Sagehen Creek Field Station

29 Nov, 12 AM - 03 Jan, 07 AM

Long-tailed weasels (Mustela frenata) and ermines (Mustela erminea), hereafter weasels unless designated, have been detected in many surveys in the Pacific states (Zielinski et al 2005, Green 2007, Moriarty 2009) but there has been no reliable non-invasive method for distinguishing the two species. Methods for identifying weasels to species may include morphometric track differences from track plates, body length to tail length measurements from remote camera images, snow tracking and molecular identification. I propose to survey for weasels in areas where they have been previously detected at Sagehen Experimental Forest (SEF) by combining track plate boxes, photographic bait stations, snow tracking and potentially genetic techniques during December 2011. These methods require immediate testing in areas of known weasel occurrence before further research goals can be pursued. The objectives will be to: 1) assess the efficiency of non-invasive survey methods in areas that have detected weasels at SEF, 2) evaluate occupancy and occurrence of weasels at stations that have previously been occupied, 3) provide information to inform the direction of further field work for winter 2012. Specifically these data can be used to assess survey methods and their potential to detect and identify weasels in areas with unknown occupancy.

Visit #26787 @Sagehen Creek Field Station

Approved

Under Project # 24496 | Research

Non-invasive survey techniques for distinguishing Mustela erminea and Mustela frenata

graduate_student - Oregon State University

Reservation Members(s)

Mark Linnell Nov 29, 2011 - Jan 3, 2012 (36 days)

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Apartment (Lower Camp) 1 Nov 29, 2011 - Jan 3, 2012