3.7 Mammals
Research is needed to better understand bat presence, abundance, and distribution in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, especially for those mountain species that are at-risk due to WNS and have populations living in other parts of the state that may serve to rescue mountain populations in the future. Tere is a need to identify where these Coastal and Piedmont populations are roosting and foraging, so that we can protect these habitats. Long-term survey sites for mist-netting bats have been established in the Mountain region of North Carolina, but much less information is known about the distribution and abun- dance of bats in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. Tere is a knowledge gap regarding the abundance and trends in abundance of Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel due to low captures and recaptures. Acoustics surveys are rela- tively new and a protocol is still being developed. An acoustic call flter and classifer are needed. A robust, long-term monitoring approach using appropriate survey techniques (e.g., nest box surveys and acoustic surveys to monitor occupancy over time) is needed. Research is needed to test for heavy metals and other contaminants in Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel (USFWS 1990) . It is also not known how pervasive the Strongyloides robustus nematode is in the Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel population. In addition to the SGCN priorities listed in Table 3.19, species for which the Taxa Team determined there are research priorities because of knowledge gaps are identifed in Table 3.21
T ABLE 3.21 Mammal knowledge-gap priority species
Federal/ State Status*
Order
Scientifc Name Mustela nivalis Spilogale putorius Lasiurus cinereus Lasiurus seminolus
Common Name Least Weasel
Carnivora
— — — — — — — — —
Eastern Spotted Skunk
Chiroptera
Hoary Bat
Seminole Bat
Microtus pennsylvanicus nigrans Dismal Swamp Meadow Vole
Rodentia
Ochrotomys nuttalli
Golden Mouse
Microtus pennsylvanicus nigrans Dismal Swamp Meadow Vole
Ochrotomys nuttalli
Golden Mouse
Reithrodontomys humulis
Eastern Harvest Mouse Appalachian Cottontail Southern Bog Lemming
Sylvilagus obscurus Synaptomys cooperi
FSC/ —
— — — — —
Synaptomys cooperi helaletes Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Dismal Swamp Southern Bog Lemming
Red Squirrel
Zapus hudsonius Condylura cristata
Meadow Jumping Mouse
Soricomorpha
Star-nosed Mole Star-nosed Mole Hairy-tailed Mole
Condylura cristata pop. 1
—/SC
Parascalops breweri
—
* See Table 3.2 for abbreviations.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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