Santa Cruz Island and the Carizo Plains

Charles Hood sent me a short report of a recent visit to look for Island Foxes and other stuff on Santa Cruz Island, with a stop at the Carizo Plains.

Its linked at the bottom of http://mammalwatching.com/Nearctic/nearctusacalifornia.html

Jon

New reports from the Western Sahara

Richard Webb sent me a couple of reports (from others) of mammals in the Western Sahara. It seems like there’s a lot to see there still and Sand Cats are relatively common.

Oued Ad-Dehab, Western Sahara, 2012: Richard Moores, 1 week & 6 species including 3 Sand Cat sightings. This paper and more information is also on http://www.go-south.org.

Oued Ad-Dehab, Western Sahara, 2012: Franch Chevalier, notes on terrestial mammals in the region. Sightings include Sand Cats, Libyan Striped Polecat, Dorcas Gazelle and Fenenc Foxes (in French). This paper and more information is also on http://www.go-south.org.

Both reports are at http://mammalwatching.com/Palearctic/palearctmorocco.html

Jon

New Trip Reports: Taman Negara & India

Two new reports on Mammalwatching.com

Taman Negara, 2012: Paul Carter, 6 nights & 22 species including some nice rodents, 3 Civet species and Malaysian Tapir. Linked at the bottom of http://mammalwatching.com/Oriental/orientmalaysia.html

India, 2012: Juan Luis Ortega Arranz, 3 weeks & 31 species including Snow Leopard, Asiatic Lion, Striped Hyena and Tigers. Linked at the bottom of http://mammalwatching.com/Oriental/orientindia.html

Jon

Awful news from the DRC Okapi Reserve

Okapi Conservation Project, Epulu Update – June 28,

Following the attack on Sunday morning by mai mai rebels on the Institute in the Congo for Conservation of Nature (ICCN) headquarters and Okapi Conservation Project base of operations in Epulu it was 48 hours later on Tuesday morning when the Congolese Army (FARDC) and Monusco (UN) troops finally took control of the area around the town of Epulu. Security is being extended along the road in order to allow residents to return to their homes in Epulu. The tragic outcome of the attack on the Epulu Station and Okapi Wildlife Reserve Headquarters has now been verified by ICCN and OCP personnel on site in Epulu. The destruction rendered by the rebels is far worse than anyone could have imagined.

Read more at http://www.okapiconservation.org/news/okapi-conservation-project-epulu-update-june-28-2012/

Jon

moles and voles

Dear All,

A few updates from recent trips in Southeastern US:

Hairy-tailed moles are currently easy to (partially) see at Rhododendron Gardens above Roan Mt. State Park (TN). Tunnels crossing unpaved trails get destroyed by tourists every day, then repaired by moles at dusk. Note that the area is closed at night, so you’ll have to walk a few km from the parking lot at the Gap. The moles will only keep working if you use red light.

Allegheny cottontails and woodrats are currently present along the road to Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mts Nat’l Park. In six hours of driving last night, I saw three and one (but cooperative), respectively, plus at least a dozen white-footed mice.

I also found a maternity colony of Rafinesque’s big-eared bats in one of historic log cabins in the park. (In early May, the same cabin had no bats). Email me for directions if interested. Please use red light to minimize disturbance.

Woodland voles are currently abundant in Little River Canyon Nat’l Monument (AL). We saw three in one hr of walking along the E rim of the canyon at dawn. They are probably active at other times as well, but as soon as the sun’s up, the soundscape becomes saturated by countless skinks. You’ll have to visit after a few days of dry weather to be able to hear the voles well.

I saw a golden mouse along the only walking trail at Bogue Chitto NWR (LA) two days ago. The habitat there is perfect for this species.

Finally, Louisiana Ornithological Society has pelagic trips every fall. The most commonly seen mammals are inshore and offshore bottlenose dolphins, but they report also Stenellas, blackfish, beaked whales, pigmy spermies, and other goodies. I haven’t tried it yet, and don’t know if there are any trips scheduled for this fall, but here’s the website: http://losbird.org/pelagic.htm

 

 

 

Marine mammals GIS page

Hi all, thought this might be of interest.

Actually includes birds and turtles, but you have to drill down through the taxonomy so just start with Browse Species/mammalia.

http://seamap.env.duke.edu/

I think these are surveys done by professional organizations, so it’s reliable data but doesn’t include data from trip reports, for example.

John

 

New Trip Report – Italy

Italy, 2012: Wisebirding, 5 days & 7 species including Brown (Mariscan) Bears and Appenine Chamois.

New Trip Report – Jerusalem 2012

Charles Hood sent me a report of a some mammals seen around Jerusalem, including Ruppell’s Fox, a possible hybird Sand Cat and Nubian Ibex. The report is linked at the bottom of the page.

Jon

RFI: mammals around Brisbane

I will have a week in Brisbane in mid-August and I am looking for tips and stakeouts for mammals, besides information at Jon’s website. I am also interested in widespread ones – this is my first visit to the continent.

best,

 

Jurek

New Leafnosed Bat discovered in Vietnam

Here is an article about a new and quite odd leafnosed bat that has been discovered in Vietnam.

Jon