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  2 nd 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  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 improvements Maintain corridors Preserve snags, logs, downed trees Conduct timber harvest Construct brush piles Mow/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 Open 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 – 2011 Timber harvest conducted.  Fall – 2011 Brush piles constructed from slash results of timber harvest.  Winter – 2011 Second 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 – 2012 Third population counts conducted of the species.  Year Four-Six:  Continue steps previously taken throughout the first three years (except timber harvest). 33Small Mammals

Budget Neithercut Management Budget Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5Year 6 Prescribed Burning Timber Harvest$50/hr*12hr= $600 total Brushhog Rental047.50/day Tractor Rental /day Squirrel Trap Equipment Flashlights Fuel075 Miscellaneous/Mainte nance Costs 100 Labor200 Totals$1,350.00$679.50$1, Total Costs$8, Income from Timber Harvest 0Approximately 50, Net Total$41, Small Mammals

QUESTIONS?? 35Small Mammals