1 Patterns of Carnivore Distribution and Occurrence in the Oklahoma Panhandle Michael J. Shaughnessy Jr.* Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019 Richard L. Cifelli Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73072 ©2016 Oklahoma Academy of Science Carnivore distributions in the Oklahoma to projects focused on other vertebrates panhandle were determined through the use of (Shackford et al. 1989; Shackford and Tyler baited, stainless steel tracking plates and verified 1991; Peoples and DeMaso 1996). This study with infra-red triggered cameras. Tracking had three objectives. The first was to survey plates were operated for two years covering carnivores of the Oklahoma panhandle. four seasons (October 1995-February 1997). Six Historically, the Oklahoma panhandle has species of carnivores were detected in sufficient supported a diverse carnivore community. numbers to permit analyses during tracking Carnivores from the region include 17 species efforts in the Oklahoma panhandle (Swift fox in five families (Caire et al. 1989; Table 1). Four (Vulpes velox), coyote (Canis latrans), bobcat species, gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), (Lynx rufus), spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius), western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis), striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), and badger hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus mesoleucus) (Taxidea taxus)). In general, Oklahoma and ringtail (Bassariscus astutus), are thought panhandle carnivores were not distributed to be restricted to a small mesa region in the evenly across panhandle counties or habitats. northwestern corner of the Oklahoma panhandle Canid distributions were skewed toward (Caire et al. 1989). The badger (Taxidea taxus), Cimarron County, however individual canid black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), swift species exhibited separate habitat preferences fox (Vulpes velox) and coyote (Canis latrans) within counties. Mustelids and mephitids are thought to be associated with prairie dog were distributed evenly across the broader (Cynomys ludovicianus) towns (Shackford and panhandle landscape, but demonstrated clear Tyler 1991). These and the remaining panhandle habitat preferences when detection data were carnivores (Table 1) are also more widely combined at the Family level. Carnivores were distributed and may be found throughout the also sensitive to the presence of other carnivores panhandle. within panhandle habitats. This response was most pronounced between the canid species. The second objective was to determine the distributions of carnivores in the Oklahoma Introduction panhandle with respect to major habitats. Presently, there exist four broadly classified In western Oklahoma, few comprehensive types of habitat in the Oklahoma panhandle. investigations of carnivores have been Mesa habitat extends into New Mexico and undertaken (Glass 1956; Kilgore 1969). Most Colorado, where it is found more extensively. of the information on carnivores in the state Mesa habitat is dominated by sand sagebrush has occurred in conjunction with and ancillary (Artemisia filifolia), juniper (Juniperus *Present address: Department of Natural Sciences, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK 74464 Proc. Okla. Acad. Sci. 96: pp 1 - 15 (2016) 2 M.J. Shaughnessy Jr. and R.L. Cifelli Table 1 – Carnivores of the Oklahoma panhandle (from Shackford and Tyler 1991; Caire et al. 1989). * Indicates species extirpated from the Oklahoma panhandle. Scientific Name Common Name Family Mustelidae Taxidea taxus Badger Mustela nigripes Black-footed ferret Mustela frenata Long-tailed weasel Family Mephitidae Mephitis mephitis Striped skunk Spilogale putorius Eastern spotted skunk Spilogale gracilis Western spotted skunk Conepatus mesoleucus Hog-nosed skunk Family Canidae Vulpes velox Swift fox Vulpes vulpes Red fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus Gray fox Canis latrans Coyote Canis lupus* Wolf Family Felidae Lynx rufus Bobcat Felis concolor Cougar Family Procyonidae Procyon lotor Raccoon Bassariscus astutus Ringtail Family Ursidae Ursus americanus Black bear scopulorum) and two-needle pinyon (Pinus parts of the panhandle. The dominant crops in edulis). Large, conspicuous riparian areas are the panhandle are wheat, winter wheat, corn, also evident in the panhandle. Several riparian and milo. As these agricultural areas can be areas run predominantly west-east through the extensive and uniform, they cannot be ignored Oklahoma panhandle and are dominated by as potential habitat for Oklahoma carnivores. large eastern cottonwoods (Populus deltoides), shrubs and taller grasses. Grassland/range The third objective was to examine whether areas are dominated by a variety of native and carnivore distributions and habitat affinities are introduced grass species. Grassland/range influenced by the distributions or presence of areas all experience some degree of grazing by other carnivore species. Specifically, do different domestic cattle. The final major habitat type, carnivore species (particularly closely-related agriculture, has come to prevail across several carnivore species) in the Oklahoma panhandle Proc. Okla. Acad. Sci. 96: pp 1 - 15 (2016) Carnivore Distributions in the Oklahoma Panhandle 3 occur together regionally or in specific habitats and was dominated by blue grama (Bouteloua more or less than would be expected by chance? gracilis), buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides) and We examined not only the effects of large scale prairie three-awn (Aristida oligantha). Prairie factors such as habitat on carnivore distributions, dog towns also covered much of the panhandle, but also how local processes influence where occurring in all habitat types (Shackford and carnivores occur. This approach provides for a Tyler 1991; Shackford et al. 1989). Presently, better, more comprehensive understanding of the landscape has been altered. While the carnivore interactions and distributions in the historical habitat types persist, their quality Oklahoma panhandle. and quantity has changed. The grassland, mesa and riparian areas now are grazed by domestic A previous publication (Shaughnessy cattle. The severity of this grazing varies among 2003) on panhandle carnivores compared habitats and locations. Prairie dog towns have detection method efficacy and examined swift been reduced in number and size due to the fox distributions alone, using tracking plate combined effects of periodic plague (Yersinia detection frequencies instead of total number pestis) episodes and concentrated eradication of detections. The use of tracking plates was efforts. Agricultural areas, present since at least determined to be more effective at detecting 1893, cover a substantial area. These extensive carnivores than dirt tracking, spotlighting or monocultures have had a profound impact on the the use of infrared cameras (Shaughnessy composition of the vegetation in the panhandle. 2003). Swift fox distributions in the panhandle, as determined by detection frequencies, were Methods examined independently of other carnivore detection data (Shaughnessy 2003). No analyses The distribution of carnivores was determined examining the panhandle carnivore community primarily through the use of baited tracking distributions were presented (Shaughnessy plates at pre-established tracking stations and 2003). Detection frequencies were also used, supplemented with infrared photography. instead of total number of detections, to examine Tracking plates were made of sheets of stainless any interactions between swift foxes and 26-gauge steel about one square meter in size coyotes (Shaughnessy 2003). This current work and sprayed with a mixture of carpenter’s chalk expands the analyses of swift fox distributions and isopropyl alcohol (G.M. Fellers, Biological by including swift fox total detection data Resources Division, USGS, pers. comm.). with that of the other panhandle carnivores, These materials were selected over traditional presenting power analyses to examine the sand tracking techniques for two reasons. First, strength of the applied statistics and interpreting tracks in the chalk tended to persist longer and results in conjunction with data from the broader were clearer than tracks in sand under the typical mesocarnivore community. high wind conditions of the panhandle. Second, plate and chalk stations were easier to establish Study Area and less expensive to operate repetitively than Research on carnivores was conducted in sand stations. Each plate had a one-inch (2.5 the Oklahoma panhandle, a strip of land about cm) hole drilled through its center, allowing it to 267 km long (east-west) and 55 km wide (north- be placed directly over a stake that permanently south) adjacent to the northwestern-most part of marked the tracking station (Shaughnessy the body of the state. The panhandle region is 2003). Canned mackerel and beef scraps were comprised of three counties, each of about equal then placed in the center of each plate or on the size. The counties (from east to west) are Beaver stake to serve as bait (Shaughnessy 2003). The (470,172 hectares), Texas (527,855 hectares), plates were checked for tracks and recovered and Cimarron County (475,506 hectares). after three nights (Egoscue 1956; Hatcher 1978; Pocatello Supply Depot progress report 1981; Historically, the panhandle consisted primarily Orloff et al. 1986; Paveglio and Clifton 1988). of shortgrass prairie (Duck and Fletcher 1943) Proc. Okla. Acad. Sci. 96: pp 1 - 15 (2016) 4 M.J. Shaughnessy Jr. and R.L. Cifelli Ninety permanent tracking stations were habitats.