Forest carnivore inventory Olympic National Park conducted during the winters of 2001-2002 and 2002-2003
Happe P, Beirne K, Cantway C, Manson D, Smith D. 2005. Forest carnivore inventory Olympic National Park conducted during the winters of 2001-2002 and 2002-2003. National Park Service. Olympic National Park, Port Angeles, WA
We used remotely triggered camera traps to inventory forest carnivores throughout forested habitat in Olympic National Park during the winters of 2001-2002 and 2002-2003. Due to logistical constraints, equipment malfunctions, and inclement weather, we had greater than anticipated difficulty in sampling to protocol; we were only able to sample in 13 4 mi squared blocks each year, for a total of 26 blocks sampled to protocol over the 2 winters of the study. However, we obtained over 1270 animal pictures, and detected 21 different species, 7 of which were forest carnivores (ermine, long-tailed weasel, spotted skunk, bobcat, mountain lion, coyote, and black bear). The most common forest carnivore detected was the spotted skunk; it was detected throughout the park, in 42% of the blocks and in 50% of the animal pictures. We obtained no detection of the fisher, confirming our belief that the species has been extirpated from the Park. We also did not detect any marten, raising concerns about the conservation status of this species in Olympic National Park, and coastal Washington.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Happe, Patti; Beirne, Kathy; Cantway, Chris; Manson, Dave; Smith, Don
- Date of Issue
- 2005-01
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- OLYM
- Keywords
- Black Bear, Bobcat, camera traps, Canis latrans, Coyote, ermine, Felis concolor, Fisher, forest carnivore, Inventory, long-tailed weasel, Lynx rufus, Mammal Inventory, Marten, Martes americana, Martes pennanti, Mountain Lion, Mustela erminea, Mustela frenata, Spilogale putorius, spotted skunk, Ursus americanus
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Mammals