Good Water Nature Trackers

Hello Fine Naturalist Folk,

Welcome to my first journal post! Two weeks ago we installed a group of game cameras in hopes of observing Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Specifically we are looking for Sylvilagus aquaticus, or Swamp Rabbit. I have observed these on a few occasions previously, so I thought we should try to boost their numbers within the county. The cameras are loaned from TPWD , (Thank you very much!), and we are charged with and enjoy reporting all mammals observed as we hunt our target species.

Williamson, Co is on the western most edge of this species which is common in east Texas, and southeastern US. I believe it is a recent addition to the list of SGCN for this area.

It is very similar to Eastern Cottontail though somewhat larger in size, but smaller rounder ears and their ear length to head length ratio is different than S. floridanus. Their eyes have cinnamon rings around them versus the white rings for S. floridanus. The tail is flatter and less white I believe with an overall more rust or brown color. Oh and they love water. It seems to be a security for escape from predators. They prefer stream and river banks with grassy vegetation or floodplains. They are mostly nocturnal and huddle in grassy nest hollows during the day.

With short notice I had three volunteers with the initial roll out of six cameras. Randy Spurlock, Jim Nelson, Kathy McCormack, and myself finally got them placed two Saturdays back.

The following week, Kathy, Jim, Karen Schnell, Keri Dunn, Chris Tschirhart, and myself swapped out the cards from the digital traps. The most exciting thing was the fresh beaver chew found near a camera, but nothing observed otherwise than the usual suspects of the night.
Thanks to the above mentioned folks!

Thanks to all who helped with bringing this project to the chapter, and here's to many future observations!
See you next week!

Mike Farley

Publicado el agosto 5, 2019 11:28 TARDE por mikef451 mikef451

Observaciones

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mapache (Procyon lotor)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Julio 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Common Raccoon
Williamson, Co
7/20/19 Camera date is set wrong (2018), has been changed.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Tlacuache Norteño (Didelphis virginiana)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Julio 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Virginia Opossum
Williamson, Co
7/20/19 Camera date is set wrong (2018), has been changed.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Ardilla Zorra (Sciurus niger)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Julio 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Fox Squirrel
Williamson, Co
7/20/19 Camera date is set wrong (2018), has been changed.

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Castor Americano (Castor canadensis)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Agosto 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Tlacuache Norteño (Didelphis virginiana)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Julio 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Virginia Opossum
Williamson, Co
7/28/19

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Tlacuache Norteño (Didelphis virginiana)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Julio 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Virginia Opossum
Williamson, Co
7/29/19

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mapache (Procyon lotor)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Julio 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Common Raccoon, vanilla extract bait
Williamson, Co
7/30/19

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mapache (Procyon lotor)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Julio 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Common Raccoon, vanilla extract bait
Williamson, Co
7/31/19

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Armadillo de Nueve Bandas (Dasypus novemcinctus)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Julio 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Nine-banded Armadillo
Williamson, Co
7/28/19

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Armadillo de Nueve Bandas (Dasypus novemcinctus)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Julio 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Nine-banded Armadillo
Williamson, Co
7/28/19

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mapache (Procyon lotor)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Agosto 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Common Raccoon
Williamson, Co
8/1/19

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mapache (Procyon lotor)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Agosto 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Common Raccoon
Williamson, Co
8/1/19

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Armadillo de Nueve Bandas (Dasypus novemcinctus)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Agosto 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Nine-banded Armadillo
Williamson, Co
8/1/19

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mapache (Procyon lotor)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Julio 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Common Raccoon, vanilla extract bait
Williamson, Co
7/31/19

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Tlacuache Norteño (Didelphis virginiana)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Agosto 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Virginia opossum, vanilla extract bait
Williamson, Co
8/1/19

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Armadillo de Nueve Bandas (Dasypus novemcinctus)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Agosto 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Nine-banded Armadillo
Williamson, Co
8/1/19

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Tlacuache Norteño (Didelphis virginiana)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Julio 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Virginia opossum
Williamson, Co
7/31/19

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mapache (Procyon lotor)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Julio 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Common Raccoon
Williamson, Co
7/30/19

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Ardilla Zorra (Sciurus niger)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Agosto 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Fox Squirrel
Williamson, Co
8/1/19

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mapache (Procyon lotor)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Agosto 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Skull length 110 mm

Fotos / Sonidos

Qué

Mapache (Procyon lotor)

Observ.

mikef451

Fecha

Agosto 2019

Lugar

Texas, US (Google, OSM)

Descripción

Common Raccoon
Williamson, Co
8/4/19

Comentarios

Excellent project! I'm anxious to see how many you can find. I hear we have them in DFW, too.

Publicado por kimberlietx hace más de 4 años

Thanks Kimberlie! I've got your B-day bioblitz on my calendar!

Publicado por mikef451 hace más de 4 años

Woohoo! :)

Publicado por kimberlietx hace más de 4 años

Spectacular!!! It's like Christmas morning each time I check a camera trap -- so much fun. :)

Publicado por sambiology hace más de 4 años

Great project, Mike. But I have a question which might seem heretical: Since Swamp Rabbit is on the edge of its range in WilCo, and such species are typically rare at their range limits, why would you consider it a "good thing" to boost their numbers in the county? If you just mean to get better documentation of the existing population, that's a great goal. But if your intent is to actually increase the population, that would seem to need some ecological justification.

p.s. I like all bunny rabbits!

Publicado por gcwarbler hace más de 4 años

p.p.s. I'd previously seen evidence of what I thought might be Swamp Rabbit in the backwaters of the San Gabriel River at Granger Lake. Never saw one of the critters, however, since my visits have always been during the daytime.

Publicado por gcwarbler hace más de 4 años

Thank you Chuck! I believe the population is here, just not observed often. The San Gabriel in Georgetown seems to have them and I suspect elsewhere. It's nocturnal nature and hard to distinguishing features make it not as observed. There are lots of critters on the list to observe for, I chose something I thought I could be successful at finding. I would love to have the opportunity to search for other listed critters if we are given the chance. This is a six month loan so we will see what happens after that.

Publicado por mikef451 hace más de 4 años

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