Small Mammal

Interested in learning how to trap small mammals? The small mammal project is conducted at Schmeeckle Reserve twice a year (once in the fall semester and once in the spring semester). A grid of 36 Sherman Live Traps are set up for two weeks and checked twice a day at 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The purpose of this project is to take a diversity of census of small mammals such as flying squirrels, deer mice, white footed mice, voles, shrews, and chipmunks. Information is taken on the animals trapped, such as, sex, age, species, (if new capture) ear tag is put on the critter and recorded, (if recapture) ear tag number recorded, (for mice only) ear length, habitat, and trap condition. New safety regulations have been incorporated into the project for the prevention of zoonotic diseases. If it is raining or below 30º F the traps are closed to prevent the small mammals from dying in the traps. A cool thing about this project is that we never know what we are going to catch. In the fall semester trapping (2004-2005) we were successful in catching a Northern Flying Squirrel.

This project offers students a chance to learn important professional skill of wildlife biologists related to live trapping, conducting research, sexing, and identification of small mammals. This project is highly recommended for students that are planning to go to Treehaven or the Europe trip to prepare you for the trapping that you will have to conduct there, anyone interested in research, or anyone that just wants to have fun. You will gain excellence experiences through this project that you won't find elsewhere.