A partial skeleton of an elk-moose, Cervalces scotti, was excavated at a depth of about 5 m below the surface near Chippewa Lake, Medina County, OH. A total of 44 bones and bone fragments were recovered from a male animal judged to be between 4.5 and 5.5 years old, based on comparison with Alces americanus and Cervus elaphus. Bone from the Cervalces was radiocarbon dated at 11,695 ± 35 14C yr BP. Peaty and calcareous muck from the level of the bone was also collected, and provided information about the freshwater mollusca, pollen, and seeds deposited at about the same time the skeleton was buried. Several long bones display spiral fracturing and gnawing of corticular bone at the epiphyses consistent with scavenging by a large predator.

background or result

Wildlife Management Techniques

Partial Skeleton of an Elk-moose, Cervalces scotti, from Chippewa Lake, Medina County, Ohio

Just as some species of plants and animals are endangered, some outdoor recreation opportunities are ‘endangered’ in that opportunities to participate in certain activities are becoming scarce and may eventually be permanently lost. The existence of these experiences is threatened by both alterations in the physical environment and by changing social and cultural pressures. The objective of this paper is to propose the application of ecological terms and concepts to develop a conceptual framework for managers and planners dealing with ‘endangered’ outdoor recreation experiences. Potential applications of the lexicon and conceptual approach presented in this paper are: to identify threats to the existence of opportunities for specific recreational experiences, and to provide policy-makers and planners with a systematic approach to setting priorities and developing management strategies to maintain or expand these opportunities. Such an approach may help insure the perpetuation of a diverse array of recreat...

Endangered outdoor recreation experiences: contextual development and lexicon.

Small mammal diversity and distribution was assessed for three ecotypes at Oakwood Lakes Game Production Area in eastern South Dakota. Ecotypes were an eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) stand, native grassland consisting mainly of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), and switchgrass (Panicium virgatum), and a cultivated corn (Zea mays) food plot. Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) (38%), shorttailed shrews (Blarina brevicauda) (38%), masked shrews (Sorex cinereus) (12%), meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) (6%), a meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius) (3%), and a thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Citellus tridecemlineatus) (3%) were trapped using snap, pitfall, and small live traps. Species were combined into mice (i.e., deer mice and meadow voles) and shrews (i.e., short-tailed shrews and masked shrews) to test the hypothesis that distribution of small mammals differed across ecotypes. No significant difference in species diversity (P=0.118) or distribution (P= 0.700) was found among ecotypes. Results indicate that necessary ecological components exist in nonnative, human induced habitats to support populations of small mammals.

Variation in small mammal richness among ecotypes in eastern south dakota

Assessment of Instream Flow and Habitat Requirements for Cagle's Map Turtle (Graptemys caglei)

Columbia ground squirrels were studied in natural alpine forest openings. Three sites were selected having the same potential but presently with different vegetation due to differing levels of past domestic sheep use. Ground squirrel population was least in the light-use area and increased with vegetation change induced by increased sheep use. Juveniles were most plentiful in the mediumuse site and least in the heavy-use area. Up to a point, ground squirrel population increased with plant retrogression. With continued retrogression the community became less suitable to support a healthy population because of less preferred forage species. Lupinus sericeus was the most preferred forb. Other species included Achillea millefolium and Descurania richardsonii, species not generally preferred by sheep. The discussion of sheepground squirrel relative impacts also considers metabolic requirement, grazing period and animal density of both grazers. Natural forest openings in the subalpine zone provide the bulk of the forage on domestic sheep summer range in central Idaho. In these openings Columbia ground squirrels (Citellus columbianus) are readily observed as they forage and sit up near burrow entrances, quietly observing their surroundings and darting into the safety of the burrow when alarmed by unfamiliar sound or movement. The foraging activity is confined to daylight hours during the growing season. Depending on locality, these animals hibernate for 7 or 8 months (Shaw 1926). The adult ground squirrel weighs about a pound (450 g), with males outweighing females. Observations suggest that the Columbia ground squirrel competes for the same forage utilized by domestic sheep on the summer range. Other studies have indicated that ground squirrel populations increase with livestock grazing primarily because changes in composition and structure of the vegetation provide greater visibility for the small animal (Smith 1940, Howard and Childs 1959). Because of the importance of the subalpine forest openings for domestic sheep grazing and the association of these openings to the Columbia ground squirrel, it is important that the interrelationships are better understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the diet of the Columbia ground squirrel, its effect(s) on plant communities and population response in relation to domestic sheep grazing.

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Wildlife Management Techniques

Citations

Partial Skeleton of an Elk-moose, Cervalces scotti, from Chippewa Lake, Medina County, Ohio

Endangered outdoor recreation experiences: contextual development and lexicon.

Variation in small mammal richness among ecotypes in eastern south dakota

Assessment of Instream Flow and Habitat Requirements for Cagle's Map Turtle (Graptemys caglei)

Columbia ground squirrel in subalpine forest openings in central Idaho Citellus columbianus, sheep grazing.

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