. The Canadian field-naturalist. Natural history; Sciences naturelles. 2005 Proulx: Long-tailed Weasel Movements and Diggings 179 â ,, 4 # I * *. Figure 4. Snow-covered Northern Pocket Gopher mound opened (hole diameter: 5 cm) by a female Long-tailed Weasel in winter 1998-1999 in Study Area I, Vermilion River, Vegreville, Alberta. Snowtracking is an advantageous technique as it al- lows one to study how Long-tailed Weasels use micro- environments. More snowtracking data should be gath- ered on Long-tailed Weasels in alfalfa fields to better understand their relationship with Northern Pocket Go
. The Canadian field-naturalist. Natural history; Sciences naturelles. 2005 Proulx: Long-tailed Weasel Movements and Diggings 179 â ,, 4 # I * *. Figure 4. Snow-covered Northern Pocket Gopher mound opened (hole diameter: 5 cm) by a female Long-tailed Weasel in winter 1998-1999 in Study Area I, Vermilion River, Vegreville, Alberta. Snowtracking is an advantageous technique as it al- lows one to study how Long-tailed Weasels use micro- environments. More snowtracking data should be gath- ered on Long-tailed Weasels in alfalfa fields to better understand their relationship with Northern Pocket Gophers. Unfortunately, the collection of such data is not an easy task. It is difficult to find alfalfa fields that are in proximity to water, and are inhabited by both species. On the other hand, a better understanding of the use of alfalfa fields and Northern Pocket Gopher populations by Long-tailed Weasels in a well-developed agricultural area such as central Alberta may be vital to ensure that this mustelid does not become threatened, as was feared a few decades ago (Gamble 1982*). Acknowledgments I am thankful to Alberta Conservation Association, Ducks Unlimited, and Red Deer River Naturalist Club for funding this project. I am grateful to C. Bohoychuk for allowing us to work on his land. I thank veterinarian Louis Kwantes, Park Veterinary Clinic in Sherwood Park, for anaesthetizing the female weasel, and Pamela J. Cole and Nicole A. Proulx for technical assistance. I thank Pauline Feldstein, Alpha Wildlife, and Roger A. Powell, North Carolina University, for reviewing an earlier version of this manuscript. This paper bene- fited from the comments of one anonymous reviewer and David Nagorsen. Documents Cited (marked * in text) Bonar, R. E. 1995. The Northern Pocket Gopher - most of what you thought you might want to know, but hesitated to look up. United States Department of Agriculture, For- est Service, Technology and Development Program, Report 9524-2806 MTDC, Missoula,
Size: 1780px × 1404px
Photo credit: © Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, books, booksubjectnaturalhistory
