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Extirpated and Rare Species of
New York State
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Elk (Red Deer: Cervus elaphus• Historically low densities in NYS
• 1893 – 1906: 332 Rocky Mtn. elk were introduced to Adirondack Park
• 1953: extirpated (hunting, poaching and roundworm brain worm; loss of lg. predators, increase in deer, spread of brain worm)
• Matriarchal and social (males keep harems)
• Considered pests by farmers
• 6 tined antlers
• Noisiest deer species
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Wolverine: Gulo guloHistorically present - last known in NYS in1840
Habitat: large expanses of forests and other
isolated, boreal ecosystems.
Reproduction: Breed in summer; 30-50 day
gestation; birth in Spring? (~ 250 days later)
Induced ovulation and Delayed implantation
Now described as “The Rarest Mammal in North America”
Causes of decline:
• Require large, undeveloped areas
• Increased human access
(hunting, trapping)
• decline of large mammals and their
carcasses (which wolverines fed on)
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Canada lynx: Lynx canadensis15 kg; ~ twice as large as bobcat (L. rufus)
Historically present in ADKs and northern forests of NYS
1890: last confirmed specimen in NYS
Causes for Extirpation:Deforestation, over-hunting and trappingRequire large, intact wilderness, snowshoe hares (winter)
Reintroduction: 1988 – 1990
• 83 released (from a Canadian populations); hard release (instead of in stages) in Adirondacks by ESF and DEC researchers• mortalities on roads, etc.• One dispersed to NJ• Unsuccessful: Lack of funding, inadequate follow-up
and no report or data made available for improved plan
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Wolf: Canis lupus and C. rufus
Red wolf: Canis rufus
Historically present in NYS (Grey in north; Red in south)
• One of its largest native predators; maintained population levels of prey, including deer (prevented over-grazing, …)
• 1890: Last confirmed population
Causes for Extirpation:•Persecution – hunting, trapping and bounties•Fragmentation•Loss of large expansive of undisturbed, undeveloped lands•Reintroductions successful in Yellowstone, …•Others expanding south into Great Lakes Region on their own
prey
Grey wolf: Canis lupus
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Mountain lion: Puma concolorHistorically present: one of largest
predators since the ice age
• 1908: Last specimen in NYS
• Causes for decline: Persecution Fragmentation Decline in Prey (elk, …)
Yellow – historic range
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Allegheny woodrat: Neotoma magister• Historically present in southern NYS
• 1987: Last specimen
• Causes for decline:Habitat fragmentation, chestnut blightParasite – “raccoon” roundwormVector: raccoonPackrats – collect material to their nest/middens, including feces of raccoons spread the roundworms
~ 350 g
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Least weasel: Mustela nivalis• Smallest carnivore in
North America
• Consumes ½ weight, ~ 2-3 mice, per day
• Generally widespread and
abundant where it occurs, but now rare in NYS
• Factors for decline: Competition with other weasel species Climate change (it is a northern species)
Long-tailed Short-tailed (80 g) Least (50 g)300g (males),
Molar, carnassial, 2 premolars
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New England cottontail:Sylvilagus transitionalis
• Range declined by 75% since 1960: IUCN Vulnerable
• Occasionally present in extreme eastern NYS
• Often misidentified/confused with eastern cottontail rabbit
• Distribution limited to parts of New England, and is declining
• Habitat – early successional woodlands and thickets with tangled vegetation (provides food and cover from predators)
• Causes for decline
• Forest maturation
• Introduction of non-native plants (multiflora rose,
honeysuckle bush and autumn olive) replace preferred plants
• Competition with S. floridanus (whose range is expanding)
Adults ~ 1 kg
Smaller than Easter CT, with black on head and ears
http://www.mnh.si.edu/mna/full_image.cfm?image_id=336�
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We didn’t kill them all!Successful “management” actions(often involves stopping mis-management = over-harvesting, habitat loss, …)
• Closed hunting/trapping seasons and • Habitat restoration, • Reintroductions
recovery of some species in NYS
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Odocoileus virginianus
Perhaps too successful! Overabundance over-browsing, decline in habitat for other species (passerine birds); spread disease, round worm ( brain worm in Elk)habitat management for this mid-successional (edge habitat) species decline of late-successional (mature forest) species.
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Castor canadensis
Decline: overharvesting - trapped for their fur and for castor (used in “perfumes”)Recovery: controlled trappingNow, considered a nuisance at times depending on where dams are built (along highways): provide critical habitat for many amphibians, fish and other aquatic organisms or species depending on wet soils
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Lutra canadensis
Decline: overharvesting - trapped for their fur and for castor (used in “perfumes”)Recovery: controlled trapping and reintroductions
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Martes americana (Marten)
• Declined substantially the late 1800s and early 1900s, primarily due to habitat loss caused by intensive logging, and overharvesting by trappers.
• In 1936, New York closed the marten trapping season. Over the next 42 years, martens re-occupied much of their former Adirondack range.
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Martes pennanti (Fisher)
• Declined substantially the late 1800s and early 1900s, primarily due to habitat loss (prefer mature coniferous forests) caused by intensive logging, and over-trappers.
• Populations rebounded after trapping season was closed, and while forest succession continued toward more mature stands of coniferous forests.
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Extirpated, Rare Species,
and Recovering Mammals
of New York State
Extirpated and Rare Species of �New York StateElk (Red Deer: Cervus elaphusWolverine: Gulo guloCanada lynx: Lynx canadensisWolf: Canis lupus and C. rufusMountain lion: Puma concolorAllegheny woodrat: Neotoma magisterLeast weasel: �Mustela nivalisNew England cottontail:� Sylvilagus transitionalisSlide Number 10Slide Number 11Odocoileus virginianusCastor canadensisLutra canadensisMartes americana (Marten)Martes pennanti (Fisher)Extirpated, Rare Species, and Recovering Mammals of New York State