Nature Notes From Crater Lake
Volume 12, October 1946
Mammal Populations, 1946
By Dr. R. R. Huestis, Ranger-Naturalist
This note is based upon observations,
made in Crater Lake National Park, upon the most easily observable
mammal species. The present season is distinct in two particulars: The
park is open to the heavy public travel for the first time since 1942.
The heavy snowfall of the 1945-46 season has provided an exceptional
amount of vegetation throughout the area.
Olympic black bear are not numerous as
compared with pre-war years. The policy of garbage disposal at a
considerable distance from any habited area has been successful in
preventing unhealthy concentration of these animals. A few complaints
have been made by campers of bears stealing foodstuffs left exposed in a
vacated camp but these indignant people are outnumbered twenty to one by
visitors equally indignant because they haven't seen a bear since they
entered the park.
Columbia black-tailed deer appear to be
exceptionally numerous. They are commonly seen by visitors and trails
are found to be dotted with fresh footprints whenever they are visited.
Deer are commoner than at any season in the last then years.
Golden mantled ground squirrels are
rather scarce. In 1938 about 150 squirrels, by actual count, inhabited
the rim area between the Lodge and the Crater Wall Trail. This year's
population appears to be about one-fifth of this. Squirrels are very
numerous along Highway 230 east, outside the park.
Townsend chipmunks, never very
numerous, appear in expected numbers. Klamath chipmunks have been rarely
observed in the rim area this year. White-footed mice, which in the rim
area sometimes enter the cafeteria or lodge in considerable numbers,
have caused no comment this year and appear to be below average in
number. A few have been taken in snap traps along Munson Creek.
Yellow-bellied marmots may be seen to
some extent along the highways. None has been observed along the Rim
Walk, where one or two could usually be seen. Conies can be seen in the
talus slopes along Garfield Peak Trails but do not call from the rim
slopes to any extent this year. They appear to be present in less than
average number.
Signs of the Mazama gopher showed in a
few places along the rim where the snow melted. The most extensive
workings in the rim area were in a small flat between the highway and
the cafeteria. When it is considered that spring melts commonly expose
extensive gopher workings in cleared spaced everywhere in the park area,
the numbers of gophers this year can be considered below average.
Among the medium sized and small
carnivores, pine martens have been reported to be about as numerous as
usual. A weasel carrying a
Microtus and, later, the same individual carrying a small
Citellus, was seen at the Information Building. Coyotes have not
been reported at all and foxes rarely.