Effects of recreational trails on small mammal communities in north-central Gunnison County, Colorado

Abstract

Human recreation can lead to changes in behavior and distribution patterns of wildlife populations. This project aims to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of the Hunt trap, a novel non- invasive technique used to estimate small mammal abundance (2) determine the distance from trails at which we see an effect on small mammal activity and (3) assess the impact of non- motorized recreational activities on rodent species abundance. We investigated these objectives at areas of high utilization using a non-invasive camera trap method at a series of locations throughout July and August 2019. Heavily used recreational trails did not show a significant impact on habitat utilization by several small mammal species. Nocturnal species including deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) activity was higher, however not significant, in proximity to trails. Diurnal rodents including golden-mantled ground squirrels (Callospermaphilus lateralis) and least chipmunks (Tamias minimus) did not exhibit a negative trail effect. Quantifying the impacts of human recreational disturbance on wildlife is essential for a functional ecosystem and establishing management policies regarding use of recreational trails.

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