Winter food habits and foraging behaviour of fishers (Martes pennanti) and martens (Martes americana) in southeastern Manitoba

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 745-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Michael Raine
Keyword(s):  
Food Habits ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Martes Americana ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Martes Pennanti ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
Pine Martens ◽  
Winter Food ◽  
Frequency Occurrence

A tracking study of fishers, Martes pennanti, and American pine martens, Martes americana, conducted over two winters in southeastern Manitoba showed that both species preyed heavily on snowshoe hares, Lepus americanus, during a period of hare abundance. Fishers had an 84.3% frequency occurrence (n = 159) of hares in their scats, while martens had a frequency occurrence of 58.9% (n = 107). Martens had a higher frequency of microtincs and red squirrels, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, in their diets than did fishers. This difference was reflected in the foraging behaviour of the two species, with martens exhibiting more subnivean and arboreal behaviour than fishers.

Douglas-fir Clippings by American Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus): A Potential Winter Food Source for Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

2011 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-76
Author(s):  
Roy V. Rea ◽  
Dexter P. Hodder ◽  
Inka Lücke
Keyword(s):  
Food Source ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Winter Food

Costs of escalated territorial defence in red squirrels

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 1162-1167 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kari Stuart-Smith ◽  
Stan Boutin
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Reproductive Status ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Territorial Disputes ◽  
Theoretical Studies ◽  
Reproductive Costs ◽  
Sunflower Seeds ◽  
Territorial Defence ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
And Control

The costs of escalated territorial defence have not been well-documented, although in theoretical studies they are often assumed to be high. We manipulated territorial defence in red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) to assess the costs of territorial disputes in terms of energy, reproductive status, and predation. Feeders containing sunflower seeds were used to manipulate foraging behaviour and induce territorial disputes. Experimental squirrels displayed dramatically higher rates of territorial behaviours in response to feeders, and while there was no difference in survival between experimental and control squirrels, in 4 of the 17 disputes territory owners lost their territories. All 3 females that did so suffered reproductive costs. Territorial disputes were won by the heavier squirrels in all 12 cases where contestants were of different masses, but where the contestants were of similar masses (4 of 5 cases), territory owners were more likely to win.

Prédation on red squirrels during a snowshoe hare decline

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 713-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kari Stuart-Smith ◽  
Stan Boutin
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Population Cycles ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Snowshoe Hare ◽  
Juvenile Survival ◽  
Red Squirrel ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Snowshoe Hares

We examined the extent and impact of predation on red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) during a cyclic decline of snowshoe hares in the southwestern Yukon, Canada. We monitored survival of squirrels on three control grids and a predator exclosure from March 1991 through August 1993. On controls, adult survival during the breeding season decreased from 1991, when snowshoe hare populations were high, to 1992, when hare populations declined rapidly. Survival increased slightly in 1993, when hare and predator populations were very low. Similarly, adult survival during winter was lower in 1992 – 1993 than in 1991 – 1992. Adult survival on the exclosure remained similar in each breeding season but declined during winter 1992 – 1993. Adult survival was similar on the controls and the exclosure in each year except during winter 1991–1992 and the 1992 breeding season, when it was lower on the controls. There was no difference in juvenile survival between the controls and the exclosure. Despite the decrease in adult survival due to predation, there was no population decline on any of the control grids. We conclude that predation did not have a measurable impact on red squirrel densities at Kluane and that it is unlikely red squirrels show 10-year population cycles in conjunction with snowshoe hares.

scholarly journals Influence of Fertilization on Feeding Attacks to Lodgepole Pine by Snowshoe Hares and Red Squirrels

1982 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 263-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Sullivan ◽  
Druscilla S. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Average Amount ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Animal Damage ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
Yield Responses ◽  
And Control

Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.) shows favourable growth and yield responses to spacing (thinning) and potentially to fertilization, but is susceptible to feeding injuries by snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben) and red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Erxleben). This study was designed to determine the incidence of animal damage to crop trees in a fertilized-spaced stand, compared with those in spaced only and control (unspaced) stands. There was little variation in the percentage of crop trees (range 53.6% to 63.3%) damaged by hares in the three stands. Hares removed an average of 92.2 cm2 of bark and associated vascular tissues per attack from fertilized stems compared with 46.2 cm2 in the spaced only stand. This latter value was nearly double that recorded in the control stand (27.4 cm2). Squirrels damaged more fertilized trees (38.9%) than trees in the spaced (30.9%) or control (14.3%) stands. Squirrels removed the largest average amount of bark (66.9 cm2) per attack from fertilized stems with little difference between spaced (41.6 cm2) and control (42.3 cm2) stands. We conclude that hares and squirrels clearly prefer to feed on fertilized lodgepole pine stems over those in non-fertilized or un-managed stands.

scholarly journals Potential of Small Culverts as Wildlife Passages on Forest Roads

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7224
Author(s):  
Hsiang-Ling Chen ◽  
Erin E. Posthumus ◽  
John L. Koprowski
Keyword(s):  
Animal Movement ◽  
Small Dimension ◽  
Lynx Rufus ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Forest Roads ◽  
Alternative Pathways ◽  
Slow Moving ◽  
Trail Cameras ◽  
Spermophilus Variegatus

Roads and traffic can cause animal mortality. Specifically, roads serve as barriers by impeding animal movement, resulting in demographic and genetic consequences. Drainage structures, such as culverts, can provide linkages between habitat patches. However, the potential of small culverts with diameters of <60 cm (e.g., wildlife passages that facilitate movement on forest roads) are relatively unknown. In this study, we used trail cameras to monitor the use of 14 small culverts, by mammals, along forest roads on Mt. Graham, home of the critically endangered Mt. Graham red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis), in southeastern Arizona, USA. From 2011 to 2013, we only recorded 20 completed road crossings through culverts. More than half of culvert uses were by striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), followed by the rock squirrel (Spermophilus variegatus) and the bobcat (Lynx rufus). The Mt. Graham red squirrel was the only species that was common along the roads, but never crossed the roads. Culverts with higher usages were characterized by shorter culvert lengths and absence of accumulated soil inside the culverts. Our study shows that small-dimension drainage systems may provide alternative pathways for wildlife crossing roads, especially for slow moving and ground dwelling species. However, the potential of small culverts assisting wildlife crossings can only be maximized when culverts are accessible year-round.

Jack pine cone quality and cache sizes of red squirrels in southern New Brunswick, Canada

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 332-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Setterington ◽  
Daniel M. Keppie
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Length Width ◽  
Total Seed ◽  
Number Of Seeds

Relationships between external cone characteristics (length, width, wet and dry mass), cone quality (total seed mass as a proportion of cone mass, total number of seeds per cone, total seed mass per cone), and number of cones in caches were evaluated for caches of jack pine (Pinus banksiana) cones belonging to red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) in two plantations in southern New Brunswick. Cone length and mass were good predictors of the total number of seeds per cone and total seed mass per cone. Length accounted for a small proportion of the variance of total seed mass as a proportion of cone mass. There was no relationship between the number of seeds or total seed mass per cone and the number of cones per cache.

Comparison of Behavior Development in Snowshoe Hares and Red Squirrels

1956 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret M. Nice ◽  
Constance Nice ◽  
Dorothea Ewers
Keyword(s):  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Behavior Development ◽  
Snowshoe Hares

Fusion of the distal femoral epiphysis in male and female marten and fisher

1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (11) ◽  
pp. 1514-1518 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. I. Dagg ◽  
D. Leach ◽  
G. Sumner-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Good Method ◽  
Martes Americana ◽  
Martes Pennanti ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Distal Femoral Epiphysis

The distal femoral epiphyses of 142 marten (Martes americana) and 391 fisher (Martes pennanti), all trapped from November to February in the Algonquin region of Ontario, were radiographed to determine their state of fusion and the presence or absence of scar lines. These criteria indicated that on the average fusion occurred first in female marten, then in male marten, female fisher, and finally in male fisher. Thus the time of fusion in these mustelids was a function of size and possibly also of sex. Radiography of the femur of winter-trapped marten and fisher is not a good method of aging these species because the degree of fusion does not necessarily differentiate juveniles from adults.

SEASONAL DAMAGE BY INSECTS AND SQUIRRELS TO FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE STRUCTURES OF BLACK SPRUCE, PICEA MARIANA (MILL.) B.S.P.

1988 ◽  
Vol 120 (12) ◽  
pp. 1113-1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.H. Prévost ◽  
J.E. Laing ◽  
V.F. Haavisto
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Red Squirrel ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Reproductive Structures ◽  
Cone Axis ◽  
Viable Seeds ◽  
Cone Growth

AbstractThe seasonal damage to female reproductive structures (buds, flowers, and cones) of black spruce, Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P., was assessed during 1983 and 1984. Nineteen insects (five Orders) and the red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (Erxleben), were found feeding on these reproductive structures. Collectively, these organisms damaged 88.9 and 53.5% of the cones in 1983 and 1984, respectively. In the 2 years, Lepidoptera damaged 61.8% of the cones in 1983 and 44.4% of the cones in 1984. The spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), and the spruce coneworm, Dioryctria reniculelloides Mut. and Mun., were the most important pests. Cones damaged by Lepidoptera could be classed into three categories: (a) severe, yielding no seeds; (b) moderate, yielding 22.3 seeds per cone; and (c) light, yielding 37.5 seeds per cone. Undamaged cones yielded on average 39.9 seeds per cone. Red squirrels removed 18.8% of the cones in 1983 and none in 1984. The spruce cone axis midge, Dasineura rachiphaga Tripp, and the spruce cone maggot, Lasiomma anthracinum (Czerny), caused minor damage in both years. Feeding by spruce cone axis midge did not reduce cone growth significantly or the number of viable seeds per cone, but feeding by the spruce cone maggot did. During both years new damage by insects to the female reproductive structures of the experimental trees was not observed after mid-July. In 1983 damage by red squirrels occurred from early to late September. In 1984 damage to cones on trees treated with dimethoate was 15.6% compared with 53.5% for untreated trees, without an increase in the number of aborted cones.

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