An annotated checklist of mammals of the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area , Texas , USA

Mammals of Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (Hutchinson, Moore and Potter counties, Texas) were surveyed between March 2002 and October 2003 as a part of the larger inventory of vertebrate animals of this protected area. Both Sherman and Tomahawk traps were used to catch small and medium-size mammals (for a total 330 trap-nights). Pit-fall traps, gopher live traps, TrailmasterTM cameras, mist-nets (for bats), and spotlight surveys were also utilized. The study detected 29 (72.5%) of the 39 mammalian species previously confirmed for Lake Meredith, and provided confirmed records for four other species (Cryptotis parva, Notiosorex crawfordi, Dasypus novemcinctus, and Sciurus niger). Four additional species were recorded in the adjacent area. This manuscript compares the 2002–2003 study with the three mammal inventories previously undertaken in the area (Blair 1954; Killebrew 1979; Yancey et al. 1998).


INTRODUCTION
This mammal study of Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (LMNRA) was undertaken in 2002-2003 as a part of the larger project to inventory all vertebrate animals within the recreation area, and also in the adjacent Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument (AFQ).This study's objective was to inventory the mammal populations, and to detect any changes that have occurred in species composition since the previous studies.Due to logistic and access issues all mammal trapping was done in LMNRA, and only limited number of observations came from AFQ.
The first mammal study in the general area was probably that by Blair (1954) at the Bugbee Ranch, Hutchinson County (14.5 km east of Stinnett, and 27 km north-northwest of the northeastern limits of LMNRA), between 6 June and 12 July 1950.Killebrew (1979) erroneously reported that Blair's study took place in the Bugbee area of LMNRA.Therefore, Killebrew's study in 1978Killebrew's study in -1979 was the first detailed mammalian inventory of LMNRA and AFQ.Some opportunistic collecting by West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) mammalogy class occurred in 1979and 1984-1986 (WTAMU collection) (WTAMU collection).It was followed by a mammal inventory by Texas Tech University (TTU) team from July 1991 through July 1992 (Yancey et al. 1998).My study was conducted between March 2002 andOctober 2003.The most comprehensive mammalian study to date was that by Killebrew (1979) who trapped most of the accessible sites in LMNRA: McBride Canyon, Fritch Fortress-Cedar Canyon, Spring Canyon, Bugbee, Blue West-Chimney Hollow, Plum Creek, Saddlehorse Canyon, and Bonita Creek, as well as Alibates Flint Quarries.Killebrew used a combination of snap traps (including Victor spear traps for gophers), Harpoon traps (for moles), and live traps (large Sherman, Havahart, and custom-made gopher life traps), Conibear and suitcase traps for aquatic mammals, and baited pit-fall traps for shrews.He also searched for small mammals under rocks, debris, tree bark, trash piles, and in buildings.Although Killebrew (1979) used mist-nets and searched old buildings, rock faces, and under tree bark to detect bats, all of his bat specimens were collected with a shotgun.Larger mammals (medium size) were caught with baited Tomahawk traps, Victor leg traps, and Conibear traps; additional observations were collected during daytime excursions and spotlight searches at night.Tracks, signs, and scats were also noted.Many small mammals that were caught alive were toe-clipped in a case of recapture.Killebrew (1979) reported the total effort of 6,280 trap nights, but he did not differentiate by trap type.Specimens collected by Killebrew were deposited with WTAMU.Yancey et al. (1998) used Sherman traps of unspecified size, baited with oatmeal, specialized gopher traps, mist-nets, and firearms, but Patrikeev | Mammals of the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area with considerable seasonal variations in temperature, from the average of -7°C in winter to 33°C in summer.Seventy percent of the annual rainfall (ca.500 mm) falls between April and September, although 60-65% of the total precipitation evaporates because of persisting winds of ca.20 km/h, often reaching 50-60 km/h in early spring (National Park Service 2001).According to Texas Water Development Board online information (2009) the area experienced several droughts as well as wetter years between 1940 and 2004.The average precipitation values for 1977-1978, 1991-1992, and 2002-2003 were 554, 595, and 442 mm respectively, and these differences were not statistically significant.
Oil and gas exploration and development have been actively pursued in the vicinity of LMNRA and AFQ since the late 1920s, well before the creation of these federally protected areas.In the early 2000s there were 170 active oil and gas wells, 64 km of active access roads, 167 km of abandoned roads, and 6 km of oil and gas pipelines in the recreation area (National Park Service 2001).Despite this disturbance, the vegetation of LMNRA and AFQ remains in mostly good condition (Nesom and O'Kennon 2005) compared to similar vegetation types also recorded direct observations, and mammal tracks and signs.Specimens from Yancey et al. (1998) study are in the Collection of Recent Mammals at Texas Tech University.Methods used during my 2002-2003 study are discussed in the "Materials and Methods" section.

MATERIALS AND METHODS Study Area
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area lies in the Texas Panhandle (Potter, Moore, and Hutchinson counties) within the western extension of the Rolling Plains (Figure 1).The recreation area consists of the Lake Meredith (4,000 ha), a reservoir created in 1962-1968 by damming the Canadian River, and 18,216 ha of uplands, steep slopes (45-60% gradient), arid plains, and wetlands adjacent to the lake.Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument (555 ha of uplands) abuts LMNRA in the northeastern part of Potter County.The Canadian River had carved a narrow, steep-walled canyon 60 to 90 m deep and up to 3.3 km wide through the recreation area, and its tributary streams had created a rough and broken topography, known as the Canadian River Breaks (National Park Service 2001).The climate is semi-arid Patrikeev | Mammals of the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area outside the protected areas.Nesom and O'Kennon (2005) recognized four main habitats: rocky slopes and uplands, sandy areas, riparian areas, and marsh.There is also a man-modified borrow area at the northeast end of LMNRA (Figure 2).All of the vegetation information provided below is from Nesom and O'Kennon (2005) Rocky slopes consist of red sandstone, gravel, Dolomite caprock and few gypsum outcrops.These slopes are dominated by Broom Snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae), Small Soapweed Yucca (Yucca glauca), Woolly Locoweed (Astragalus mollissimus), White Sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana), Featherplume (Dalea formosa), Sideoats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), and Blue Grama (B.gracilis), with scattered One-seeded Juniper (Juniperus monosperma), and Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa).Marshes are common at the south end of Lake Meredith, along the Canadian River, and immediately below Sanford Dam (Sanford Marsh).These marshes are dominated by Southern Cattail and Common Threesquare (Schoenoplectus pungens) in areas of deeper water, with Common Reed around the edges.
The borrow area at the north end of Lake Meredith NRA, between North Canyon and Hwy 1319, had large amounts of rock and soil removed ca.1962-1968 for the construction of Sanford Dam.This area is now Patrikeev | Mammals of the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area relatively flat, consistently scraped down to a level of reddish sandstone and sandy clay, and naturally revegetated over the last 40-50 years.Honey Mesquite is the dominant shrub-small tree of the borrow area.Other common species are Broom Snakeweed, White Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides), Yellow Bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum), Sideoats Grama, and Sand Dropseed (Nesom and O'Kennon 2005).

Methods
The 2002-2003 study followed the methods suggested by the US National Park Service (National Park Service 2000).At the request of the USNPS no lethal means of collecting were used (i.e., no snap traps, harpoon traps, firearms, etc.), and every attempt was made to reduce mortality in live-trapped animals.Although several species of rodents and shrews were collected, in-hand identification of rodents and bats, positive visual identification of larger mammals, and photographic evidence were deemed sufficient (National Park Service 2000), and the majority of captured mammals were subsequently released.
Small and medium-size mammals were trapped at mammal trapping stations (National Park Service 2000), and by individually placed Sherman traps.Each trapping station consisted of two Tomahawk and four Sherman traps each: one large Tomahawk trap (6 × 6 × 24 inch = 15.2 × 15.2 × 61 cm), baited with meat and vegetable foodstuffs, one small Tomahawk trap (5 × 5 × 16 inch = 12.7 × 12.7 × 40.6 cm), baited with a combination of meat or fish, and apples, peanut butter, carrots, and cracked corn, one large (4 × 5 × 15 inch = 10.2 × 12.7 × 38.1 cm) Sherman and three small (3 × 3 × 9 inch = 7.6 × 7.6 × 22.9 cm) Sherman traps, baited with peanut butter and oats.The original design called for pitfall traps at these stations also, but due to weather conditions (see below) pitfall traps were run separately.The mammal stations were at least 150 m apart, and individual Sherman traps 20-30 m apart.Trapping sessions of 2-3 nights/site were deemed sufficient to capture small mammals at each site.
Fourteen mammal stations were run in the northernmost section of LMNRA (Hutchinson County) during 22-24 October 2002, and three additional mammal stations and 24 individual small Sherman traps in northern, central and southern sections of the park (Hutchinson and Potter Counties) during 12-23 April 2003.In October 2002 continuous rains prompted to delay pitfall-trap surveys until November to prevent drowning of captured animals.Pitfall traps consisted of 3.78 liter food cans (1 gallon cans, #10), and were used in 4 locations at the north end of LMNRA 1-11 November 2002 (10 m apart, 30 pitfall traps per location).In total, Tomahawk and Sherman traps were run for 330 trap-nights (large and small Tomahawk traps for 42 trap-nights each, large Sherman traps for 69, and small Shermans for 177), and pitfalls for 1,200 trap-nights.The majority of captured small mammals were identified and released; some were photographed, but a few (shrews and rodents) were collected as voucher specimens.Capture rates were calculated according to the size of species and the type of trap, i.e., larger species, such as Neotoma, were not expected in small Sherman traps, whereas smaller rodents such as Peromyscus and Reithrodontomys, were unlikely to trigger large Tomahawk traps; if large traps caught smaller species and vice versa then those types of traps were included in capture rate calculations.
Pocket-gophers (Geomyidae) required specialized traps described in Baker and Williams (1972).These traps are made of pieces of PVC pipe with a trigger mechanism based on a rat snap-trap, and were placed directly into an excavated gopher tunnel.Traps for the current study were custom-made in the lab of Dr. Robert Dowler (Angelo State University).Trapping of gophers is time consuming, but necessary for positive identification.Due to time constraints, only two areas were sampled for gophers (April 2003): sandy soils at the North End grasslands (Hutchinson County) and red clay-loam and rocky soils in Bates Canyon (Potter County).
Bat surveys in LMNRA/AFQ presented a challenge, because of strong persistent winds.Mist-netting on windy nights was impractical because swinging nets could be easily detected and avoided by bats.Four separate mist-netting sessions were attempted in 2002: at Sanford Marsh on 4 September, at Mullinaw Crossing on 16 September, at a water source in Plum Creek Valley on 24 September, and at the foot of Bultaco Hill (Rosita Meadows) on 26 September.Caves, cavities, and old structures possibly used by bats were not thoroughly searched, and the only known sizeable cave (at the base of Bultaco Hill) was vandalized by fire in 2002.
Ten Trailmaster™-modified Canon all-weather automatic film cameras with TM-550 sensors/trigger mechanisms were employed to detect carnivorous and omnivorous mammals between 6 September 2002 and 20 June 2003.The cameras and sensors were mounted on two-inch (5.1 cm) wooden stakes next to a bait station.Each bait station was centered on a metal pipe (1 m long, and 5 cm in diameter) driven into the ground.A piece of raw meat or chicken was placed in a cricket cage attached to a top of the pipe; other food items (cracked corn, apples, and canned fish) were placed around the base of the pipe.When warm-blooded wildlife investigates the bait, an infrared sensor activates the camera to takes a photograph.At selected camera stations, canned sardines were substituted for beef or chicken bait.
Large and medium-size mammals were also sought Other night road surveys were conducted after dark by slowly driving roads and looking for mammals crossing roadways.Most of these searches were undertaken on rainy or warm and humid nights (to pursue the herpetological component of this inventory), but searches for Perognathus pocket mice were carried out on dry and moonless nights.If small mammals were detected then an attempt to identify or catch them was made.Photographs were taken when possible and practical.A total of 24 night searches were conducted: 13 in 2002 (between 28 April and 8 August), and 11 in 2003 (25 April to 16 July).
Visual encounters involved systematic and opportunistic searches such as turning rocks, logs, and other debris, or looking into rock crevices and cracks in structures.A few rodents were found under coverboards (chipboard and roofing tin) used for sampling amphibians and reptiles.Signs of mammalian presence: tracks, scats, feeding signs (e.g., in beaver and porcupine), and all road-killed mammals were noted.
I also examined mammal specimens and records from Collection of Recent Mammals at Texas Tech University (TTU), and study skins from West Texas A&M University, Canyon (WTAMU).Taxonomy and common names of mammals follow Manning et al. (2008).Voucher specimens (skulls and/or skins) from this study were deposited with Angelo State University (ASU).The following permits governed research activities conducted during this project: 1) NPS Scientific Research and Collecting Permit # Lake Meredith NRA-2002-SCI-0001; 2) Texas Park and Wildlife Department Scientific Collections Permit # SPR-0102-193.
GIS coordinates of all sampling stations were provided in Patrikeev (2004).The following abbreviations related to transportation network are used in the text: US 287 (US Interstate Highway 287), SH (State Highway), FM (Farm to Market roads, Texas Department of Transportation).

Data analysis
I used Jaccard similarity coefficient (J), and also Simpson Index (SI) to compare all four mammal studies conducted at LMNRA and the vicinity.J = a/(a + b + c), where J = Jaccard similarity coefficient, a = number of species shared by surveys, b = number of species unique to the first survey, and c = number of species unique to the second survey (Jaccard 1901).Simpson Index is expressed as a negative logarithm that increases with the number of species, SI = -ln ∑ n (n-1)/N(N-1), where n= number of individuals of each species and N=total number of individuals in the dataset (Simpson 1949;Lim and Engstrom 2004).Inconsistencies in sampling effort in Blair (1954), Killebrew (1979), andYancey et al. (1998) precluded a more complex analysis.The indices were calculated for each of the four studies, and species recorded outside of the administrative boundaries of the two protected areas were included.In calculating Jaccard similarity coefficients I omitted species with missing values from pair-wise comparisons (e.g., lagomorphs and deer unreported in Blair 1954).For SI, I used "1" for species abundance when a species was recorded only as "present", and "2" if it was deemed "common", but without numeric values.For prairie dogs I used number of colonies instead of individuals.In calculating Simpson index I omitted lagomorphs and deer from all four studies, because of inconsistencies with reporting, failure to identify to species, or omission.I also calculated SI for all small mammals that were trapped (insectivores and rodents), although the actual number of animals caught by Killebrew (1979) was likely greater than the number of study skins in the WTAMU collection.
One species was caught in large Tomahawk traps, three species in small Tomahawks, five species in large Shermans, six species in small Shermans, two species in pitfall traps, one species in gopher traps, and one species in mist-nets; Trailmaster TM cameras recorded three species, spotlight surveys detected three species, other night surveys eight species, coverboards three species, visual day-time encounters 13 species; tracks and signs were recorded for up to 16 species; finally four species were recorded as roadkills, or otherwise dead.Details are summarized in Table 2.

Annotated checklist of the mammals of Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and the vicinity (including species not found in 2002-2003 study)
Didelphis virginiana Kerr, 1792 (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) Virginia Opossum One collected at Sanford Dam on 18 September 1986 (TTU 47798); anecdotal reports from riparian areas (Killebrew 1979, Yancey et al. 1998); Blair (1954)  Only one specimen obtained in this study: in upland mesquite savanna between Sanford-Yake and Cedar Canyon on 13 November 2002 (ASU 14357).Blair (1954) collected two on Bugbee Ranch, Hutchinson County.Known from elsewhere in Moore and Hutchinson counties (Davis and Schmidly 1994).

Scalopus aquaticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insectivora: Talpidae) Eastern Mole
Positively identified mole tunnels were found in riparian grasslands east of Devil's Canyon in January 2002; the tunnels are hard to see in dense grass.Yancey et al. (1998) collected one specimen at Big Blue Creek, and observed tunnels in Bates Canyon and Spring Canyon; Killebrew (1979) collected this species in riparian habitats at Blue Creek, Plum Creek and Spring Canyon.Blair (1954) caught 12 in sandy floodplain and stabilized sand dunes at Bugbee Ranch.

Didelphis virginiana d
Cryptotis parva c c
Dasypus novemcinctus Linnaeus, 1758 (Cingulata: Dasypodidae) Nine-banded Armadillo One was caught by hand at the Chicken Creek on 31 October 2003.Additionally, two withered shells were found east of Bugbee and at Dolomite Point in January and June 2002 respectively.Killebrew (1979) and USNPS staff cited anecdotal reports (e.g., of roadkills).Most likely, Dasypus wanders into the study area in summer from the counties in the east and in the south, but lacking adaptations for the extremes of cold weather (Davis and Schmidly 1994) it cannot survive severe winters in LMNRA.Photo of an armadillo shell (Figure 3) is probably the first documented record for Hutchinson County.(Baird, 1858) Killebrew (1979) reported the following density of Sylvilagus sp.: 0.3-0.4./km in AFQ, and 0.01-1.8/km in LMNRA.

Xerospermophilus spilosoma Bennett, 1833 (Rodentia: Sciuridae) Spotted Ground Squirrel
Uncommon (or under-recorded), but widespread in sandy areas along the Canadian River, and in the adjacent uplands.One was captured at the North End in May 2003, and four large young photographed at a burrow entrance in Rosita Meadows on 12 August 2002 (Figure 3); this species was also observed in AFQ.Yancey et al. (1998)   Road and Fritch Fortress.Killebrew reported density of 2/ha in mesquite grasslands of Fritch Fortress-Cedar Canyon, and of Spermophilus sp.: 5.4-6.3/ha in mesquite grassland, and 6.1-23.8/ha in prairie grassland.Blair (1954) collected 3 in Bugbee Ranch.(Mitchill, 1821) (Rodentia: Sciuridae) Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel Killebrew (1979) recorded this species throughout LMNRA ("practically everywhere"), and in AFQ, but none were found there in 1991-1992 (Yancey et al. 1998) or 2002-2003.One I. tridecemlineatus was observed and photographed at the intersection of Plum Creek Road and FM 1913 (Moore County) north of LMNRA on 2 May and 13 July 2003 (Figure 3).Killebrew (1979) reported finding both Xerospermophilus spilosoma and Ictidomys tridecemlineatus at densities of 5.4-6.3/ha in mesquite grassland, 6.1-23.8/ha in prairie grassland.One I. tridecemlineatus was collected in deep sands near Stinnett (Blair 1954).(Ord, 1815) LMNRA, in 2003(30-40 mounds counted on 28 April 2003).C. ludovicianus was common in the study area and on the adjacent ranches in the late 1970s, e.g., Killebrew (1979) reported a colony occupying several hundred hectares in LMNRA and collected a specimen at North Turkey Creek.

Perognathus flavus Baird, 1855 (Rodentia: Heteromyidae) Silky Pocket Mouse
Specific identity of Perognathus from LMNRA is problematic because the study area lies in the zone of contact between closely related P. flavus and P. merriami.Schmidly ( 2004) showed only P. flavus for Hutchinson, Moore and Potter counties.Two recent studies of small Perognathus (Brant and Lee 2006;Coyner et al. 2010) have not included any specimens from within the 100 km radius of LMNRA.According to Coyner et al. (2010), P. flavus occurs to the west and to the north and P. merriami to the north, east and south of LMNRA.Both species were found in Cimarron County, Oklahoma 110 km north from the study area.Blair (1954) collected both species at Bugbee Ranch, east of Stinnett (4 P. flavus and 13 P. merriami), and Yancey et al. (1998) obtained 22 P. flavus in live traps in LMNRA.One specimen collected during the latter study by J.R. Goetze is labeled "P.merriami" (TTU 59865), but it was not mentioned under that name in Yancey et al. (1998).Interestingly Killebrew (1979) did not collect any Perognathus in LMNRA.I caught none in Sherman traps or pitfalls, but infrequently encountered Perognathus on paved and unpaved roads during night searches, and caught two by hand (Plum Creek Canyon and near Big Blue Creek).Although Brant and Lee (2006) reported significant differences in five cranial and two external measurements between P. flavus and P. merriami, most of these differences are < 1 mm, and one would need to examine a large series of specimens to detect these differences.I prefer to follow Schmidly (2004) and treat all Perognathus from LMNRA as P. flavus at this time while acknowledging that a future molecular or morphometric study of the LMNRA Perognathus Patrikeev | Mammals of the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area may prove that either or both P. flavus and P. merriami inhabit the study area.Blair (1954) and Killebrew (1979) Killebrew (1979) collected 40 specimens and reported densities of up to 88.9/ha in McBride Canyon, although lower elsewhere, from 3/ ha (riparian) to 36.6-66.2/ha(sandy areas and upland).Yancey et al. (1998) collected 15 in LMNRA, and Blair (1954) 113 at Bugbee Ranch.D. ordii is most common in grasslands and mesquite savanna on sandy soils, but also occurs on clay and loam soils.Kuhl, 1820 (Rodentia: Castoridae) North American Beaver Limited to the Canadian River and its tributaries.Killebrew (1979) reported C. canadensis from the river, Bonita and Chicken Creeks, and Sanford Marsh, e.g., five dams per ca.400 m of Bonita Creek.No beaver signs were found in 1991-1992 (Yancey et al. 1998(Yancey et al. ), and in 2002(Yancey et al. -2003 fresh signs of C. canadensis activity (felled trees, dams, lodges, and runways) were found only along Bonita Creek, and older signs upstream from the Mullinaw Crossing (Figure 4).

Reithrodontomys montanus
Peromyscus leucopus (Rafinesque, 1818) (Rodentia: Cricetidae) White-footed Mouse Very common; perhaps the most common rodent in the Texas Panhandle (Jones et al. 1988) including LMNRA (Yancey et al. 1998).Killebrew (1979) reported densities from as low as 4/ha at Plum Creek to 38.9-55.3/ha in sandy areas, with estimates of 74.8/ha in McBride Canyon, and even 196.2/ha in AFQ! Blair (1954) collected 35 at Bugbee Ranch; Yancey et al. (1998) and Killebrew (1979) collected 99 and 21 specimens respectively.My study is in accord with the previous findings: a total of 28 captured, 11.4/100 trap nights (one specimen in ASU, 14361), and at least seven found under coverboards.P. leucopus was recorded in all habitats in LMNRA.Pregnant females caught in Spring Canyon and Sanford Marsh produced litters of 7 young each on 24 and 25 October 2002.

Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner, 1845) (Rodentia: Cricetidae) Deer Mouse
Less common than P. leucopus.In the late 1970s Killebrew (1979) collected 13 specimens and reported densities from 4 to 58.3/ha, though as high as 241.4/ ha in AFQ.He noted higher numbers in rock slopes, and lowest in sandy areas.Blair (1954)  Patrikeev | Mammals of the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area deposited with ASU, 14360).Blair (1954) caught ten at Bugbee Ranch.Say & Ord, 1825 (Rodentia: Cricetidae) Hispid Cotton Rat Surprisingly scarce in 2002-2003: only one capture (0.3/100 trap-nights), in the upland mesquite grassland at Sanford-Yake on 22 October 2002.Sigmodon hispidus was very common in LMNRA in the 1970s (Killebrew 1979) with densities of up to 137.1-281.4/ha,(e.g., in AFQ, Bugbee and Spring canyons; 7 specimens).Yancey et al. (1998) collected 36 specimens in the early 1990s.According to Davis and Schmidly (1994) Texas populations of S. hispidus experience dramatic fluctuation, rising and falling about every ten years with highest densities reported in wetter years.Perhaps the LMNRA population crashed during the prolonged drought in the late 1990s-early 2000s, and also during Blair's (1954) study (only 4 collected).A pregnant female caught on 22 October 2002 produced a litter of 6 in captivity.Merriam, 1894 (Rodentia: Cricetidae) White-throated Woodrat Common in rocky slopes and canyons throughout LMNRA.Five were caught in the 2002-2003 study (1.5/100 trap-nights), and nests of this species were found in additional locations (Table 4); one specimen deposited with ASU (14358).Killebrew (1979)  Common in sandy areas and uplands with Yucca and Opuntia, as well as in the borrow area.Six were caught during this study (7/100 trap-nights), e.g., one deposited with ASU, 14359; >5 N. micropus and their nests were noted in additional locations (Table 4).Killebrew (1979) found this species in cottonwood groves, where nests were constructed under fallen trees, and also in buildings; he collected 2 specimens and reported densities of 2-7/ha.Yancey et al. (1979) collected three, and Blair (1954) sixteen at Bugbee Ranch.

Mus musculus
Erethizon dorsatum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Rodentia: Erethizontidae) North American Porcupine Rare.In LMNRA E. dorsatum is confined to treed portions of the valley and the Canadian River's tributaries.Killebrew (1979) observed "abundant signs" of gnawing in cottonwood and hackberry groves, and Yancey et al. (1998) reported a roadkilled porcupine from Sanford Dam.Only one live E. dorsatum was observed during the current study, in a lone tree at Dolomite Point on 10 June 2002 (Figure 5), and two roadkilled at Sanford Dam on 18 September 2002 and by Bugbee Creek on 25 June 2003 respectively.Feeding signs and tracks were observed in additional locations (Table 4).Say, 1823 (Carnivora: Canidae)

Coyote
Common and widespread (Table 4), up to 3-4 heard or seen at each site.Killebrew (1979) and Yancey et al. (1998) also found C. latrans common in the study area.One specimen is in WTAMU.(Schreber, 1775) (Carnivora: Canidae) Gray Fox

Urocyon cinereoargenteus
The only record of Urocyon cinereoargenteus from LMNRA is from Spring Canyon (Killebrew 1979).Davis and Schmidly (1994) reported this species in Potter County, but not in Hutchinson County.Not recorded by Yancey et al. (1998) or during my study.Tracks of a small fox were regularly seen in a sandy draw in AFQ in March-May 2002, but all attempts to photograph the animal with a trail camera were unsuccessful.In June 2003 an unidentified fox was seen along Cedar Canyon Road in Sanford-Yake area (Hutchinson Co.) by LMNRA personnel and visitors, but subsequent searches failed to find foxes or their tracks.No roadkilled foxes were seen or reported in the general study area.(Lichtenstein, 1830)   1998, this study).B. astutus may still occur in the study area albeit in small numbers.Blair (1954) did not report it from Bugbee Ranch.
Taxidea taxus (Schreber, 1777) (Carnivora: Mustelidae) American Badger Uncommon or rare.Signs of this species were observed by Killebrew (1979), but not by Yancey et al. (1998). In 2002-2003, tracks of T. taxus were regularly seen at the Mullinaw Crossing and Chicken Creek (Figure 5), but none was observed or photographed during extensive night searches and trail camera sessions in LMNRA.(Schreber, 1776)

Mephitis mephitis
Absent or rare.In the late 1970s M. mephitis was observed and collected at LMNRA (Killebrew 1979), e.g., in McBride Canyon.Killebrew (1979) commented that M. mephitis "was noted in virtually every recreation area at the lake and was particularly abundant around picnic areas where they were observed foraging in trash cans".Blair (1954) also collected six at Bugbee Ranch.However, no M. mephitis was detected by Yancey et al. (1998) or in my study.Roadkilled striped skunks were common along SH 136 between Masterson and Amarillo, but not in or near the study area.
Lynx rufus (Schreber, 1777) (Carnivora: Felidae) Bobcat Rare.Killebrew (1979) observed tracks and signs in areas remote from picnic and camping sites, including Probably no longer present in LMNRA and AFQ.Killebrew (1979) reported herds of 10-23 in upland prairies (possibly) within LMNRA, noticing very few young.Yancey et al. (1998) failed to find any in 1991-1992, probably because both protected areas were fenced by then, and A. americana is often unwilling to cross barbed wire fences (Davis and Schmidly 1994).In 2001-2003, groups of 12-30 were observed on private lands in the general vicinity of LMNRA, most often along FM 1913 east of Four Way (Moore County), in Alibates Ranch off SH 136 (Potter County) and east of Plum Creek Road (Moore County).Replacement of top and bottom strands of barbed wire with smooth wire on the perimeter fences was underway in the parks in the early 2000s (J.Rancier pers.comm.) to allow A. americana to cross in and out of the parks.

DISCUSSION
Trailmaster™ camera surveys in LMNRA/AFQ were ineffective due to a variety of environmental factors including heat and wind.The TM-550 sensors are triggered by a combination of heat and movement, and on the plains of Texas the ground heats up quickly and retains heat for some time.The combination of ground heat and wind-blown debris, rain, or flies, attracted to meat bait, easily triggered TM-550 and the camera, and quickly used up the film, mostly shooting blanks.Additionally, seeds and other vegetable stuffs at the bait station attracted small rodents which would trigger the camera, and use up the film before any larger animals could have discovered the bait.In addition, TM-550 sensors have a very wide range and could be triggered by movement at 90 o on either side of the sensor, resulting in additional blanks.Programming sensors for night use only, increasing intervals between picture taking events, removal of vegetable bait, and narrowing TM-550 field of view with masking tape did not improve efficiency of these surveys.On hot days meat at the bait stations putrefied quickly attracting flies, probably making the bait less attractive to carnivorous mammals.
Bat netting was largely unsuccessful due to persisting winds, although bats in general were uncommon in the study area.Bats silhouette well against the evening sky, yet none were seen during frequent twilight drives or walks in 2002-2003. The Texas Tech study of 1991-1992(Yancey et al. 1998) did not record any bats.Yet, Killebrew (1979) considered Eptesicus fuscus common, and collected three other species.It is conceivable that environmental conditions in the study area have changed since the late 1970s, but other means of bat detection (acoustic detectors and harp traps) should be employed before drawing conclusions regarding paucity of Chiroptera in LMNRA and AFQ.
On the whole, the 2002-2003 study found 65.9% of all mammals previously recorded in LMNRA and AFQ (compared to 45.5% reported by Yancey et al. 1998, and77.3% by Killebrew 1979).The present study provides first published records of Least Shrew (Cryptotis parva), Desert Shrew (Notiosorex crawfordi), Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), and Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) for LMNRA.Specimens of the first two species were collected, and remains of the armadillo were photographed.The two shrews and the squirrel, however, are known from other localities within the three counties, but the armadillo is probably a recent arrival (although Killebrew (1979) cited anecdotal reports for both the armadillo and the squirrel).Killebrew (1979)  Moore counties (Killebrew 1979;Yancey et al. 1998;this study).Blair (1954) reported 30 species from Bugbee Ranch.Killebrew (1979) collected at least 105 rodents (10 species) other than gophers, the muskrat and the prairie dog, 14 gophers (2 species), and 3 insectivores (all moles) (Table 1).Overall he reported 6,280 trapnights that would translate into a relatively low success rate for small and medium-sized rodents (only 1.67/100 trap-nights); however, many animals caught during his study were toe-clipped and released (total catch not reported).Killebrew (1979) also was unclear on whether his 6,280 trap-nights included spear and harpoon-traps for burrowing species, pit-falls, Conibear, suitcase, and large Tomahawk traps; the actual capture rates in his study were likely higher than presented in his unpublished report.Numbers from Killebrew (1979) cited in Table 1 refers to estimated densities, and to specimens entered into the West Texas A&M University mammal catalogue (courtesy of R. Matlack, WTAMU).Some of those specimens had since been lost or discarded.Yancey et al. (1998) collected 218 specimens (12 species) of rodents, other than gophers, 3 gophers (1 species), and 1 insectivore (mole), but the total trapping effort was not reported (Table 1).Blair's (1954) study of Bugbee Ranch produced 201 rodents (15 species), other than gophers and muskrats, 21 gophers (1 species), and 19 insectivores (3 species).Blair did not report on trapping effort either Simpson Diversity Index was highest for the Killebrew (1979) study, and lowest for Yancey et al. (1998).However, when SI was calculated only for the trapped small mammals the Yancey et al. study ranked higher than my study and Blair (1954); the highest ranking was Killebrew (1979) (Table 5).
Jaccard's similarity coefficient (Table 6, Figure 6) demonstrated most parallels between Killebrew (1979) and the current study; and least similarity between Killebrew and Yancey et al. (1998).However, these differences in species diversity are likely artifacts of sampling efforts and/or natural population fluctuations rather than changes in distribution and population status.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Geographic location of the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (star) in the State of Texas, United States of America, North America (ESRI base map).

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Habitats of Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Texas.A: Rocky slopes, B: Sandy areas, C: Riparian habitats, D: Marsh, E: The borrow area.Photographs by Michael Patrikeev.
and Yancey et al. (1998) did not observed any in LMNRA; Killebrew cited anecdotal reports of squirrel nests at Plum Creek, Bonita Creek and in the LX ranch.In 2002-2003 S. niger was observed twice: in planted trees at Sanford-Yake on 4 May 2003, and in riparian woods of Big Blue Creek on 5 June 2003.Additionally, a nest was seen in cottonwoods at Chicken Creek in May 2002.
T. taxus may be more common in the adjacent private lands: one was seen crossing FM 1913 north of Big Blue Creek (Moore Co.) on 14 April 2003, and roadkilled badgers were seen along State Highway 136 south of Fritch, at the intersection of SH 136 and FM 1559 west of Borger (both in Hutchinson Co.), and US 287 north of the Canadian River Bridge (Potter County).In Texas, T. taxus preys primarily on Xerospermophilus spilosoma, Ictidomys tridecemlineatus and Cynomys ludovicianus (Davis and Schmidly 1994), and the low prey densities might explain the paucity of badgers in 2002-2003.Xerospermophilus spilosoma and Ictidomys tridecemlineatus declined in the study area since the 1970s, and Cynomys ludovicianus was absent from the LMNRA proper during this study.
recorded 36 species from LMNRA and AFQ, and Yancey et al. (1998) 21 species, including four species missed by Killebrew.Ten species (including three species of bats) were not observed in LMNRA since the Killebrew study in the 1970s, although four of these have been recorded in the vicinity of the recreation area in 2002-2003.In total, the three studies detected 43 species of mammals in LMNRA, and 10 additional species in the adjacent parts of Hutchinson, Potter, and Patrikeev | Mammals of the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area

Figure 6 .
Figure 6.Jaccard similarity coefficient for the three mammal inventories of LMNRA, as well as Blair's (1954) study.

Table 1 .
Blair (1954)979)998) young east of Stinnett.Mammalian species detected by the present study,Yancey et al. (1998)andKillebrew (1979)in Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, and byBlair (1954)at Bugbee Ranch, east of Stinnett.Number of trapped and roadkilled is shown in bold and other observed specimens in normal font; relative species abundance is given where applicable.Legend: (+) present, (-) absent, (A) anecdotal, (C) collected, but no details given (no specimens found in the examined collections), (S) signs (tracks, scat, dens, nests and other signs of activity), (*) outside LMNRA and AFQ, (#) roadkilled or found dead, (^) tracks could not be identified to species, (tn) trap-nights, (&) difficult to distinguish between the two species by visual signs alone.Patrikeev | Mammals of the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
Patrikeev | Mammals of the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
(Rodentia: Sciuridae) Black-tailed Prairie Dog C. ludovicianus was absent from LMNRA and AFQ in 2002-2003; a small colony at the Sanford-Yake campground succumbed to plague in 2000 (J.Rancier pers.comm.).In August 2001, another small colony remained on private lands by Fritch Fortress Road near LMNRA, but no animals were present by January 2002 although J. Rancier (pers.comm.)found a roadkill west of Fritch in summer 2002.A new colony established in a mesquite pasture north of Blue West Road, just outside Yancey et al. (1998)1994) in deep sands of Bugbee Ranch.According toDavis and Schmidly (1994)andYancey et al. (1998), C. castanops occurs in calcareous, clay and clay-loam soils, occupying sandy soils where G. bursarius is absent.Killebrew (1979) collected nine C. castanops (AFQ, Blue West, Bonita Creek, Cedar Canyon, Plum Creek, Saddle Horse Canyon) in deeper mellower soils and also around cliff bases and lower uplands.Yancey et al. (1998) collected two.
also collected two C. hispidus each: in Bugbee Ranch, and at the Blue West and Plum Creek respectively.Such paucity of records contrasts the Yancey et al. (1998) study when 20 specimens were collected in LMNRA.Perhaps populations of this species undergo cyclic fluctuations.
(Rodentia: Cricetidae) Plains Harvest Mouse None in 2002-2003, but Yancey et al. (1998) caught five in Bugbee and McBride canyons, and at the Blue West.According to Yancey et al. (1998) R. montanus favors more xeric and upland habitats than R. megalotis.One was collected in Bugbee Ranch by

Table 4 )
Killebrew (1979)88))of the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area rocky slopes and sandy areas.No signs were recorded byYancey et al. (1998), but in 2003 I found tracks at Chicken Creek at the south end of LMNRA..According toJones et al. (1988)native population of O. virginianus in LMNRA was supplemented with stocked animals from elsewhere during the 1940s-1950s.Killebrew (1979)estimated densities of 0.06-0.12/km 2 in AFQ for O. virginianus, and of 0.4-2.3/km 2 for both O. hemionus and O. virginianus in LMNRA.Density of ca.0.5/km recorded during spotlight surveys in 2002-2003.A doe with a fawn observed in Plum Creek Canyon on 19 July 2003.

Table 5 .
Simpson Index (SI) expressed as a negative logarithm for all mammalian species, and small mammals (rodents and insectivores) trapped in the four studies discussed in this paper.

Table 6 .
Jaccard similarity coefficient (J) for the four mammal studies conducted in LMNRA and the vicinity.