creek Fen, a site east of INDU. This record Baird.—The pygmy shrew has long been pre- suggests its presence at INDU. Muckland hab- sumed rare, but pitfall trapping has shown itats suitable for star-nose moles are abundant otherwise. The pygmy shrew could inhabit the in the Grand Calumet River basin, and it may

Calumet River basin, but it has not been found occur there. at INDU or elsewhere in northern Indiana. It does not occur in the southern portion of the CHIROPTERA (bats) lower peninsula of Michigan either (Baker 1983). There are records from Wisconsin, in- Twelve species of bats are found (or were cluding one at the extreme southeast corner, found—two are probably extirpated) in Indi- or less than 80 miles (128 km) from the Grand ana, all in the family Vespertilionidae. All are Calumet River area. Also, one was taken in nocturnal and have well-developed echoloca- mid-winter in a garage 50 miles (80 km) from tion abilities, and all feed almost exclusively the Grand Calumet. No pygmy shrews were on flying insects. Little information is avail- taken in extensive trapping at Bailly, Cowles, able on bats of INDU or northwest Indiana. or Pinhook Bogs (Mumford & Whitaker There are records at INDU for only three spe- 1982); and none were taken in other areas at cies: big brown bat, red bat and silver-haired INDU (Whitaker et al. 1994). Thus, this bat. There is an early record of the evening shrew's occurrence in the Grand Calumet Riv- bat, but no recent records. There is an unver- er area is unlikely. However, the unicuspid ified record of the little brown myotis. but this teeth of all long-tailed shrews {Sorex) from species surely exists there. The northern my- that area should be carefully examined. {Sorex otis and hoary bat are undoubtedly present, cinereus has four "large" unicuspids and one and it is likely that the Indiana myotis is also small unicuspid, all easily visible from the there. Rand & Rand (1951) reported silver- side. Sorex hoyi has the third and fifth ex- haired, red and bis brown bats. Information 128 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

on bats of northwest Indiana is provided be- about over openings in Indiana Dunes State low. Most of these species should occur in the Park and vicinity which could be this species area of the Grand Calumet River, at least or the northern myotis, Myotis septentrionalis. where there is adequate woodland. The little brown myotis migrates to the karst

Big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus (Beau- regions of southern Indiana where it hiber- vois).—Whitaker et al. (1994) found one big nates in caves. brown bat in a large building north of Route Silver-haired bat, Lasionycteris noctiva- 12 and west of Mineral Springs Road, and a gans (LeConte).—Hahn (1909) reported this post-lactation colony is located behind the species from Michigan City, LaPorte County. barn doors at Chellberg Farm. A total of 113 Mumford & Whitaker (1982) reported three bats emerged from behind this door on 27 Au- individuals taken at the Indiana Dunes State gust 1988. Several maternity colonies were Park: a female on 24 September 1928 by WA. found by Whitaker et al. (1994): 1) about 100 Weber, and two individuals on 3 May 1936 by individuals in a brick house 0.2 miles east of J. Schmidt. Whitaker et al. (1994) netted one 33E on U.S. Route 20; 2) about 20 individuals individual on 9 September 1988, about one at the Lutheran Church at the south end of mile northeast of the visitor center at INDU. Mineral Springs Road (just north of 1-94); 3) The silver-haired bat is a migratory solitary about 80 individuals on 9 September 1988 at bat. It spends the summer and has its young the Portage Park barn, southwest of 1-94 and north of Indiana and then migrates south. A State Road 249; 4) 43 individuals in the soffit few individuals hibernate in caves or mines in of an old but well-preserved brick house near southern Indiana, but most winter in southern U.S. Route 49 north of Route 6. There are states. This species is fairly common in Indi- undoubtedly many maternity colonies of big ana during migration from about 18 April to brown bats in buildings in the Grand Calumet 28 May and from about 29 August to 6 No- basin. This is the only species likely to winter vember, when it should be relatively common

(hibernate) at INDU, since it is the only spe- at the Lakeshore (Mumford & Whitaker cies in Indiana that hibernates in buildings. 1982). Red bat, Lasiurus borealis (Muller).— Evening bat, Nycticeius humeralis (Raf- Lyon (1923) observed a female red bat roost- inesque).—Russell E. Mumford shot an even- ing in blackberry bushes in the Lakeshore re- ing bat two miles (3 km) northwest of Porter gion. Whitaker (Mumford & Whitaker 1982) (Porter County) on 5 August 1958. Popula- shot a female red bat at daybreak on 26 Au- tions of this species have decreased greatly in gust 1963 as it was flying over the beach in Indiana in recent years, and we doubt that it what is now the Lakeshore. Whitaker et al. is currently present in northwest Indiana. The

(1994) recorded several red bats: 1) a young single record could have been a stray. female collected in July of 1987 at the West BAT SPECIES PROBABLY PRESENT Beach bathhouse; 2) an individual observed flying at Indiana Dunes State Park on 27 Au- Northern myotis, Myotis septentrionalis gust 1988; and 3) two individuals netted (16*, (Merriam).—This species has often been re-

1 9 ) over Dunes Creek, Indiana Dunes State ferred to as Keen's bat, Myotis keenii septen- Park, on 23 September 1988. The red bat is trionalis. However, populations in eastern re- solitary and hangs in trees during the daytime. gions of the United States are currently

It is one of the most common bats in wooded recognized as a separate species from popu- areas of northwest Indiana, and it should in- lations in the western U.S. (Van Zyll de Jong habit areas of the Grand Calumet River basin 1979). The eastern species is known as the where enough trees are present. northern myotis, Myotis septentrionalis. There Little brown myotis, Myotis lucifugus are no records of this species for any of the (LeConte).—Neither Lyon (1936) nor Mum- Lakeshore counties (Mumford & Whitaker ford & Whitaker (1982) recorded the little 1982). Because wooded habitat is abundant brown myotis in Lake, Porter or LaPorte and it is a northern species, the author sus-

Counties. The only specific record of this spe- pects its presence. It forms small summer col- cies at INDU is that of Texas Instruments onies under the bark of trees or in buildings,

(1975-80), but this record needs verification. and it then migrates to caves and mines where

The author has often seen small bats flying it hibernates individually rather than in WHITAKER—MAMMALS OF THE GRAND CALUMET 129

groups. Kurta (1982) found it was relatively ver; two sigmodontine rodents (= old Crice- uncommon in southern Michigan, and Long tinae), both of which are in the genus Pero-

( 1 974) reported it as less common than the myscus; four or five species of arvicoline little brown myotis in the Lake Michigan rodents (= old Microtinae; muskrat, three drainage. voles and probably the bog lemming); two Hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus (Palisot de Old World rodents (Murinae), the Norway rat Beauvois).—Like the red and silver-haired and the house mouse; and the meadow jump- bats, this is a solitary, migratory species that ing mouse (Zapodinae, Dipodidae). roosts in trees. It is the largest and one of the SCIURIDAE most colorful bats of Indiana. It occurs (squirrels) throughout the state, but it is not common anywhere. It probably lives in the Grand Cal- There are seven species of squirrels in umet River basin in areas with adequate trees. northwest Indiana, including the state-endan- Indiana myotis, Myotis sodalis (Miller & gered Franklin's ground squirrel. Squirrels are Allen).—The Indiana myotis is listed as en- some of the most conspicuous mammals, part- dangered. There are no records for the north- ly because most are diurnal. The largest mem- western 15 or so counties of the state (Mum- ber of the squirrel family is the woodchuck. ford & Whitaker 1982); however, Kurta Also, there are many fox and red squirrels at (1982) recorded this species, and Kurta et al. INDU. Besides being diurnal, these two are (1993) later recorded a maternity colony of common and quite noisy. The gray squirrel this species from southern Michigan. The In- and chipmunk are obvious where common. diana myotis is probably present in northwest The flying squirrel may often be common, but

Indiana in areas forested with large trees, in- it is seldom observed because it is nocturnal. cluding the Grand Calumet River area. It The thirteen-lined ground squirrel has a spotty forms small summer colonies under the bark distribution, but it is found at several INDU of dead trees, often along watercourses. It hi- localities (Whitaker et al. 1994). Gray and bernates in large numbers in a very few caves, Franklin's ground squirrels have been docu- some of which are found in southern Indiana. mented within the Grand Calumet River basin

(Mierzwa et al. 1991). The various squirrels LAGOMORPHA are discussed below. (rabbits and hares) Eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus (Lin- Eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus naeus).—The chipmunk is common in many (Allen).—The eastern cottontail is the only of the wooded habitats of northwest Indiana, lagomorph in northwest Indiana. Lyon (1923), although it is sporadic in occurrence. Lyon Krekeler (1981), Texas Instruments, and Whi- (1923) stated that "chipmunks do not appear taker et al. (1994) all listed it as common in to be very common in the dunes." Krekeler the area of INDU. It was observed occasion- (1981) listed it as abundant in open woods, ally in Miller Woods by Whitman et al. thickets and suburbs. Texas Instruments

(1990). Fecal pellets and tracks are commonly ( 1 975-80) recorded numerous captures of seen throughout INDU, and 65 cottontails chipmunks in several habitats. Whitman et. al. were recorded as roadkills (Whitaker et al. (1990) did not mention them in their Miller 1994). This species was often seen by Mier- Woods report. Whitaker et. al. (1994) captured

zwa et al. ( 1 99 1 ) at Clark and Pine. Lakeshore 24 chipmunks in nine habitats at INDU. and

Railroad Prairie, and DuPont and Burnham sign or sight observations were made in 1 1 Prairie. Cottontails are fairly common in the plots in seven habitats. Seventeen roadkills Grand Calumet River basin. were seen, and numerous individuals were seen elsewhere at INDU. The chipmunk RODENTIA should be fairly common in the Grand Calu- (rodents) met River basin, but Mierzwa et al. ( 1 99 1 ) did

Rodents constitute the largest group of not report it. mammals in northwest Indiana (and in the Woodchuck, Marmota monax (Linnae- world) in number of species and individuals. us).—Lyon (1923) & Whitaker et al. (1994) The total number of rodent species includes commonly found woodchucks in several hab- seven species in the squirrel family; the bea- itats at INDU. Whitman et al. (1990) does not 130 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

mention them from Miller Woods, but Mier- monly found it at Powderhorn Lake, and it zwa noted them from DuPont and Burnham was present at Burnham Prairie and near Lake Prairie. Calumet. These records are exceedingly inter- Thirteen-lined ground squirrel, Spermo- esting since this species is listed as endan- philus tridecemlineatus (Mitchell).—Lyon gered in Indiana. Most of the currently known (1923) found this species "not uncommon populations are along railroads, although a along the Chicago, Lake Shore and South few are along roadsides. Bend Railway just south of the dunes," and Gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis reported one "just north of Oak Hill Station (Gmelin).—Lyon (1923) did not report this and a few feet above the subdunal swamp." species from the Lakeshore area; however,

Krekeler (1981) listed it as "common" at Krekeler (1981) recorded it as common in INDU and indicated its habitat as "pastures, woods and suburbs, and Texas Instruments road borders, dunes, weedy or cultivated (1975-80) reported 23 from three habitats at fields." Texas Instruments (1975-80) reported the Lakeshore. Whitaker et al. (1994) recorded three individuals: two from Cowles Bog and it in upland oak forest and in oak savanna and one from the transmission corridor. Whitman also several roadkilled individuals. Also, sev- et al. (1990) saw this species along the rail- eral were seen in black oak forest at Miller road bed "at the north end of the study area." Woods, and one was observed in black oak Whitaker et al. (1994) found a roadkill indi- forest at Dune Acres. Whitman et al. (1990) vidual on Wagner Road north of Route 20, observed gray squirrels at Miller Woods. and two additional roadkills south of Route Mierzwa et al. (1991) recorded 23 gray 20. Fifteen individuals were trapped in nine squirrels in the Grand Calumet River area: plots in four habitats: four in dry prairie, four seven in the DuPont area, two in the Ivanhoe in terrestrial shrubland, three in oak savanna, area, two in the Burnham Prairie/Powderhorn and four in coniferous savanna. Ten of the 15 Prairie area, and 12 at Egger's Woods. This were at West Beach. Mierzwa et al. (1991) species is relatively uncommon at INDU, but saw this species only at Wolf Lake where it it is more common in the Grand Calumet Riv- was common in Illinois on grassy roadsides. er basin. The species should be present in dry open ar- Fox squirrel, Sciurus niger Linnaeus.— eas with little ground cover near the Grand Lyon (1923), Krekeler (1981), Texas Instru- Calumet River. ments (1975-80) and Whitaker et al. (1994) Franklin's ground squirrel, Spermophi- all reported this species as common at INDU; lus franklinii (Sabine).—Neither Lyon and it is common in proper habitat in all of (1923), nor Krekeler (1981), nor Texas Instru- northwest Indiana. This species was not re- ments (1975-80), nor Whitaker et al. (1994) ported by Mierzwa et al. (1991) in their study reported Franklin's ground squirrels from plots, but it should be fairly common in the INDU. Three Franklin's ground squirrels were Grand Calumet River basin. taken by Alex Bognar, from "Miller" in Lake Red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus County, Indiana in 1947. The specimens are (Erxleben).—Lyon (1923), Krekeler (1981) in the Field Museum (CNHM #'s 73872, Texas Instruments (1975-80) and Whitaker et 73873 and 73874). We assume these were al. (1994) reported the red squirrel as fairly near Miller Station, which is about half a mile common in the wooded portions of INDU.

south of Miller Woods. In 1986-87, Scott Whitman et al. (1990) took it in traps along Johnson and other Indiana DNR personnel pond edges in Miller Woods. Mierzwa et al. used two sets of 10 live traps to examine the (1991) found no red squirrels in the vicinity

area along the railroad at Miller Station for of the Grand Calumet River, and it is likely

Franklin's ground squirrels. This locale is this species is rare or absent because of the close to where Bognar collected this species, lack of forest, particularly conifers. but no Franklin's ground squirrels were seen Southern flying squirrel, Glaucomys vo- or taken there. lans (Linnaeus).—Lyon (1923) did not see Mierzwa et al. (1991) trapped two Frank- flying squirrels but listed them as almost cer- lin's ground squirrels on low dunes between tainly present at INDU. Texas Instruments swales: one at the Dupont area and one at the (1975-80) collected three from black oak/ Big Marsh/Indian Ridge area. Also, they com- swamp forest at INDU; and Whitaker et al. WHITAKER—MAMMALS OF THE GRAND CALUMET 13

(1994) trapped two flying squirrels: one in group in the Grand Calumet River basin, al- black oak forest and one in black oak savanna. though one of them, Peromyscus leucopus, is Scrubby black oak is a good habitat for Hying the most abundant mammal there. squirrels because old woodpecker holes and Western harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys other openings can be used as nest sites or megalotis (Baird). —The western harvest refuges for this species. Flying squirrels were mouse was first taken in Indiana in 1969 at not reported by Mierzwa et al. (1991), and Willow Slough State Fish and Wildlife area in they are probably not common in the Grand Newton County (Whitaker & Sly 1970). By

Calumet area because of the lack of suitable 1975 it had extended its range to include at forest. Flying squirrels feed heavily on nuts least seven counties of northwest Indiana and seeds but will readily eat insect material (Ford 1975), but it had not crossed north of or even young birds and their eggs. the Kankakee River into Lake and Porter

Beaver, Castor canadensis Kuhl.—Bea- Counties. By 1994 (Whitaker unpubl. data), it vers had nearly disappeared from Indiana by had extended its range south into Vigo Coun-

1840 (Lyon 1936). They were reintroduced ty. By 1995 it had crossed the Wabash River into Jasper-Pulaski and Kankakee Fish and into Clay County, and by 1997 it had crossed Wildlife Areas in 1935 from Wisconsin and the Kankakee. Now that barrier has been Michigan, and later introductions were made crossed, harvest mice should become part of into other areas. Brooks (1959) knew of 326 the fauna of northwest Indiana. colonies in 43 counties of Indiana. The ma- Deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus jority were in portions of northwest Indiana, (Wagner).—The deer mouse occupies a va- including Lake County. There is a 1968 pho- riety of habitats ranging from woods to dry tograph of a beaver lodge at Cowles Bog open areas. Its prime habitat in Indiana is in

(Lindsey et al. 1969). Krekeler (1981) listed cultivated fields where it lives even when the the beaver as uncommon at INDU but said fields are bare (Whitaker 1967). However, that it had caused high water problems on the only the prairie deer mouse, P. m. bairdii is road leading into Dune Acres (at Cowles present in Indiana. It lives in dry open areas. marsh). There is currently a beaver colony on It is never found in woods, although it can be the Salt Creek watershed, and signs of beaver abundant in savanna with open sand. Unlike were seen by Whitaker et al. (1994) on the all of the other species of small mammals in lower portions of the Little Calumet River. Indiana, its habitat is inversely related to plant

There was a colony on the Little Calumet cover; and it can live in areas with little or north of Chesterton, but all of those beavers even no herbaceous vegetation, such as re- have been trapped. Mierzwa et al. (1991) did cently plowed or harvested fields or open not mention beaver in their studies of the sandy areas. Its prime habitat in Indiana is in Grand Calumet River area. The beaver should cultivated fields (Whitaker 1967; Mumford & be a prominent species in wooded portions of Whitaker 1982). Its tracks are often obvious a clean Grand Calumet River. in loose sand on dunes, or in light snow in

plowed fields, where it emerges from one bur- MURIDAE row and enters another. It probably inhabited (mice and rats) areas of open sand such as on dunes in pre- Most mice and rats are currently placed in settlement times. the family Muridae, which contains three sub- Hahn (1909) recorded this species from families: the Sigmodontinae (previously the only five counties and did not think it was Cricetinae), the Arvicolinae (previously the common in Indiana. Evermann & Butler

Microtinae) and the Murinae. The Murinae are ( 1 894) stated that it was abundant on the the Old World rats and mice, Mus and Rattus. dunes along Lake Michigan. Lyon (1923) found numerous footprints of this species in Sigmodontinae the loose sand on the dunes but took few spec-

The Sigmodontinae are native rats and mice imens. Krekeler (1981) recorded it as abun- and constitute one of the largest groups of dant in foredunes, grasslands, thickets and old mammals in North America, both in number fields. Whitman et al. (1990) found it from of species and individuals. However, there are Miller Woods. Whitaker et al. (1994) recorded only two (or possibly three) species in this Peromyscus maniculatus from 10 habitats, but 132 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

it was most common in dry prairie and on al. (1991) captured 25 meadow voles in five INDU right-of-ways. Mierzwa et al. (1991) of their six study areas near the Grand Calu- recorded 30 individuals in open sand on Clark met River, but they found them most abundant and Pine Complex, and stated that they were at the Big Marsh/Indian Ridge site. **so common at Lakeshore Railroad Prairie Prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster (Wag- that we were able to find them under boards ner).—Lyon (1923) took seven prairie voles. and debris without even trapping for them." Krekeler (1981) listed this species as uncom- White-footed mouse, Peromyscus leuco- mon in relatively dry fields with cover of pus (LeConte).—Peromyscus leucopus is the grasses or weeds. Whitaker et al. (1994) took most abundant small mammal at INDU (Lyon 17 individuals in eight plots in five habitats. 1923; Texas Instruments 1975-80; Krekeler The species was most abundant in old fields. 1981; Whitman et al. 1990). Whitaker et al. Mierzwa et al. (1991) did not capture any

( 1 994) took a total of 445 individuals in 22 prairie voles, but additional trapping in the of 24 habitats they studied and in 98 of the drier grasslands of the Grand Calumet River 168 (58.3%) plots in which they trapped. The will undoubtedly yield prairie voles. This spe- only habitats from which the white-footed cies lives in drier and sparser vegetated areas

mouse was not taken were barren grounds and than the meadow vole, and it is much less excavated areas, both habitats lacking plant abundant to the north. cover. The highest numbers were taken in Woodland vole/Pine vole, Microtus pine- ephemeral lowland forest, oak upland forest, torum (Le Conte).—Lyon (1923) found many mixed deciduous savanna, mixed deciduous subterranean burrows probably used by this upland forest, coniferous savanna, and pine species but trapped only two woodland voles plantations. It is probably also the most abun- in the Indiana Dunes area. Krekeler (1981)

dant species in the area of the Grand Calumet listed it as uncommon and Texas Instruments River, as Mierzwa et al. (1991) took 67 indi- (1975-80) caught two individuals in black

viduals of this species and found it in every oak/swamp forest. Whitaker et al. (1994) did

one of their study sites (Table 1). not take any individuals in their study plots, but they did take four in pitfall traps set for Arvicolinae (microtines or voles) this species in black oak woods. Mierzwa et All five species of microtines present in In- al. (1991) did not take any woodland voles in diana are probably present both at the Lake- studies using surface trapping methods. The shore and in the area of the Grand Calumet woodland vole lives in underground burrows,

River. and thus it is often under-represented in sur- Meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus face trapping surveys. It is found at INDU, (Ord).—The meadow vole is found through- and undoubtedly it also occurs in the area of out northern Indiana where it is usually the the Grand Calumet River. most abundant small mammal of moist grassy Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus (Linnae- meadows and wet prairies. In dry fields with us).—The muskrat is common in the marshes, sparse vegetation, it tends to be replaced by streams and ponds of northwest Indiana (Lyon the prairie vole, M. ochrogaster. Lyon (1923) 1923; Krekeler 1981; Texas Instruments took prairie voles and pine voles at INDU, but 1975-80; Whitaker et al. 1994). Whitman et

inexplicably, he did not take meadow voles. al. (1990) trapped it along ponds in Miller Krekeler (1981) and Texas Instruments Woods. Mierzwa (pers. comm.) saw a road-

(1975-80) indicated it as abundant. Whitman killed individual on Route 12 near the Gary et al. (1990) trapped them in low-lying areas Regional Airport. Their population in the Cal- around one pond at Miller Woods. Whitaker umet River basin could increase if the river is et al. (1994) trapped 171 individuals in 28 cleaned up. plots in 13 habitats. These animals were most Southern bog lemming, Synaptomys coop- abundant in old field and upland terrestrial eri Baird.—Lyon (1923) did not record this shrubland. Thirty-four were taken in one plot species from INDU, but Rand & Rand (1951)

in this latter habitat. The cover here was heavy recorded it based on their identification of

and mainly forbs, but it included dogwood, skeletal remains. Krekeler (1981) recorded it poison ivy, roses, some young pines and few as uncommon in areas with lush ground cover grasses. The soil was quite moist. Mierzwa et of grass and in bogs, but we do not believe WHITAKER—MAMMALS OF THE GRAND CALUMET 133

that he ever saw a specimen. Texas Instru- at residential areas and some from Chellberg ments (1975-80) did not capture any bog lem- Farm. Two individuals were taken among 70 mings. Whitaker et al. ( 1994) did not trap any, mammals from snap traps at Pinhook Bog by and apparently no specimen is available as yet Whitaker and Mumford in 1978 (Mumford & from INDU. Whitaker et al. (1994) did find Whitaker 1982). It is clear that the house bright green fecal pellets, probably from this mouse is not abundant along the Indiana species, at a razed residential site on Waverly Lakeshore, probably because of the lack of

Road on 28 February 1988. Meadow voles agricultural land present. The same is proba- produce dull green or brownish fecal pellets. bly true in the Grand Calumet River basin, as

The name bog lemming is a misnomer. It is Mierzwa et al. (1991) recorded only one not primarily or even often found in wet areas. house mouse. It was found at the Big Marsh/

It has a broad range of habitats from woods Indian Ridge site. to rank meadows and dry Andropogon fields. DIPODIDAE Murinae (jumping mice) (introduced mice and rats) (previously Zapodidae)

Rattus norvegicus and Mas musculus are in- Meadow jumping mouse, Zapus hudson- troduced exotics and are usually found in hab- ius (Zimmermann).—Lyon (1923) concluded itats created or disturbed by humans, such as that Z. hudsonius was almost certainly present in buildings or cultivated fields. in the Lakeshore region. Texas Instruments Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus (Berken- (1975-80) reported four individuals from hout).—This is the common rat associated young foredunes and 23 from the transmission with garbage dumps, barns, grain storage units corridor. Whitaker et al. (1994) took 15 indi- and suburban warehouses. It is a major pest viduals from three habitats, 13 of which came almost everywhere that it occurs. It ruins from one plot in aquatic shrublands. Whitaker foods and other materials and carries disease. and R.E. Mumford took one at Cowles Bog

It is common in larger cities and on farms in and five at Pinhook Bog in the fall of 1978, northwest Indiana. Lyon (1923) did not trap and one from a flat depression behind the fo- or see any rats but said that residents reported redunes east of the Bailly Generating Station them. Krekeler (1981) reported them as com- in October of 1974. The meadow jumping mon around farms, suburbs, and ditches. None mouse was not taken by Mierzwa et al. were reported during the Texas Instruments (1991), but it is undoubtedly present in the studies. Whitaker et al. (1994) found rat drop- Grand Calumet River area. pings in abandoned buildings. Mierzwa et al. CARNIVORA (1991) took one Norway rat at the Big Marsh/ (carnivores) Indian Ridge area.

House mouse, Mus musculus Linnaeus.— The raccoon is abundant and obvious, but This mouse has been transported around the the other carnivores of the Grand Calumet world by humans. In Indiana, it is very com- River area are difficult to assess and count. mon in cultivated fields when adequate cover Large carnivores are much less abundant than is available; but, unlike the prairie deer small mammals, and they are usually among mouse, it vacates immediately once the cover the first to disappear as humans develop the is removed. The prairie deer mouse and house land, because of habitat loss, trapping and mouse are the primary small mammals of the hunting. They are often thought of as problem Indiana corn and soybean fields (Whitaker animals and killed by the general public. For 1967), although P. leucopus is sometimes some species, roadkills may give us the best present as well. The species also invades assessment of status. beaches, offshore islands and estuarine areas. The carnivores of northwest Indiana that Lyon (1923) took two individuals, both in may be present in the Grand Calumet River foredune areas; and Texas Instruments (1975- basin are grouped in five families, the Canidae 80) took five from young foredunes. Surpris- (coyote, two species of foxes, domestic dog). ingly, none were taken in any of the plots in Procyonidae (raccoon), Mustelidae (two spe- the 24 habitats studied by Whitaker et al. cies of weasels, mink, badger). Mustelidae (1994). Their only records were sight records (skunk), and the Felidae (bobcat, housecat). 134 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

CANIDAE PROCYONIDAE Coyote, Canis latrans Say.—The coyote Raccoon, Procyon lotor Linnaeus.—The has always been present in Indiana, but in re- raccoon is abundant at INDU and at the In- cent years its populations have increased. diana Dunes State Park in campgrounds and There are early reports of wolves and coyotes other visitor sites. Apparently raccoons were at INDU; however, wolves are long gone and not always so common; Lyon (1923) says there was no confirmed record of coyotes pri- "residents state that a few 'coons' are taken or to the work of Whitaker et al. (1994). These each season for their fur. I have no personal authors report that one was seen by Noel Pav- knowledge of the animal and I have never lovic at Toleston Dunes on 7 August 1990, been fortunate enough to find foot prints that and that Lakeshore rangers have seen them might have been made by it." Krekeler several times near the Heron Rookery, starting (1981), Texas Instruments (1975-80), Whit- in June and July of 1990. Dan Fagre saw one man et al. (1990) and Whitaker et al. (1994) all stated the raccoon at in a cornfield just south of INDU in 1991. It was common INDU; and it should be in the Calu- is not clear yet whether coyotes have taken up common Grand met River area. Mierzwa et al. found residence at the Lakeshore; but if not, it ap- (1991) tracks at pears to be only a matter of time until they raccoon wetland margins during their do. Unfortunately, Rand & Rand (1951) found study. no canid bones to help determine whether MUSTELIDAE coyotes or wolves or both inhabited the dunes Least weasel, Mustela nivalis Linnaeus.— in pre-settlement times. Mierzwa et al. (1991) The least weasel is a tiny prairie species with did not report coyotes, and it is not clear a one inch-long tail. Dice (1928) reported the whether they now live in the Grand Calumet first least weasel from Indiana in Wells Coun- area. ty. Lyon (1936) reported this species only Red fox, Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus.—Red from Pulaski and Wells Counties. There is an and gray foxes are often confused because the earlier record for Porter County (Mumford & gray fox has some reddish coloration. The red Whitaker 1982). The specimen is in the Field fox is easily identified because it is red above Museum in Chicago (112538) and was taken with a white tail tip. Lyon reported red (1923) by A.L. Rand on 10 June 1950 (Rand & Rand foxes at INDU. Whitaker et al. (1994) report- 1951). This species has been taken sparingly ed them from five different habitats at the throughout the northern three-quarters of In- Lakeshore, and one was found dead along the diana. The first individuals from INDU were roadside in 1984-85. Four were seen from a collected during the Texas Instruments stud- helicopter during the 1991 Lakeshore survey ies: one from the young foredunes, and one for deer. Mierzwa (pers. comm.) saw a red fox from the black oak/swamp forest. This species dead on the road on Route 312 east of Cline favors open fields and feeds heavily upon Avenue on 27 September 1990, and he saw a meadow mice, so foredunes are suitable hab- skull found at Clark and Pine East on 23 April itat. The latter habitat is atypical. Another 1 99 1 . It is not clear how common this species least weasel was killed by a cat on Route is in the Grand Calumet River area. 275E, N of U.S. Route 20 in October 1990 fox, Gray Urocyon cinereoargenteus (Whitaker et. al. 1994). This species should (Schreber).—The gray fox lives in woods and occur in the Grand Calumet River area. probably inhabits the forests of INDU. Lyon Long-tailed weasel, Mustela frenata Lich- (1923) did not mention this species, but Texas tenstein.—This is the most common weasel Instruments (1975-80) recorded it on the basis in Indiana, and it is found throughout the of tracks. Whitaker et al. (1994) reported it at state. It has a much longer tail than the least

Howe's Prairie on 1 1 August 1987; and more weasel, which is the only other weasel known recently, Dan Fagre saw two east of Dune in Indiana. Lyon (1923) states, "These ani- Acres. The gray fox could occur in the Grand mals are fairly common in the region although

Calumet River region in a wooded area such I have never seen any." He reported that a as in Miller Woods, but its presence is less trapper had taken about 200 individuals in the likely than the red fox because of the scarcity past three winters in the dunes region but that of mature woods. only two of them were in white pelage. Texas WHITAKER—MAMMALS OF THE GRAND CALUMET 135

Instruments (1975-80) did not report this spe- mon at INDU and noted that a number were cies. Whitman et al. (1990) observed a long- taken each year for fur. Texas Instruments tailed weasel climbing on fallen timber in (1975-80) collected two skunks and saw Miller Woods. Whitaker et al. (1994) took six tracks in black oak/swamp forest and in red long-tailed weasels in traps in three habitats maple swamp forest. Krekeler (1981) stated and observed tracks of four: one at Howe's that they forage along the beach of Lake

Prairie and one in upland forest. This species Michigan. Whitaker et al. (1994) took two in should be fairly common in the Grand Calu- traps and observed another. It is surprising met River area. that none were recorded as roadkill. Skunks Mink, Mustela vison Schreber.—The surely inhabit the Grand Calumet River basin. mink is much larger than the long-tailed wea- sel and has a bushy tail. Lyon (1923) collected FELIDAE a dead mink and said that several minks are (cats) trapped each year in the Lakeshore region. Bobcat, Felis rufus Schreber.—The bob- Texas Instruments (1975-80) took two from cat is exceedingly rare; and it is listed as en- Cowles Bog. One was seen at Dune Acres on dangered in Indiana, although individuals 9 January 1988 in a cattail marsh, and an adult keep turning up. The bobcat is recognizable and three young were seen along a marsh on by its short, or "bob" tail, which contrasts Kemil Road in 1990 (Whitaker et al. 1994). with the long tail of the housecat (although an The mink should be present in the Grand Cal- occasional housecat has lost its tail). The lat- umet River area. est confirmed records are from Monroe Coun- Badger, Taxidea taxus Schreber.—Lyon ty (1970), Perry County (1975), Jefferson (1923) listed the badger as recently occurring County (1982), Lawrence County (1 record in in the Lakeshore region, and Brennan (1923) 1982, 1 in 1994, 2 in 1995, and 1 in 1996), reported an individual from the Furnessville Parke County (1987), Crawford County Blowout. In the fall of 1986, a badger was (1988), Warrick County (1990), Dekalb Coun- found near a trash can in a parking lot at ty (1993), Steuben County (1993) and Wash- INDU (Whitaker et al. 1994). However, its ington County numerous un- claws had been removed, probably indicating (1995). Among confirmed reports (most probably erroneous) that it had been transported there from some are two from LaPorte and two from Starke other locality. A badger was found dead in Porter County on Highway 30 about nine Counties. It is unlikely, but not inconceivable, miles west of Highway 49, 0.5 mile west of that the bobcat still exists in wooded areas of 600 West (at the center of section 23) on 7 the Lakeshore; but it is probably not found in September 1990. On two occasions Whitaker the Grand Calumet River area because of de- et al. (1994) recorded signs that may have velopment, lack of forest and habitat fragmen- been made by badger: tracks in black oak for- tation. est at Howe's Prairie on 11 August 1987, and Housecat, Felis silvestris Schreber.—Tru- excavations in dry prairie at the proposed ly feral populations of housecats seldom exist campground on 14 July 1987. Larry Reed, a in the eastern United States. Most housecats veterinarian at Westchester Animal Clinic, that forage afield have a house or other build- treated a badger captured in the east unit of ing that serves as a home base. There are nu- INDU during 1990. On 9 April 1989, a badger merous housecats in the Grand Calumet River was seen by Mark Harbin and Andrea Halcarz area. Housecats are exotics, and as such con- west of the parking lot near the entrance to trol might be considered if they become a

Dune Acres. It disappeared from view but ap- problem to native animals. To date, there is no parently entered a burrow at the base of a tree indication that the housecat is a problem in a bank. Badger populations have on sandy the Grand Calumet River area, but it could been increasing in recent years, and these re- become one due to the prevalence of buildings cords all indicate that the badger could occur nearby. in the area of the Grand Calumet River. MEPHITIDAE CERVIDAE (skunks) (deer) Striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis Schre- White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus ber.—Lyon (1923) reported skunks as com- (Zimmermann).—The white-tailed deer was 136 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

extirpated from the state before 1900 (Mum- phitis; and white-tailed deer, Odocoileus vir- ford & Whitaker 1982). Re-stocking deer in giniana. Indiana began in 1934 when 35 deer were re- Mammals likely to be found in the various leased in seven counties. By 1955 more than habitats of the Grand Calumet River basin are 400 deer had been introduced into 22 coun- listed below separately for each of the habi- ties. Population estimates for the state were tats. These lists are derived from information

900 in 1943, 1200 in 1944, and more than in Whitaker et al. (1994), Mierzwa et al. 2900 in 1946. A deer season opened in 1951 (1991), Mumford & Whitaker (1982), Hoff- when the deer population of the state was es- meister (1989) and from personal observa- timated at 5000. By 1966, deer were probably tions (1994). present in all counties; and they have contin- Agricultural land and old fields.—The ued to multiply, thereby becoming very abun- plots designated as agricultural areas by Whi- dant in recent years. taker et al. (1994) in INDU were actually ear- Texas Instruments (1975-1990), Krekeler ly serai "old fields" rather than cultivated ar- (1981) and Whitaker et al. (1994) all indicated eas, per se. Canopy was entirely absent in all that white-tailed deer were common at INDU. of these plots, but scattered shrubs were pre- Deer were counted by aerial census in 1982, sent in some. The dominant plants were grass- 1984, 1988, 1989, 1991 and 1992. The counts es and forbs. In northern Indiana, the meadow were 85, 29, 214, 349, 166 and 207 deer in vole is the most abundant species in lush those years. The actual populations were larg- meadows, and 90 individuals of this species er but it is not known what proportion of the occurred in the nine plots in this habitat (Whi- deer was observed, and only about 75% of the taker et al. 1994). Lakeshore was flown. Whitman et al. (1990) Mammal species likely in agricultural fields saw deer tracks also. in the Grand Calumet River basin are the meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus; prai- HABITATS THE rie vole, Microtus ochrogaster; northern At the southern end of Lake Michigan, east short-tailed shrew, Blarina brevicauda; of Chicago and east of the Gary/Hammond masked shrew, Sorex cinereus; meadow jump- area, lies the Indiana Dunes National Lake- ing mouse, Zapus hudsonius; and the eastern shore (INDU). Chicago and Gary areas are mole, Scalopus aquaticus two of the more highly-developed and heavi- Prairie.—There is a great deal of prairie or ly-polluted regions of the world. The area was grassy oldfield in the Grand Calumet River once composed of extensive series of dunes, area with Dry Prairie often grading into or and classic studies of plant and animal suc- alternating with Wet Prairie. cession were done there (Cowles 1899; Shel- Dry prairie: The majority of the dry prai- ford 1912a, b); however, by the middle of the rie along the Grand Calumet River is on the 20th century, the entire area was being devel- low dunes between swales or marshes. Dry oped. Senator Paul Douglas was instrumental prairies include a variety of species of grasses in establishing INDU in the area between and forbs. Cover is often good in this habitat, Gary and Michigan City. Since then, much providing ample hiding spots for small mam- land has been acquired, many buildings have mals. Marram, sand reed grass or little blue- been razed, and some of the land is being con- stem dominated most of the plots sampled by verted to resemble its original condition. Whitaker et al. (1994) at INDU. The little Some of the larger species are not restricted bluestem plots were probably more similar to ecologically, but they could occur in any of dry prairie near the Grand Calumet River than the terrestrial habitats. Others are more re- the more typical dunes grasses. The dominant stricted or are characteristic constituents of small mammal in Dry Prairie at INDU was only a few of the habitats. Some of the mam- the prairie deer mouse, Peromyscus manic u- mals with relatively little ecological restric- latus, followed by the white-footed mouse, tion, at least within an area as small and as Peromyscus leucopus (Whitaker et al. 1994). varied as the Grand Calumet River basin, are Prairie voles occurred, perhaps somewhat sur- the eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridana; prisingly, in only one of the 1 1 plots sampled. raccoon, Procyon lotor; long-tailed weasel, The generally sparse cover in many of the Mustela frenata; striped skunk, Mephitis me- plots accounts for both the abundance of deer WHITAKER—MAMMALS OF THE GRAND CALUMET 137 mice and the low number of prairie voles. The meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus', prairie deer mouse is the one small mammal masked shrew, Sorex cine reus; northern of Indiana that is more abundant in areas with short-tailed shrew, Marina brevicauda; less plant growth, and prairie voles thrive only white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus; in areas of good plant cover. meadow jumping mouse, Zapus hudsonius; Signs observed at INDU in this habitat and the southern bog lemming, Synaptomys could have been from the bog lemming. Syn- cooperi. aptomys cooperi. The thirteen-lined ground Lowland terrestrial shrub.—There is a squirrel now inhabits primarily mowed areas fair amount of terrestrial shrubland in the area such as golf courses, lawns, pastures and road- of the Grand Calumet River. Shrubby species sides. Its occurrence in dry prairies in the expected might be willow, aspen, red maple, dunes might indicate that this habitat was a or red ozier dogwood (Cornus stolon ifera). pre-settlement habitat for this species. and a variety of grasses and forbs are likely. Mammal species likely to be found in dry No species of mammal was dominant or even prairie in the Grand Calumet River basin are abundant in the lowland terrestrial shrubland. the prairie deermouse, Peromyscus manicu- The white-footed mouse was the most abun- latus bairdii; white-footed mouse, Peromys- dant mammal, but only six individuals were cus leucopus; prairie vole, Microtus ochro- taken. gaster; thirteen-lined ground squirrel, Mammal species likely in lowland terrestri- Spermophilus tridecemlineatus; woodchuck, al shrubland in the Grand Calumet River basin Marmota monax; least shrew, Cryptotis parva; are the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leu- Franklin's ground squirrel, Spermophilus copus) and eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus jior- franklinii; southern bog lemming, Synaptomys idanus. cooperi; coyote, Canis latrans', red fox, Vul- Upland terrestrial shrub.—There is a pes vulpes; least weasel, Mustela nivalis; and fair amount of upland terrestrial shrubland American badger, Taxidea taxus. in the area of the Grand Calumet River. Four Wet prairie: Wet prairie areas contain plots sampled by Whitaker et al. (1994) in various grasses and forbs as the dominant upland terrestrial shrubland all were in high- plants, and they often contain significant ly disturbed transition stages between grassy amounts of shrubs such as willow or aspen. oldfield or savanna and wooded habitats. Some of the major grasses are Calamagrostis, One plot was highly productive, yielding 44 Panicum, Aristida, Phalaris, and Agrostis. individuals of four mammal species. The Cattails and rushes were also dominant in one nine shrews and 33 meadow voles taken plot. Cover ranged from fair to excellent. there clearly reflected the former field hab- The most abundant mammal species taken itat rather than the present transitional shrub in wet prairie by Whitaker et al. (1994) was stage, and these forms will undoubtedly dis- the masked shrew. Mumford & Whitaker appear from this area as the transition to- (1982) earlier (27-28 April 1977) used 1508 ward more woody vegetation continues in snap-traps for two nights and took 60 meadow this plot. A total of 14 species (including the voles, 22 masked shrews, 16 white-footed domestic dog) was found in this habitat, but mice, and ten short-tailed shrews. Most of the most were in low numbers. The author sus- traps were in grass sedge meadow, which in- pects that the lack of a well-developed com- cluded clumps of willows. The voles were munity in shrubland is due to the ephemeral feeding extensively on the willow fruits. The nature of the habitat. fruiting twigs were 0.5—1.0 m high, and the Mammals likely in upland terrestrial shrub- voles were getting the fruiting heads by cut- land in the Grand Calumet River basin are the ting off the twigs, pulling them down, and re- white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus). cutting them until the heads were reached, eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), and leaving cuttings 4-15 cm long in piles with white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginiana). the fruiting leaflets and parts of the fruits on Oak savanna.—Oak savanna is a common top of the piles of twigs. The stomachs of the habitat in the Grand Calumet River basin, and mice were full of this material. 15 oak savanna plots were studied by Whitak- Mammal species likely to be found in wet er et al. (1994) at the Lakeshore. All had a prairie in the Grand Calumet River basin: canopy of nearly pure black oak, usually thin. ' 1

138 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

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Both the shrub and herb layer varied consid- often contained blueberry {Vaccinium vacil- erably. Some of the more abundant shrubs lans). The herbaceous layer was again diverse, were blackberry, blueberry, rose and Japanese although often thin and depauperate, most of- honeysuckle. Abundant herbaceous plants ten providing poor-to-fair cover. The dominant were Andropogon, Pan icum, Carex, golden- herbaceous plants there were most often Penn- rod and bracken fern. Thirty white-footed sylvania sedge {Carex pennsylvanicus) and mice and 18 prairie deer mice were taken, al- bracken fern {Pteridium aquilinum). The though the prairie deer mice occurred in only white-footed mouse was the most abundant three of the plots. These are the results one small mammal in upland oak forest. would expect since the prairie deer mouse fa- Mammal species likely to be found in up- vors sparsely vegetated, dry areas without land forest in the Grand Calumet River basin woody vegetation. The white-footed mouse is are the white-footed mouse {Peromyscus leu- a species of the woods, and savanna is a thinly copus), eastern chipmunk {Tamias striatus), wooded habitat. southern flying squirrel {Glaucomys volans), Mammal species likely in oak savanna in gray squirrel {Sciurus carolinensis), fox squir- the Grand Calumet River basin are the white- rel {Sciurus niger), raccoon {Procyon lotor), footed mouse {Peromyscus leucopus), prairie red squirrel {Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), north- white-footed mouse {Peromyscus maniculatus ern short-tailed shrew {Blarina brevicauda), bairdii), prairie vole {Microtus ochrogaster), pine vole {Microtus pinetorum) and gray fox eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), thir- {Urocyon cinereoargenteus), teen-lined ground squirrel (Spermophilus tri- Lowland forest.—Lowland forest was di- decemlineatus), Franklin's ground squirrel vided into perennial (contains water more than {Spermophilus franklinii), and eastern mole six months of the year) and ephemeral wet {Scalopus aquaticus). lowland forest and was the second largest hab-

Mixed deciduous savanna.—Three plots itat after upland forest in INDU ( Whitaker et in mixed deciduous savanna at the Lakeshore al. 1994). The canopy was usually quite dense all had scattered cottonwoods with little blue- but varied in species composition. Common stem as the principal herbaceous species trees were silver or red maple followed by (Whitaker et al. 1994). Major grasses in this oak, ash, aspen, elm and sassafras. The shrub habitat were old little bluestem, old witch layer varied from sparse to dense; and it con- grass and brome grass; and grape and aro- sisted mostly of seedlings of the trees men- matic sumac were among the more abundant tioned above plus spicebush, Viburnum, Cor- shrubs. Cover was fair-to-good in these plots nus, Ilex, Rubus, blueberries and others. due to the grass. The white-footed mouse was Ground cover varied from fair to excellent; the most abundant mammal, being taken at all and species composition varied greatly be- three plots with a total of 20 individuals. tween plots, with graminoid plants ferns being Mammal species likely in mixed deciduous common. The herb and shrub layers were of- savanna in the Grand Calumet River basin are ten clumped in hummocks. As usual in wood- the white-footed mouse {Peromyscus leuco- ed habitats, the white-footed mouse was the pus), prairie white-footed mouse {Peromyscus most abundant species taken, totaling 137 in maniculatus bairdii), prairie vole {Microtus 27 plots (Whitaker et al. 1994). ochrogaster), eastern cottontail {Sylvilagus Mammal species likely to be found in low- floridanus), thirteen-lined ground squirrel land forest in the Grand Calumet River basin {Spermophilus tridecemlineatus), Franklin's are the white-footed mouse {Peromyscus leu- ground squirrel {Spermophilus franklinii), and copus), raccoon {Procyon lotor), northern eastern mole {Scalopus aquaticus). short-tailed shrew {Blarina brevicauda), opos- Upland forest.— Upland forest, mostly sum {Didelphis virginiana), gray fox {Uro- oak, is widespread at INDU (Whitaker et. al. cyon cinereoargenteus) and Eastern chipmunk 1994). There is relatively little mature forest {Tamias striatus). in the Grand Calumet River basin, but scrubby Wetlands.—There is a variety of types of black oaks in much of the forest in the Grand wetlands at INDU and also in the Grand Cal- Calumet River basin grade into scrubby black umet River basin, marsh, aquatic shrubland, oak savanna. The shrub layer at INDU was swamp, panne (depressions among the dunes) often dense and diverse in this habitat, but it and open water. WHITAKER—MAMMALS OF THE GRAND CALUMET 141

Marsh: Marsh is prominent at INDU and ozier dogwood, willow and St. John's wort in the Grand Calumet River basin. The herb {Hypericum kalmianum). The herb layer usu- layer was most often of cattail (Typha), sedges ally forms good cover. A number of herba- {Carex), bulrushes (Scirpus) or blue joint ceous species were present, including several grass {Calamagrostis canadensis). The cano- members of the family Cyperaceae, Eleochar- py was absent in most areas but consisted of is, Cladium, Rhynchospora, a rush {Juncus scattered willows or elms in a few. The shrub baiticus), strawberry, mountain mint (Pycnan- layer consisted of thick buttonbush (Cephal- themum virginianum) and others. Five species anthus occidentalis) in most of the plots, of mammals were taken by Whitaker et al. whereas willow was present in one. Muskrats (1994) in the three plots in pannes in INDU. are abundant in many of the marshes, lakes The meadow vole was the only regularly oc- and ditches of INDU, and would be in the curring species with 13 being taken in two of basin if the water were clean. the three plots. Three white-footed mice were Mammal species likely to be found in taken in one of the plots, and three prairie deer marshes in the Grand Calumet River basin mice were taken in another. are the muskrat {Ondatra zibethicus), white- Mammal species likely to be found in footed mouse {Peromyscus leucopus), pannes in the Grand Calumet River basin are masked shrew (Sorex cinereus), meadow the meadow vole {Microtus pennsylvani- vole {Microtus pennsylvanicus), raccoon cus), white-footed mouse {Peromyscus leu- (Procyon lotor) and short-tailed shrew copus) and prairie vole {Microtus pennsyl- (Blarina brevicauda). vanicus). Aquatic shrublands: Aquatic shrublands Artificial habitats.—Various artificial hab- made up a small but significant part of INDU itats or developed lands including croplands, and likewise also of the Grand Calumet River residential and industrial areas, right-of-ways basin. Vegetation was of aspens, willows or and excavated areas are found at INDU and oaks; and the herb layer was of blue joint also in the Grand Calumet River basin. grass, reed grass or cattails. Right-of-ways: Right-of-ways occur Mammal species likely in aquatic shrub- along roads, railroads or trails. However, lands in the Grand Calumet River basin are they do not form a distinct habitat. Instead, the white-footed mouse {Peromyscus leuco- they pass through and consist of some other pus) and raccoon {Procyon lotor). habitat such as mature woods, dry prairie, Swamp: In the plots in swamp at INDU, etc. Therefore, many different plants are (Whitaker et. al. 1994), the canopy was Cot- present, including several grasses and rush- tonwood and/or black willow {Salix nigra). es, and several other plant species {Melilo- The ground cover was excellent in each case, tus, Saponaria, Solidago, Clematis, Dryop-

and it mainly consisted of grasses (blue joint teris thelypterus, Carex, Typha) as grass or Phalaris), sedges {Carex) and cattails dominants in at least one plot. Because of {Typha). Additional collections were made by the high variation in these plots, no list of Whitaker and R.E. Mumford in the fall of expected species of mammals is given. 1978 in the swamp just north of Cowles Bog. Excavated areas: Excavated areas are Three species were taken there, including 33 places of open sand due to human activities. masked shrews, two short-tailed shrews, and There are three plots in this habitat at INDU 10 white-footed mice. (Whitaker et al. 1994), and there are areas Mammal species likely to be found in with this habitat due to sand-mining in the swamp in the Grand Calumet River basin are Grand Calumet River watershed. One of the the white-footed mouse {Peromyscus leuco- INDU plots is on the site of a former fly ash pus), masked shrew {Sorex cinereus) and rac- seepage area and another is on the site of a coon {Procyon lotor). steel company acid spill. All three plots com- Pannes: The pannes are shallow depres- pletely lack canopy, and two have poor sions among the dunes. They contain water ground cover, with scattered grasses, includ-

much of the time and are often surrounded by ing little bluestem, sand reed grass and nod- grassy areas and shrubs. The canopy layer is ding wild rye {Elymus canadensis). The third usually absent. Shrub growth is often dense plot has excellent cover of Joe-pye weed {Eu- and consists of various species such as red patorium serotinum), bullrush {Scirpus cyper- 142 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

inns) and spikerush {Eleocharis sp.). Only two individuals were found by Mierzwa et al. mammals were trapped in plots in this habitat: (1991). Both animals were in the dunes be- a meadow vole and a raccoon. As expected, tween swales. Special efforts might be made it is not a good habitat for mammals, although to preserve or to create as much dry prairie mammals do pass through these areas. as possible to help increase populations of this species. RESTORATION POSSIBILITIES The only other threatened or endangered Acquisition of land.—The Grand Calumet mammal species likely to occur in the Grand watershed, like INDU, was made into an eco- Calumet River basin is the Indiana myotis. logical showpiece under the leadership of This species has not been taken there, but with

Senator Paul Douglas. It has been greatly de- enough mature wooded habitat, it could sur- veloped and has significant ecological prob- vive there. Dry prairie needs to be preserved lems. Perhaps efforts could be made under in the Grand Calumet watershed in an effort public ownership to obtain parts of the Grand to induce populations of Franklin's ground

Calumet watershed. It could then be reverted squirrels to live and thrive there. to the original habitat as much as possible. Efforts could also be made to find and pre- Fragmentation.—One of the major prob- serve mature woods, especially in the vicinity lems for the Grand Calumet watershed is frag- of Miller Woods, in order to produce as much mentation. This has several implications; but contiguous mature woodland as possible. This most importantly, it inhibits organism dispers- would help all bat species as well as other al. The fragments of habitat are often separat- woodland species. ed by areas difficult or impossible for animals Exotics.—Exotic plants and animals often (or plants) to bridge. This confines the animals compete with and sometimes supplant native within smaller tracts of land. Under normal species. Therefore, we often wish to eliminate circumstances, when populations are elimi- them. There are two exotic mammals in the nated from a patch of habitat, more individ- Grand Calumet River area: the house mouse uals move in and re-populate. With increased (Mus musculus) and the Norway rat (Rattus fragmentation, patches of habitat are often not norvegicus). However, both are uncommon in re-populated because there is no available habitats like those in the Grand Calumet River source of emigrants. Fragmentation can also basin, and efforts to increase natural habitat result in inbreeding, due to the lack of new would help to control them further. Producing genetic material. Finally, organisms that dis- and maintaining native habitat would help perse often die when they are unable to locate control these exotic species. suitable habitat after they leave their birth- Reintroduction of species.—In order to place. restore previous habitats and communities, There are other disadvantages of fragmen- reintroduction could be considered for spe- tation. Fragmentation may allow other ani- cies previously existing in the Grand Calu- mals to penetrate and compete with animals met River basin. However, many introduc- normally found there. An example of this is tions would not be currently feasible. the cowbird, which penetrates fragmented for- Species not previously present might not fit ests and lays its eggs in nests of other birds. into local habitats, so their introductions Attempts could be made to preserve large would not be logical. Each of the ten extir- tracts of habitat in the Grand Calumet basin, pated species of mammals was considered especially marsh, dry prairie, wet prairie and for possible reintroduction. Because of their mature woodland. Also, special efforts could size and the present developed state of the be made to obtain or to create additional sim- area, the following species would be com- ilar habitat between the tracts to allow dis- pletely impractical for reintroduction at this persal. There is little mature forest remaining time: timber wolf, black bear, mountain lion, in the Grand Calumet basin, so its preserva- Canada lynx, bison and American elk. The tion is important. other four are discussed below. Endangered/threatened species.—Only Porcupine: This species needs extensive one endangered or threatened species of mam- woodland to survive, and attempts could be mal, Franklin's ground squirrel, is known to possibly be made to restore it to INDU. This inhabit the Grand Calumet River area. Two effort would require public education, as .

WHITAKER—MAMMALS OF THE GRAND CALUMET 143

many people have an aversion or bias towards Mammals Occurring in Indiana in Recent Times. this species (as towards snakes and bats). 33rd Annual Report Department of Geology and Natural Resources of Indiana. Since extensive woodland is required by this Hollmeister, D.F 1989. Mammals of Illinois. Uni- species, it could not be reintroduced into the versity of Illinois Press, Urbana, Illinois. Grand Calumet watershed in the near future, Krekeler, C.H. 1981. Ecosystem study of the In- except perhaps in the Miller Woods area. diana Dunes National Lakeshore. The Biota of River otter: river otter live The can well Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Vol 2:1-346. alongside humans, and it is currently being (Mimeograph) reintroduced into Indiana. It requires exten- Kurta, A. 1982. A review of Michigan bats: Sea- sive, relatively unpolluted aquatic habitat sonal and geographic distribution. Michigan Ac- (ponds, lakes or rivers). If the Grand Calumet ademician 14:295-312. River could be cleaned up and protected, the Kurta, A.D., K.S. King, J. A. Teramino, J.M. Stri- river otter could be considered for reintroduc- bley & K.J. Williams. 1993. Summer roosts of the endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) on tion. the northern edge of its range. American Midland Bobcat: The bobcat was thought to be Naturalist 129:132-138. nearly extirpated in Indiana, but it is showing Lindsey, A. A., D.V. Schmeltz & S.A. Nichols. up in various counties. There is some evi- 1969. Natural areas in Indiana and their preser- dence that it occurs at INDU. This species can vation. Department of Biological Sciences, Pur- live in fairly close proximity to humans, but due University, Lafayette, Indiana. it does need rather extensive natural woodland Long, C.A. 1974. Environmental status of the Lake habitat because it moves about considerably. Michigan region. Mammals of the Lake Michi- The lack of existing woodland in the Grand gan Drainage Basin. Vol 15. Argonne National

Calumet basin does not favor its reintroduc- Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois. Lyon, M.W. Jr. 1923. Notes on the tion. mammals of the dune region of Porter County, Indiana. Pro- Areas of special interest.—There are sev- ceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science 31: eral areas of ecological interest in the Grand 209-22 1 Calumet River Basin (such as Roxanna marsh, Lyon, M.W. Jr. 1936. Mammals of Indiana. Amer- DuPont wetlands, and the Grand Calumet La- ican Midland Naturalist 17:1-384. goons) because of their high quality habitat Mierzwa, K.S., S.D. Culverson, K.S. King & C. for semi-aquatic mammals. To reduce frag- Ross. 1991. Illinois-Indiana regional airport mentation, as many areas between these high study: Biotic communities Technical Paper No. 7, quality areas, could be purchased or otherwise Appendix E, Volume II. TAMS Consultants, Inc. protected. Chicago, Illinois. Mumford, R.E.& J.O. Whitaker, Jr. 1982. Mam- LITERATURE CITED mals of Indiana. Indiana University Press, Bloo- Brennan, G.A. 1923. The Wonders of the Dunes. mington, Indiana. 537 pp. The Bobbs-Merrill Co., Indianapolis, Indiana. Rand, A.L. & A.S. Rand. 1951. Mammal bones Brooks, D.M. 1959. Fur Animals of Indiana. Pitt- from dunes south of Lake Michigan. American man-Robertson Bulletin No. 4., Indiana Depart- Midland Naturalist 46:649-659. ment of Conservation, Division of Fish and Sanborn. C.C. 1925. Mammals of the Chicago Game. Indianapolis, Indiana. area. Field Museum of Natural History. Zoology Cowles, H.C. 1899. The ecological relations of the Leaflet 8. 23 pp. vegetation on the sand dunes of Lake Michigan. Shelford, V.E. 1912a. Ecological Succession. IV. Botanical Gazette 27:95-117. 167-202, 281- Vegetation and the control of land animal com- 308, 361-391. munities. Biological Bulletin 23:59-99. Dice, L.R. 1928. The least weasel in Indiana. Jour- Shelford, V.E. 1912b. Ecological succession. V. nal of Mammalogy 9:63. Aspects of physiological classification. Biologi- Evermann, B.W. & A.W. Butler. 1894. Preliminary cal Bulletin 23:331-370. list of Indiana mammals. Proceedings of the In- Texas Instruments Inc. 1975-1980. Six annual re- diana Academy of Science 3:124-139. ports, for the years 1975 through 1980. Bailly

Ford, S.D. 1977. Range, distribution and habitat of Nuclear- 1 Site. Prepared for Northern Indiana the western harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys nw- Public Service Co. galotis, in Indiana. American Midland Naturalist Van Zyll de Jong, C.G. 1979. Distribution and sys- 98:422-432. tematic relationships of long-eared Myotis in Hahn, W.L. 1909. The mammals of Indiana. Pp. western Canada. Canadian Journal of Zoology

417-663, /// A Descriptive Catalogue of the 57:987-994. 44 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

Whitaker, J.O. Jr. 1967. Habitat and reproduction 94-24. United States Department of the Interior. of some of the small mammals of Vigo County, National Park Service. Indiana, with a list of mammals known to occur Whitaker, J.O. Jr. & G.R. Sly. 1970. First record there. Occasional Papers of the C.C. Adams Cen- of Reithrodontomys megalotis in Indiana. Journal ter for Ecological Studies 16. Western Michigan of Mammalogy 51:381. University. Kalamazoo, Michigan, 24 pp. Whitman, R.L., R.L. Peloquin & R.J. Worth. 1990. Whitaker. J.O. Jr., J. Gibble & E. Kjellmark. 1994. Ecology of Miller Woods. Indiana Dunes Na- Mammals of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. tional Lakeshore. USDI, NPS, Indiana Dunes Scientific Monograph. NPS/NRINDU/NRSM- Report 90-01.