35 Annotated Checklist of the Mammals of the Four Canyon Preserve, Ellis County, Oklahoma William Caire, Lynda Samanie Loucks and Gregory M. Wilson University of Central Oklahoma, Department of Biology, 100 N University Drive, Edmond, OK 73034 Brandon K. McDonald Cameron University, Department of Biological Sciences, 2800 West Gore Boulevard, Lawton OK 73505 Desiree A. Early Humboldt State University, Department of Wildlife, 1 Harpst Street, Arcata, CA, 95521 Toni Payne PO Box 178, Blanchard, OK 73010 A survey of The Nature Conservancy’s Four Canyon Preserve in Ellis County, Oklahoma, was conducted from June 2005 to April 2006 to determine what species of mammals occur in the preserve. Sherman live traps were used to trap small mammals and reliable sight records documented large mammals. Mist nets and gopher traps were set to sample for bats and gophers, respectively. A literature search identified historical accounts of mam- mals and those species that might eventually be found to occur in the preserve. Compiled in this inventory is an annotated list of the 33 extant species of mammals that presently occur on the Four Canyon Preserve. Also listed are 4 introduced species, 9 species that probably occurred in the preserve historically and 24 species that might be found to oc- cur. © 2010 Oklahoma Academy of Science. INTRODUCTION habitats are characterized by chinquapin oak (Quercus muhlenbergii), American elm The 1380 ha Four Canyon Preserve (FCP) is (Ulmus americana) and hackberry (Celtis located approximately 16 km southeast of spp.) woodlands with scattered wet mead- Harmon in Ellis County, Oklahoma. The ows and prairie communities. Sandy soils southern boundary is defined by 4.8 km of the northwest part of the preserve which of the North Canadian River. Sandy river was disturbed by cropland and commercial floodplain supports cottonwood (Populus sand/gravel pits support remnant commu- deltoides), eastern red cedar (Juniperus nities of sandsage shrubland, blue grama, virginiana), saltcedar (Tamarix sp.), sand buffalo grass prairie and small patches of plum (Prunus sp.) and sagebrush (Artemisia shinnery oak (Quercus havardii). filifolia). Upland areas support mixed and The FCP characteristically has hot sum- shortgrass prairie communities dominated mers and short cold winters. Temperatures by little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), range from an average daytime high of 33 sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), blue ºC in July to an average low of -7 ºC in Janu- grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and buffalo grass ary. Average annual precipitation is 68.6 cm. (Buchloe dactyloides). Four wooded canyons Winds, averaging 16 kph, are usually from (Cinnamon, Horse, Mulberry and Harsha) the south to southwest (Oklahoma Clima- dissect the upland prairies and open upon tological Survey 2009). the Canadian River floodplain. Canyon Proc. Okla. Acad. Sci. 90: pp 35-44 (2010) 36 W. CAIRE, L.S. LOUCKS, G. M. WILSON, B.K. MCDONALD, D.A. EarlY and T. PAYNE Although the FCP area was opened for RESULTS and DISCUSSION homesteading in 1892, the rugged land led to slow rates of homesteading and frag- Fourteen collecting trips resulted in 8,165 mented ownership. During the early years trap nights, 28 gopher sets and 12 mist net of the 20th century, cattle ranchers consoli- nights. A total of 534 small mammals were dated homesteads into larger ranch parcels. captured. Voucher specimens and tissues In 1950, Harold and Tomalene Hutchison are housed in the collection of vertebrates acquired the land that is now the FCP and at the University of Central Oklahoma. maintained it as a cattle ranch until pur- Figure 1 shows the general location of trap chased by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) lines (GPS locations are available from the in conjunction with the Oklahoma Depart- TNC FCP). Tracks, visual sightings and per- ment of Wildlife Conservation in 2004. sonal communications with local residents One primary goal of TNC was to survey verified the occurrence of several species not the biota within the FCP in order to establish captured. This study revealed the presence a baseline inventory against which long of 8 orders and 24 families. The checklist term monitoring and conservation projects contains 33 extant species of mammals could be initiated. One such survey in- known to occur in the FCP and 24 species volved determining what species of mam- (designated by *) not detected during this mals occurred in the FCP and which species study that occur near the FCP and could might have been present prior to intensive ultimately be found in the preserve. Nine cattle ranching. Thus, the objective of this species (designated by +) are listed which study was to compile a species list of mam- probably occurred historically but have mals for the FCP. been extirpated and four introduced species (designated by #) are also listed. METHODS SPECIES ACCOUNTS Sampling of small mammals occurred ap- ORDER DIDELPHIMORPHIA proximately each month from 4 June 2005 through 14 April 2006. On each trip, vary- Family Didelphidae (Opossums) ing numbers of trap lines consisting of 50 Didelphis virginiana (Virginia Opos- Sherman live traps (H.B. Sherman Traps; sum) has not been documented as occurring Tallahassee, FL; 23.5 x 7.7 x 9.0 cm) were in Ellis County but tracks were seen in the set in different areas and habitats across sandy roads near the FCP equipment stor- the FCP. Each trap station was about 4 m age shed. The opossum has been verified in apart, set in the evening, baited with rolled nearby counties (Caire et al. 1989; Lomolino oats and retrieved the following morning. and Shaughnessy 1997; Roehrs et al. 2008) Mist-nets were set at abandoned build- and in northern portions of the Texas pan- ings and small stock tanks to capture bats. handle (Schmidly 2004). The former ranch Macabee gopher traps were used to obtain owner indicated that he had not seen any gopher specimens. Sightings of large mam- opossums on the ranch since the 1950s and mals and identification of mammal tracks they were scarce then. by reliable sources were recorded through April 2006. Published literature was used to ORDER CINGULATA determine which species probably occurred Family Dasypodidae (Armadillos) historically and those which occur close to Dasypus novemcinctus (Nine-banded the FCP and might possibly be found within Armadillo) was observed in the FCP on the preserve. The taxonomic and vernacular several occasions. Although reported to names follow Wilson and Reeder (2005), occur statewide (Caire et al. 1989), the first except as noted in some accounts. documented records for Ellis County were Proc. Okla. Acad. Sci. 90: pp 35-44 (2010) MAMMALS OF THE FOUR CANYON Preserve 37 Figure 1. Map of The nature Conservancy’s Four Canyon Preserve showing location of trap lines. reported by Roehrs et al. (2008). Records *Sylvilagus audubonii (Desert Cotton- of armadillo exist from Beaver, Harper and tail) was not documented during this study; Roger Mills counties (Caire et al. 1989) and however, several cottontails appeared to from the adjacent regions in Texas (Schmidly be desert cottontails. None were observed 2004). Armadillos were observed foraging clearly enough to confirm their identity. at night near an abandoned ranch house Records exist from Harper and Woodward and around wood piles during the day at counties to the north (Caire et al. 1989) and the mouth of Cinnamon Canyon. from adjacent counties in the Texas Pan- handle (Schmidly 2004). ORDER LAGOMORPHA Sylvilagus floridanus (Eastern Cotton- Family Leporidae (Hares and Rabbits) tail) was observed in most habitats in the Lepus californicus (Black-tailed Jack- FCP. It is common in other areas of Ellis rabbit) were observed in upland prairie County, in adjacent counties (Caire et al. habitats in the northeast portion of the FCP. 1989) and in the Texas panhandle (Schmidly They have been documented from many 2004). It is probably the most abundant cot- adjacent western Oklahoma counties (Caire tontail in the preserve. et al. 1989) and in the Texas panhandle (Schmidly 2004). Proc. Okla. Acad. Sci. 90: pp 35-44 (2010) 38 W. CAIRE, L.S. LOUCKS, G. M. WILSON, B.K. MCDONALD, D.A. EarlY and T. PAYNE ORDER RODENTIA dian River. Numerous active runways con- Family Sciuridae (Squirrels) necting burrow systems were seen in sandy Sciurus niger (Eastern Fox Squirrel) areas after several grass fires. Individuals dreys were observed in trees near the mouth were active during the winter. of Cinnamon, Horse and Harsha canyons; Chaetodipus hispidus (Hispid Pocket squirrel vocalizations were heard at the Mouse) is abundant and occurs in a vari- mouth of Cinnamon Canyon. ety of habitats throughout the FCP. It was +Cynomys ludovicianus (Black-tailed found in the upland grass areas between the Prairie Dog) has been observed by local canyons, in the canyons, on the floodplain residents in other areas of the county. The flats and around abandoned buildings. possibility exists that dog towns occurred in *Perognathus flavescens (Plains Pocket the FCP in former times but were extirpated Mouse) was not recorded during this study as part of early control programs related to but will probably be found in sandy areas of the ranching industry. They are reported floodplains or on brushy slopes of canyons. from nearby counties (Caire et al. 1989) and It has been recorded from Ellis County in the Texas panhandle (Schmidly 2004). (Roehrs et al. 2008) and from adjacent coun- *Xerospermophilus spilosoma (Spot- ties in Oklahoma (Caire et al. 1989) and ted Ground Squirrel) was not found in Texas (Schmidly 2004). the FCP. They might be found to occur on Perognathus flavus/merriami (Silky the sandy floodplains of the FCP or in the Pocket Mouse & Merriam’s Pocket Mouse) intervening grassy upper areas between the specimens were collected in grass habitats canyons. Records exist from Beaver, Harper during this survey and are conservatively and Woodward counties to the north and relegated to P.