Small Mammals Increase on Recently Cleared and Seeded Juniper Rangeland

Abstract

Small mammal numbers were studied by snap trapping on six areas in Utah where juniper range had been cleared and seeded. On one area, which was trapped both before and for the first 3 years after treatment, numbers of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and pocket mice (Perognathus parvus) increased greatly in the first 2 years following treatment, then declined sharply to a level which was still above that before treatment. On two areas which were trapped only the first 2 years after treatment, many more small mammals were caught in the second year. Older seedings had about the same number of small mammals as did untreated juniper. Small mammals showed a clear preference for windrowed slash. This was especially true of deer mice and long-tailed voles (Microtus longicaudus).