Here are some descriptions of high profile mammals followed by a species list.
Black Bear
There have been several reports of sightings of the black bear, which has been known
to range several miles in one day. However, most of the sightings indicate that only
one bear was seen, and this is because bears do not live in the nature preserve. They
may spend a day or two in the preserve during the summer, but in general, the conditions
of our nature preserve do not provide an ideal habitat. Bears prefer exposed rock
to build their dens, which is abundant across the street on Bunn Hill Road and toward
Nuthatch Hollow but absent in the preserve itself. Also, despite popular belief, Bears
are omnivores. Although they will scavenge the carrion of smaller animals such as
rabbits and voles, they prefer soft green, new growth plants, spring shrubs and fruits,
which the huge deer population has decimated.
Finally, it is important to note that these bears are more afraid of you than you
are of them. Their senses of smell and hearing are excellent, and they are able to
see movement (but not detail) very well, and if they detect a human in the area, they
will more than likely run away. They are timid animals in general, so if you see a
bear, make yourself known. Try to yell, scream, or even make yourself look large and
it will probably escape. Be sure to give it enough room to flee; though timid, bears
will fight if they are cornered. Since the Nature Preserve is mostly open land, this
will probably not be a problem.
Bears will not likely be seen during the school year, as there are too many people
around. Bears have been spotted up on Lehigh Avenue, eating from people's bird feeders
and traipsing around their gardens. Though the general population of black bears is
growing in this area, sighting are still very rare.
Information courtesy of Michael Armstrong.
Coyotes
Unlike bears, evidence collected from the pipeline, CIW and infirmary woods has shown
that coyotes have paired up and denned to raise litters. They have also been spotted
toward the southwestern edge of the preserve bordering private property and crossing
the main road in the early mornings, scavenging for food. Populations have recently
expanded to the CIW woods and marsh areas, but this is probably due to population
shift due to resource depletion and not an actual increase in number.
Coyotes have been blamed for the local decline in deer population, which is untrue
on many levels. Coyotes hunt in pairs, not packs, and it is very difficult for a pair
to take down a deer. Instead, coyotes mainly eat small mammals and birds, and, very
rarely, very small deer. They are very tenacious, moving very fluidly as they skulk
low to the ground. They are quiet and agile, and are rarely seen by people. When coyotes
are spotted, it is either because the viewer knows what he or she is looking for,
or it is a complete accident.
Like bears, coyotes are very afraid of people. The same rules apply; if you make yourself
known, it is likely to retreat.
Information courtesy of Michael Armstrong.
White-Tailed Deer
The deer on campus is 500-600 times more abundant than would be sustainable in CIW and Pipeline Woods, where they are frequently spotted. These deer are considered loners and generally do not like people, but they can learn. Many have been so used to seeing people that they have become borderline petting zoo pets. They are wonderful to observe as long as you are subtle about it. In the actual Nature Preserve, the number of deer is a bit lower, but still abnormally high. These deer are more wild and rather skittish about people. Deer have also been seen close campus and on Murray Hill Road and Lehigh Avenue, residents having been encouraging their appearances by feeding them. Information courtesy of Michael Armstrong.
For more information on the overpopulation of deer and its effects on the preserve,
click here.
Beaver
Sign of the work of beavers can be seen throughout the wetland areas of the Nature
Preserve. Along the Marsh Trail, many trees have been felled by the industrious beavers.
They feed on the cambium layer of bark, usually from Aspen trees. Along the shores
of the wetlands many “beaver canals” can be found. Over the years, beavers have built
four major dams in the wetlands and three smaller dams in the Marsh Trail Ditch. Two
dams are visible from the ‘87 walkway, the bridge. The lines of vegetation making
the ‘shoreline’ east and west of the bridge are beaver dams. Beavers have also built
many lodges which have cycled through use and deterioration. Many of the lodges are
used by muskrats and as Canada Goose nests.
Since 2000, there has been a single dominant family: “Big Guy” the male (who appears
to be close to 50 lbs), a female, and usually two offspring consisting of the current
year’s kit and the previous year’s “teenager.” The family seems to have one kit at
a time, but many kits are possible. The offspring usually disperse (or are kicked
out) in their second summer. The dispersing young often “train” in the Marsh Trail
ditch before leaving the Preserve completely. In 2002, a family of nine beavers (four
adults and five kits) tried to move into the Nature Preserve, but they were promptly
driven off by the dominant original family. In the winter of 2004, one beaver died
on the bank of the Marsh Trail ditch next to the lodge of unknown causes (possibly
sick or of old age.) The Beaver population seems to be in transition. In January 2007,
a large beaver, possibly “Big Guy” getting himself kicked out by a younger male, moved
from the main pond to the Marsh Trail Ditch. He made a quick fix to the lodge in the
ditch for the winter. There seems to be a different male in the main pond who is a
little more skittish than “Big Guy.”
The mother beaver usually waits in the water, protecting the kit, while the male brings
branches to her to eat. Interestingly, the beavers have become active later and later
as the years go by. As more people use the Nature Preserve, the beavers have changed
their activity time from during the day, to evening, to late night. Sometimes, they
can be seen in the early evening, but sighting them is becoming increasingly rare.
(Muskrats are often mistaken for beavers)
Mammal List
In Nature Preserve= Definitely observed visually or by sign
Possible Occurrence= possibly in NP by virtue of being within range
Didelphimorphia (American Marsupials)
In Nature Preserve
Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana
Soricomorpha (Insectivores)
In Nature Preserve
Northern Short-tailed Shrew Blarina brevicauda
Pygmy Shrew Sorex hoyi (confirmed specimen 2021)
Star-Nosed Mole Condylura cristata
Possible Occurrence
Hairy-tailed Mole Parascalops breweri
Masked Shrew Sorex cinereus
Water Shrew Sorex palustris
Smoky Shrew Sorex fumeus
Long-tailed Shrew Sorex dispar
Least Shrew Cryptotis parva
Eastern Mole Scalopus aquaticus
Chiroptera (Bats)
In Nature Preserve
Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus
Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus
Red Bat Lasiurus borealis
Tri-Colored Bat (Formerly Eastern Pipistrelle) Perimyotis subflavus
Possible Occurrence
Northern Long-Eared Bat Myotis septentrionalis
Indiana Bat Myotis sodalis
Small-footed Bat Myotis leibii
Silver-haired Bat Lasionycteris noctivagans
Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus
Canidae (Dogs)
In Nature Preserve
Coyote Canis latrans
Red Fox Vulpes vulpes
Gray Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Ursidae (Bear)
Occasionally in Nature Preserve
Black Bear Ursus americanus
Procyonidae (Raccoons)
In Nature Preserve
Raccoon Procyon lotor
Mustelidae (Weasels and relatives)
In Nature Preserve
Ermine Mustela erminea
Long-tailed Weasel Mustela frenata
Least Weasel Mustela nivalis
Mink Mustela vison
Fisher Martes pennanti Tracks and Sightings since 2007
In Broome County
River Otter Lontra canadensis
Mephitidae (Skunks)
In Nature Preserve
Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis
Felidae (Cats)
Likely occasionally In Nature Preserve (no reports)
Bobcat Lynx rufus
Artiodactyla (Even-Hoofed ungulates)
In Nature Preserve
White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus
In NYS
Moose Alces alces
Rodentia (Rodents)
In Nature Preserve
Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus
Woodchuck Marmota monax
Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
Red Squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Southern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys volans
Northern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus
Beaver Castor canadensis
Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus
Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus
White-footed Mouse Peromyscus leucopus
Southern Red-backed Vole Clethrionomys gapperi
Meadow Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus
Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum
Possible Occurrence
Alleghany Woodrat Neotoma magister Possibly found in Owl Pellet in BUNP 2007
Rock Vole Microtus chrotorrhinus
Pine Vole Pitymys pinetorum
Southern Bog Lemming Synaptomys cooperi
Black Rat Rattus rattus
Norway Rat Rattus norvegicus
House Mouse Mus musculus
Meadow Jumping Mouse Zapus hudsonius
Woodland Jumping Mouse Napaeozapus insignis
Lagomorpha (Rabbits/Hares)
In Nature Preserve
Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus
In NYS
New England Cottontail Sylvilagus transitionalis
Varying Hare Lepus americanus
