Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado — John Shaqi
Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, ColoradoAnderson, Sydney
Science
Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
Anderson, Sydney
Mammals -- Colorado -- Mesa Verde National Park
In August three females were pregnant or lactating, or both. None of
seven adult females taken in November was pregnant.
Neotoma cinerea arizonae Merriam Bushy-tailed Wood Rat
_Specimen_: Head of Prater Canyon, MV 7873/507. Another, in the
Denver Museum, from Spruce Tree House, was reported by Finley
(1958:270).
_Neotoma cinerea_ prefers vertical crevices in high cliffs but occupies
other areas.
Neotoma mexicana inopinata Goldman Mexican Wood Rat
_Specimens examined._--Total, 10: Headquarters, MV 7890/507 and
probably 7861/507, 74421 MVZ; Spruce Tree Lodge, 6950 ft.,
34802-34803; Spruce Tree House, 74419-74420 MVZ; Square Tower
House, MV 7869/507; Cliff Palace, 74422 MVZ; Balcony House, MV
7868/507.
The Mexican wood rat is the most common species of wood rat on the Mesa
Verde. The two specimens from Spruce Tree Lodge obtained by R.B. Finley
on September 2, 1949, are young individuals.
Another species of the genus, the white-throated wood rat, _Neotoma
albigula_, may occur within the Park, since three specimens
(34757-34759) from the Mesa Verde were trapped on September 15,
1949, by R.B. Finley, approximately 4-1/2 miles south of the Park
[6 mi. E, 17 mi. S Cortez, 5600 ft.--south of the area shown in
Figure 2]. Finley (1958:450) stated that at that locality he
trapped _Neotoma mexicana_ [No. 34801], that _N. albigula_ was
perhaps more common there than _N. mexicana_, that dens of _N.
albigula_ were more common than those of _N. mexicana_ under large
rocks in the talus on the south slope of the Mesa, and that dens of
_N. mexicana_ seemed to be more numerous in crevices of ledges in
the bedrock and cliffs.
Ondatra zibethicus osoyoosensis (Lord) Muskrat
D. Watson (in letter of January 16, 1957) reported that he has seen
muskrat tracks many times along the Mancos River. He also relates a
report received from Chief Ranger Wade and D.A. Spencer who saw a
muskrat, no doubt a wanderer, on the Knife Edge Road on a cold winter
night. These men, both reliable observers, stopped and saw the muskrat
at a distance of two feet, where it took shelter under a power shovel
parked beside the road. Reports of dens seen along the Mancos River are
available for 1944, 1945, 1946, and 1947.
Microtus longicaudus mordax (Merriam) Long-tailed Vole
_Specimens examined._--Total, 36: North end Mesa Verde National
Park, 7000 ft., 76233-76237; entrance to Mesa Verde National Park,
5123-5126 in Denver Museum; Prater Canyon, 7600 ft., 76238-76244;
Upper Well, Prater Canyon, 7575 ft., 69441; Morfield Canyon, 7600
ft., 76245-76259, 76261-76263; west bank Mancos River, northeast
side Mesa Verde National Park, 76260.
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