Don Brown

Mandy Oberholzer

Rob Herman

Overview

This management plan is designed for the Eastern gray squirrel, Eastern cottontail, and North American porcupine for the Neithercut Woodland.

Utilizes habitat alterations. Will be profitable to CMU monetarily and

educationally.

2Small Mammals

North American Porcupine

(Erethizon dorsatum)3Small Mammals

Life History

2nd largest rodent in North America Only species in its genus Generally brown, yellow and white in

quills Compact, round bodies – excellent

climbers Barbed quills Predators

4Small Mammals

Reproduction

Sexually dimorphic Mate in fall One baby born in spring (200 days) Weaned for 4 months 25-30 months until sexual maturity

5Small Mammals

Diet

Herbivorous Spring – berries, nuts, buds, twigs Winter – bark, cambium, needles Consume 10% of body weight per day Strong attraction to salt

6Small Mammals

Habitat

Very adaptable to living conditions Solitary – territorial Dens Active all year

7Small Mammals

Range

Yukon territory down throughout Canada Northern U.S. West of Rockies down to Northern

Mexico

8Small Mammals

Eastern Cottontail

(Sylvilagus floridanus)

9Small Mammals

Life History

Red/gray-brown in color Large hind legs Fluffy tail, hence term “cottontail” Molt twice a year Male – buck, Female - doe

10Small Mammals

Reproduction

Breed from March-late summer(3-4/yr.) 28 day gestation period Litter size: 1-7 (usually 3-4) Leave nest after 2 weeks

11Small Mammals

Diet

Herbivorous Herbaceous and woody plants

depending on the season Wide variety of food consumed

12Small Mammals

Habitat

Predators Diseases/Parasites Transitional habitats preferred Open grasslands

13Small Mammals

Range

Home ranges Occurs sympatrically Prevalent in diverse habitats Eastern North America down to

Northern South America

14Small Mammals

Eastern Gray Squirrel

(Sciurus carolinensis)15Small Mammals

Life History

Tree squirrel Generally gray in color Body size Live in “drays” during summer, tree

holes during winter Don’t hibernate Hours active during the day

16Small Mammals

Reproduction

Mate twice per year Males court for 5 days 44 day gestation period 2-4 young per breeding season

17Small Mammals

Diet

Omnivorous Tree seeds, fruits, flowers, etc. Herbaceous plants Fungi Insects Eggs, nestlings, frogs Scatter hoarding

18Small Mammals

Habitat

Predators Continuous, mature hardwood forests Mixed forests Diverse vegetation in understory

preferred Very adaptable – fragmentation, urban

areas

19Small Mammals

Range

Central/eastern North America from southern Canada to Gulf of Mexico

Other areas introduced

20Small Mammals

Management Goals/Objectives Maintain stable populations of North

American porcupines, Eastern gray squirrels, and Eastern cottontails through habitat improvements.

21Small Mammals

Neithercut Description

Clare County, Michigan 252 acres Diverse habitats Carved by glaciers 4 trails, 2 creeks

22Small Mammals

Management Recommendations Stabilize populations via habitat

improvementsMaintain corridorsPreserve snags, logs, downed treesConduct timber harvestConstruct brush pilesMow/disk to stimulate new growth

23Small Mammals

Preserve Snags/Downed trees

24Small Mammals

Construct brush piles

25Small Mammals

Mow/disk to stimulate new growth

26Small Mammals

Maintain corridors

27Small Mammals

Timber Harvest

28Small Mammals

Evaluating/Monitoring

• E. gray squirrel Visual counts Hair tube surveys Drey counts

• N.A. porcupine Visual counts Den counts

• E. cottontail Spotlight transects Warren monitoring Rabbits counts Gibb/McLean scales

29Small Mammals

Success Criteria

All three species determined to be living in Neithercut, then no further management steps necessary.

30Small Mammals

Timeline Year One: Spring – 2010

Meeting with foresters to survey the land for the timber harvest.

Summer -2010Open up bidding to local timber companies

for the woodland. Winter – 2010

Initial population counts conducted of the species.

31Small Mammals

Year Two: Spring – 2011

Initial mowing/disking of a strip of open grassland.

Summer – 2011Timber harvest conducted.

Fall – 2011Brush piles constructed from slash results of

timber harvest.

Winter – 2011Second population counts conducted of the

species.

32Small Mammals

Year Three: Spring – 2012

First prescribed burn takes place in the upland grassland.

Second mowing/disking of a strip of open grassland.

Winter – 2012Third population counts conducted of the species.

Year Four-Six: Continue steps previously taken throughout the

first three years (except timber harvest).

33Small Mammals

BudgetNeithercut Management Budget

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6

Prescribed Burning 0 0 967.83 967.83 967.83 967.83

Timber Harvest $50/hr*12hr= $600 total

0 0 0 0 0

Brushhog Rental 0 47.50/day 47.50/day 47.50/day 47.50/day 47.50/day

Tractor Rental 0 257.00/day 257.00/day 257.00/day 257.00/day 257.00/day

Squirrel Trap Equipment

300 0 0 0 0 0

Flashlights 150 0 0 0 0 0

Fuel 0 75 75 75 75 75

Miscellaneous/Maintenance Costs

100 100 100 100 100 100

Labor 200 200 200 200 200 200

Totals $1,350.00 $679.50 $1,647.33 $1,647.33 $1,647.33 $1,647.33

Total Costs $8,618.82          

Income from Timber Harvest

0 Approximately 50,000

0 0 0 0

Net Total $41,381.18          

34Small Mammals

QUESTIONS??

35Small Mammals