Appalachian Trail Mammal Inventory for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut

Sedivec, Samantha; Whidden, Howard

We conducted a targeted inventory for mammals along 742 km (460 miles) of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) from Connecticut through Pennsylvania. Our primary goal was to document all non-volant mammalian taxa listed as Critically Imperiled (S1), Imperiled (S2), or Vulnerable (S3) in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, as well as several taxa whose status is currently unclear (e.g., S3S4 or SU). Other mammals that were captured or observed during the course of the inventory were also recorded. Fieldwork was conducted from May 2005 through April 2007 in a corridor extending 152 m (500 feet) on either side of the AT centerline. We used a variety of inventory techniques to maximize the number of species detected, including live traps, snap traps, pitfall traps, nest boxes, motion-sensor cameras, and direct observation of mammals and their sign. We documented seven of our target taxa: Maryland shrew (Sorex fontinalis), American water shrew (Sorex palustris), Kittatinny red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi rupicola), southern bog lemming (Synaptomys cooperi), bobcat (Lynx rufus), fisher (Martes pennanti), and American black bear (Ursus americanus). We also documented 23 non-target species: Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), northern short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda), masked shrew (Sorex cinereus), smoky shrew (Sorex fumeus), American beaver (Castor canadensis), eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus), eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans), woodchuck (Marmota monax), meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), southern red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi), white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius), woodland jumping mouse (Napaeozapus insignis), North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), northern raccoon (Procyon lotor), coyote (Canis latrans), long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata), striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We did not record 13 of our target species: least shrew (Cryptotis parva), long-tailed shrew (Sorex dispar), eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), rock vole (Microtus chrotorrhinus), deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister), New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), American marten (Martes americana), least weasel (Mustela nivalis), northern river otter (Lontra canadensis), and moose (Alces alces). The failure to document these species may be because most of these species are habitat specialists and their preferred habitats are limited or absent within the Appalachian Trail corridor. It may also be because they are naturally rare, secretive, or trap-shy, are present but not likely to be encountered in the field, or some combination of these factors. We conclude that the Appalachian National Scenic Trail corridor provides important habitat for the conservation of many mammalian species, including those at risk of extinction.

Appalachian Trail Mammal Inventory for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut

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