Habitat of three rare species of small mammals in juniper woodlands of southwestern Wyoming

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Southwestern Wyoming constitutes the northern limit of the ranges of the cliff chipmunk (Tamias dorsalis), pinyon mouse (Peromyscus truei), and canyon mouse (P. crinitus). In addition to trying to determine their presence in the region, we wanted to identify habitat characteristics commonly used by each of these species. We used Sherman live-traps to sample 14 sites representing 2 distinct habitat types in 1998 and 1999: juniper-rocky slopes and juniper cliffs. Seventeen habitat characteristics were measured at capture locations for each species and compared with randomly located points. Best subsets multiple logistic regression was used to construct models that distinguish between used and available habitat for each species. The cliff chipmunk occurred in both rocky slopes and cliffs. The pinyon mouse was also captured in rocky slopes and cliffs and was most often captured in locations in the interior of the juniper woodland with high tree canopy cover, high forb cover, and low density of rock outcrops. The canyon mouse was captured only in cliffs at sites consisting of high forb cover, high rock cover, and high tree density.

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Reference Code: A04ROM01IDUS

Full Citation: Rompola, K. M., and S. H. Anderson. 2004. Habitat of three rare species of small mammals in juniper woodlands of southwestern Wyoming. Western North American Naturalist 64(1): 86-92.

Location: ANIMAL EF: MAMMALS