_Condylura cristata._ Star-nosed Mole.
Tall-sedge, 2.
Two were trapped September 3 and 5, 1920, in a short, open runway in
very moist soil at the edge of a small ditch running through tall
sedges in a beaver meadow near Gogebic Lake, Ontonagon County.
_Sorex personatus personatus._ Masked Shrew.
Grassy-meadow, 2.
Black spruce--tamarack bog, 2.
Wet hardwood forest, 3.
Dry hardwood forest, 3.
Shrub stage, 2.
In the Cisco Lake Region in July, one was taken in a small black spruce
bog, two in a narrow tongue of grass between tall sedges and sphagnum
bordering Mud Lake, three in the wetter parts of the hardwood forest,
and three in the upland, well-drained hardwood forest. Near Little
Girl's Point in August, two were taken in a growth of shrubs in a burn.
Near Gogebic Lake, Ontonagon County, one was taken September 4 in a
black spruce bog.
_Sorex richardsonii._ Richardson Shrew.
Tall-sedge, 15.
Grassy-meadow, 1.
Sphagnum bog, 1.
This species was found only in or near tall sedges growing in moist or
marshy situations. In the Cisco Lake Region six were taken near Mud
Lake in July. Four of these were taken in tall sedges, one in grass
alongside the sedges, and one in sphagnum between the sedges and the
lake. August 30 to September 5, eleven were taken in tall sedges in a
beaver meadow near Gogebic Lake, Ontonagon County.
An adult female trapped at Mud Lake, July 30, contained five large
embryos. There were two pairs of inguinal and one pair of abdominal
mammae. Another adult female trapped in the same place, July 22, had
two pairs of inguinal mammae, but no abdominal mammae were found.
The latter individual was moulting, patches of new fur having replaced
the old on the top of the head midway between the ears and eyes,
between the shoulders, and on the rump. The other female mentioned
above, taken July 30, had nearly completed her moult.
Only two specimens have been previously recorded from Michigan, one
from Alger County and the other from Chippewa County.[2]
_Neosorex palustris palustris._ Marsh Shrew, Water Shrew.
Tall-sedge, 1.
Ditch-border, 3.
September 1 a marsh shrew was trapped in the tall sedges of a beaver
meadow near Gogebic Lake, Ontonagon County. Most of the body had been
eaten by some carnivore. Other specimens were taken on each of the two
succeeding days, and a fourth on September 5.
The first specimen taken was trapped eight feet from a tiny stream
which flowed through the marshy sedges. Two of the others were taken on
the muddy bank of the stream near the water's edge, and the fourth
about 35 feet from the water. All were secured within a radius of 35
feet.
This species has been recorded but once previously from Michigan, from
Chippewa County.[3]
_Microsorex hoyi._ Hoy Shrew.
Black spruce-tamarack bog, 1.
Wet hardwood forest, 1.
One specimen was taken July 17 at Fish-hawk Lake in a moderately wet
part of the hardwood forest. Another was taken July 29 at the edge of a
small black spruce bog.
_Blarina brevicauda talpoides._ Bob-tailed Shrew.
Tall-sedge, 8.
Grassy-meadow, 6.
Alder-thicket, 1.
Black ash swamp, 6.
Arbor-vitae swamp, 4.
Black spruce--tamarack bog, 1.
Wet hardwood forest, 32.
Dry hardwood forest, 8.
Shrub stage, 1.
Paper birch--aspen stage, 6.
The species is rather generally distributed, but is by far the most
common in moist woods. In the Cisco Lake Region 11 were secured; in the
Little Girl's Point district, 10; and near Gogebic Lake in Ontonagon
County, 52. In the latter district it was the most abundant mammal
species, even exceeding Peromyscus in numbers; indeed, Peromyscus was
relatively uncommon in the partly swampy woods of the region, and it
might be that the abundance of the bob-tailed shrews accounts for the
scarcity of the deer-mice, for the shrews undoubtedly at times prey
upon the mice. The specimen recorded above from the black
spruce-tamarack bog was taken near Gogebic Lake in a boggy swamp,
which, while dominated by black spruces, yet contained a considerable
number of arbor-vitae and hemlocks.
In the wet hardwood forest near Gogebic Lake Blarina runways are
exceedingly abundant, usually running along or under sticks or logs.
Commonly they are just under the leaves, but sometimes for a short
distance are without covering. One old log examined was found to be
honey-combed with these tunnels. The deeper runways nearly always
follow down just under a tree root.
The uterus of a female taken July 10, at Fish-hawk Lake, showed a few
small swellings which were identified in the field as embryos.
Unfortunately, the uterus was not preserved. No embryos were found in
26 other females taken between July 15 and September 4. In the latter
part of the season fewer immature specimens were taken than earlier in
the summer. These facts show that in this region the species breeds in
the spring or early summer and does not usually breed again during July
and August.
_Myotis lucifugus lucifugus._ Little Brown Bat.
Aerial, 15.
Nine individuals were shot while they were flying over the lakes in the
Cisco Lake Region. These were taken between 8:00 and 9:00 p. m. from
July 1 to August 2; but on moonlight nights bats, believed to be of
this species, were seen flying as late as 10:00 p. m. At the camp near
Little Girl's Point one was shot at 7:55 p. m., August 11, as it flew
about over the road through the dry hardwood forest. Five others were
shot at the Gogebic Lake camp as they flitted through an opening in the
wet hardwood forest. These were taken between 7:30 and 7:55 p. m.,
August 23 to September 2; but bats almost certainly of this species
appeared regularly in the evenings about 7:10 p. m.
_Lasionycteris noctivagans._ Silver-haired Bat.
Aerial, 3.
Near the Little Girl's Point camp one was shot at 7:50 p. m., August 9,
and two more in the same region about 7:45 p. m., August 17. One was
flying along a road through the dry hardwood forest at a height about
equal to that of the tree-tops, and the others were taken in a small
clearing in the same forest.
_Nycteris borealis borealis._ Red Bat.
Aerial, 2.
Two were secured near the Little Girl's Point camp at about 7:45 p. m.,
one August 9 and the other August 14, as they flew about over the road
through the dry hardwood forest.
_Nycteris cinerea._ Hoary Bat.
Aerial, 1.
The only specimen secured was shot at 7:55 p. m., August 9, while it
was flying over the road through the dry hardwood forest near Little
Girl's Point.
_Ursus americanus americanus._ Black Bear.
Wet hardwood forest, 1.
Dry hardwood forest, 1.
Reported by residents as being rather common. July 10 a large black
bear was seen to cross the railroad track and enter the hardwood forest
not over a quarter-mile from Cisco Lake Station. Tracks of a large
individual were seen in the mud bordering a small brook in
maple-birch-hemlock forest about three miles southeast of the station
July 17 and August 15. At dusk, August 28, while Mr. Sherman was
setting up a camera and flashgun along a deer trail about 100 yards
from the camp on Gogebic Lake, a small bear passed within twenty-five
paces of him, apparently but little concerned with his presence or that
of the nearby camp and fire, except that it sniffed the air
occasionally.
_Canis lycaon._ Timber Wolf.
Mud-flat, signs.
Tall-sedge, tracks.
Dry hardwood forest, reported.
Residents reported it common in all the districts visited by us. We saw
signs and tracks in several habitats; and residents saw a wolf in the
dry hardwood forest near our camp in the Little Girl's Point district.
_Canis latrans._ Coyote.
J. E. Fischer reported in 1920 that coyotes had appeared and become
numerous in the region at the north end of Lake Gogebic within the last
few years. We have secured several skulls and skeletons taken by him in
1920-21.
_Vulpes fulva._ Red Fox.
Mountain-heath, signs.
Signs of fox were found in late August in a narrow growth of heath at
the top of a cliff about a mile north of Lake Gogebic Station. J. E.
Fischer has sent us a fox taken in January, 1921, in Gogebic County
near Gogebic Lake. Benjamin J. Twombley reports that a few occur in the
Cisco Lake Region. J. E. Marshall, in 1911, reported that a few
occurred around Gogebic Lake.
_Urocyon cinereoargenteus._ Gray Fox.
J. E. Marshall reported in 1911 that it was rare, but that he had
trapped two near Gogebic Lake.
_Martes americanus americanus._ Marten.
J. E. Marshall reported in 1911 that it was getting scarce in Gogebic
and Ontonagon counties. He trapped a number near Gogebic Lake in the
winter of 1884-1885, and took 15 in the winter of 1889-90. In 1920 J.
E. Fischer reported marten rare near Gogebic Lake.
_Martes pennantii pennantii._ Fisher.
In 1911 J. E. Marshall reported that it was getting scarce near Gogebic
Lake; he trapped four in the winter of 1889-90 and two in 1890-91. J.
E. Fischer took one in Ontonagon County near Gogebic Lake in the winter
of 1919-20. Ole Petersen in 1911 reported it rare near Gogebic Lake.
_Mustela cicognanii cicognanii._ Bonaparte Weasel.
Black spruce--tamarack bog, 1.
Dry hardwood forest, 4.
Trappers report it common throughout the areas visited. We took five
specimens near Little Girl's Point. Several specimens taken in the
Cisco Lake Region during the winter of 1920-21 were presented to us by
Benjamin J. Twombley, and J. E. Fischer sent us a specimen taken in
December, 1920, near Gogebic Lake.
_Mustela vison letifera._ Mink.
Forest--shore, 6.
Wet hardwood forest, den.
Reported by trappers as common throughout the area studied. In the
Cisco Lake Region two were trapped at the water's edge beside a growth
of paper birch saplings; and another was shot as it was running along
the bank of the Ontonagon River at the edge of a stand of hemlocks.
Three others were seen swimming near the latter locality July 29. Upon
the approach of the canoe they swam rapidly to an old hollow log in wet
hardwood forest on shore. Around and through the log well-worn runways
showed evidence of the presence of a den.
_Mephitis hudsonica._ Skunk.
Ditch-border, 1.
Dry hardwood forest, 5.
Four skunks were taken in the dry hardwood forest of the Cisco Lake
Region, one in the same type of habitat near the Little Girl's Point
camp, and another in a trap set in the bottom of a muddy ditch in the
beaver meadow near Gogebic Lake.
An adult male, trapped July 14 in the Cisco Lake Region, was badly
infested with tapeworms in the middle part of the small intestine. An
adult female, taken July 19, was found to have many tapeworms in the
intestine, many nematodes in the lung tissue, an infested liver, and a
large number of nematodes in a cavity in the top of the skull.
While we were photographing a captive juvenile August 2 at Lindsley
Lake a horsefly (identified as _Tabanus atratus_ by J. S. Rogers)
burrowed into the fur on the rump of the skunk and began sucking blood.
_Taxidea taxus taxus._ Badger.
J. E. Marshall reports that he trapped one in the winter of 1889-90
between Gogebic Lake and Lake Superior.
_Lutra canadensis canadensis._ Otter.
In 1911 J. E. Marshall reported that quite a few remained around
Gogebic Lake; he took quite a number in the winter of 1884 and several
in the winters of 1889 to 1891. J. E. Fischer took two in Ontonagon
County in January, 1921.
_Lynx canadensis._ Canada Lynx.
J. E. Marshall reports that it was not very plentiful near Gogebic Lake
in 1884. He took one in the winter of 1890-91; in 1911 it had almost or
entirely disappeared.
_Lynx ruffus ruffus._ Bob-cat.
J. E. Marshall reports that he took three or four near Gogebic Lake in
the winter of 1890-91; in 1891-92 it had become quite numerous; and it
continued to increase until 1911 at least. In 1920 residents reported
that a few occurred in all the regions visited by us.
_Peromyscus maniculatus gracilis._ Deer-mouse.
Tall-sedge, 4.
Black ash swamp, 5.
Arbor-vitae swamp, 11.
Black spruce--tamarack bog, 4.
Hemlock forest, 16.
White pine forest, 5.
Wet hardwood forest, 78.
Dry hardwood forest, 143.
Shrub stage, 19.
Paper birch--aspen, 15.
Young hardwood forest stage, 2.
Edificarian, 6.
In the Cisco Lake Region and in the vicinity of Little Girl's Point
this species is the most abundant mammal, but in the wet woods at the
Gogebic Lake camp it is much less abundant, being exceeded in numbers
by the bob-tailed shrew. A total of 308 deer-mice were taken during the
summer. It was found in a variety of forest habitats, but it is most
abundant in the dry upland woods of the Little Girl's Point Region. The
individuals taken in the tall sedges at Mud Lake were probably
stragglers from the nearby shrubs and forest, for no deer-mice were
taken in the extensive sedges of the large beaver meadow studied near
Gogebic Lake. Probably most of those taken in the black spruce bogs
were stragglers also, though one individual taken in a large black
spruce bog was 50 yards from the nearest deciduous woods.
When we arrived in the Cisco Lake Region in late June young and
subadults were abundant, many of the female subadults, as well as the
adults, carrying embryos. Embryos were found throughout the summer up
to August 25. Of females containing embryos, five had 4 embryos each,
ten females 5 embryos each, nine females 6 embryos each, and one female
8 embryos.
_Synaptomys cooperi fatuus._ Lemming-vole.
Tall-sedge, 1.
Black spruce--tamarack bog, 2.
Wet hardwood forest, 1.
Dry hardwood forest, 1.
In the Cisco Lake Region an adult female was taken in dry hardwood
forest near Fish-hawk Lake June 28, 1920. It contained 6 embryos each
21 mm. long. A juvenile was trapped July 26 on top a log in the tall
sedges at Mud Lake. The log bridged over a particularly wet part of the
marshy sedges and was at the edge of the hardwood forest. Two other
juveniles were taken the next day, one in a small black spruce log, and
the other in wet hardwood forest at the edge of the same bog. In
Ontonagon County near Gogebic Lake a subadult male was taken September
5 in a large black spruce bog.
_Evotomys gapperi gapperi._ Red-backed vole.
Black ash swamp, 2.
Black spruce--tamarack bog, 6.
Arbor-vitae swamp, 2.
Hemlock forest, 5.
White pine forest, 2.
Wet hardwood forest, 18.
Dry hardwood forest, 17.
Shrub stage, 5.
Paper birch--aspen stage, 3.
Thirty were taken in the Cisco Lake Region, 10 at the Little Girl's
Point camp, and 20 near Gogebic Lake in Ontonagon County. It was most
common in the forests. Two individuals recorded from the arbor-vitae
swamp were taken in a mixed swamp of small arbor-vitae, black spruce,
and hemlock with many alders, this situation probably forming a stage
in the succession following a beaver meadow. Also, one of the specimens
recorded from the paper birch--aspen stage was taken in an open stand
of old paper birches with a forest floor of grass, conditions not
typical of the stage.
Of 13 females examined from June to August, two contained 4 embryos
each, two 5 embryos each, and two 6 embryos each. August 14, at Little
Girl's Point, was the last date on which embryos were found.
The species is somewhat diurnal. Several times one was seen in daylight
about the camp in the Cisco Lake Region, and several were trapped
during daylight hours.
A captive was fond of tender grass blades, but refused the harder
stems. In eating he sat up on the hind feet and handled the food with
the fore feet.
An immature male taken August 8 near Little Girl's Point had a
considerable infestation of seed ticks on the posterior lobes of both
ears.
_Microtus pennsylvanicus pennsylvanicus._ Meadow vole.
Mud-flat, 6.
Tall-sedge, 28.
Grassy-meadow, 6.
Black ash swamp, 1.
Arbor-vitae swamp, 1.
Leather leaf bog, 15.
Sphagnum bog, 9.
Black spruce--tamarack bog, 1.
Shrub stage, 17.
Sixty-five were taken in the Cisco Lake Region and 19 in Ontonagon
County, near Gogebic Lake. It is most abundant in grassy and sedgy
meadows and in open bogs, though it is found rarely in swamps and
tree-covered bogs. The individual listed from the arbor-vitae swamp was
taken in a young growth of arbor-vitae, black spruce, hemlock, and many
alders, and not in typical arbor-vitae swamp habitat. Of the 17 listed
from the shrub stage, one was taken in a wet, sedgy part of a
shrub-covered burn at Poor Lake, and the others were secured in the
shrub and grass clearing around the camp house on Lindsley Lake.
Of ten females examined, July 10 to September 5, one contained 3
embryos, one 4 embryos, and two 5 embryos each. September 5 was the
last date on which embryos were found. The three embryos found on the
last date were each 23 mm. in length and together they weighed 8.5
grams, which was 26 per cent of the weight of the mother with the
embryos removed.
Both adults and immature young were seen moving about, and were also
trapped in broad daylight, but it is more active in the evening just
before sunset.
A captive juvenile was placed July 19 in a large tub with an adult
female, which might have been its mother, for both were taken on
succeeding days in the same trap. The young one immediately tried to
nurse, but was severely bitten and driven away, though it made numerous
unsuccessful attempts later. When approaching the old female the baby
frequently gave a high-pitched squeak, and the old female replied by a
hoarse squeak, evidently of warning, for the young one was bitten when
it approached in defiance of the warning note and threatening attitude
of the adult. The baby evidently had been weaned, and the old female
was found to contain five large embryos.
_Ondatra zibethica zibethica._ Muskrat.
Forest--shore, 5.
Water lily, 1.
Pondweed, 2.
Willow-thicket, signs.
Muskrats are numerous in the Cisco Lake Region, and five specimens were
taken. Near Little Girl's Point one was seen swimming in a small
stream. At the mouth of Merriweather Creek on Gogebic Lake signs were
noted in a willow thicket, and muskrats were reported numerous in the
region.
An adult female trapped July 6 at Fish-hawk Lake contained six large
embryos; another female taken July 10 contained no embryos, but the
mammae were filled with milk; and two females taken July 26 contained
no embryos.
In the Cisco Lake Region broken mussel shells were abundant in the
muskrat runways along the shores. Remains of pondweeds were also
frequently found in the runways, and a quantity of leaves with a few
heads containing flowers and seeds collected July 8 were identified by
E. A. Bessey as _Potamogeton richardsonii_.
_Zapus hudsonius hudsonius._ Jumping-mouse.
Mud-flat, 4.
Tall-sedge, 12.
Grassy-meadow, 8,
Arbor-vitae swamp, 1.
Sphagnum bog, 1.
Black spruce--tamarack bog, 1.
Wet hardwood forest, 2.
Dry hardwood forest, 1.
Shrub stage, 10.
Paper birch--aspen stage, 2.
Numerous in suitable habitats in the Cisco Lake Region, at Little
Girl's Point, and at Gogebic Lake. Most common in open grasses and
sedges. Five of those recorded above from the shrub stage were taken
in open shrubs and grass in the clearing around the camp house on
Lindsley Lake; and the two recorded from the paper birch--aspen stage
were taken at Cisco Lake in an open stand of old paper birch with a
forest floor of grass.
Juveniles were taken throughout the summer, but no one of seven adult
or nearly adult females examined between July 7 and September 4
contained embryos.
A captive taken July 18, after feeding ravenously on a cooky, retired
to a corner and went to sleep. The position taken in this case was a
sitting one, the animal resting on the widely spread feet as far as the
heels, and on the tail. The head was bent far over, the nose extending
between the hind legs. The long tail was curled around the body, it
resting on the ground for its whole length. The operation of cleaning
the tail was observed two days later. The animal worked from the base
of the tail toward the tip, using the fore feet to present the tail to
the mouth, where it was licked off. During the process the head was
held over on one side, nearly touching the ground.
_Napaeozapus insignis fructectanus._ Woodland Jumping Mouse.
Wet hardwood forest, 1.
Dry hardwood forest, 6.
Three were taken in the Cisco Lake Region and four in the Little Girl's
Point Region, all in heavy forest.
Neither of two adult females taken August 8 and 10 contained embryos.
_Erethizon dorsatum dorsatum._ Porcupine.
Forest--shore, 13.
Wet hardwood forest, 10.
Dry hardwood forest, 17.
Shrub stage, 5.
Paper birch--aspen stage, 10.
Overflow swamp, 5.
Edificarian, 1.
Common at all camps. Many were taken in traps set for carnivores.
Well-marked trails at the edges of lakes and streams through the
forests are evidently made mostly by these animals. It is detested by
the inhabitants of the region, chiefly for the damage done to any
woodwork which contains the least amount of salt.
Porcupines spend a considerable amount of time inside hollow linden,
yellow birch, and hemlock trees, as shown by the large piles of
droppings noted at the lower openings of numerous such hollow trees.
June 30, and again on July 2, young individuals were closely observed
while feeding on the leaves of the yellow water lily. These individuals
were on the logs in an overflow swamp, and they reached down with a
fore foot into the water to secure the food, which was then presented
to the mouth with the same foot. One of these porcupines seemed to be
very disinclined to wet his feet, except the fore feet in reaching for
food; the other individual waded out on a log which was submerged
several inches, but he showed a ludicrous determination to hold the
tail up out of the water.
A juvenile weighing only 914 grams was taken as late as July 21 at
Fish-hawk Lake, but no embryos were found in the period between June 29
and September 3. It is often active throughout the day as well as in
the night.
A young individual taken in a trap July 3 was found surrounded by a
swarm of mosquitoes, which seemed to annoy him considerably, for he
shook his skin frequently to dislodge them. One mosquito settled on a
lower eyelid as we watched, and others kept alighting on his nose. When
he raised his quills on our approach many mosquitoes attacked the skin
exposed on the back.
_Marmota monax canadensis._ Canada Woodchuck.
Hemlock forest, 5.
Shrub stage, 9.
A few occur in the Cisco Lake Region, where they are most common in
the shrubby clearings. Several adults fed commonly on the refuse from
the camp. The stomach of a captured individual contained a considerable
quantity of cooked corn, spaghetti, and boiled ham. Three woodchucks
were noted at different times in hemlock forest along the lake shores.
A half-grown juvenile was seen to swim the Ontonagon River near its
entrance to Cisco Lake. This was on July 10, near noon, with bright
sunshine. The river here is at least 75 yards in width, but has no
perceptible current.
Juveniles taken in traps were observed to extrude scent glands from the
anus when approached. These glands are three in number, one on each
side of the anus and one beneath. They are small, whitish, and
cup-shaped. Normally they lie just inside the anus, but on excitement
they are everted and the fold of skin forming the edge of the anus is
rolled outward so that the glands lie outside. We detected a faint
musky odor which might have come from these glands.
In the Little Girl's Point district several inhabited a woodpile in
hemlock forest at the edge of a wide road. None were found near Gogebic
Lake.
_Eutamias borealis neglectus._ Lake Superior Chipmunk.
Tall-sedge, 1.
Grassy-meadow, 3.
Black spruce--tamarack bog, 1.
Hemlock forest, 1.
Wet hardwood forest, 1.
Shrub stage, 20.
Paper birch--aspen stage, 2.
Common in shrubby clearings and burns in the Cisco Lake and Little
Girl's Point regions. A few were taken in tall sedges and grass not far
from shrubs; one was taken in a small black spruce bog, about five
yards from the surrounding wet hardwood forest; one was taken in
hemlock forest near the lake shore; and one was seen in wet hardwood
forest near the lake shore. Not seen near Gogebic Lake.
These chipmunks were several times observed feeding on ripe
raspberries. August 5, near Watersmeet, one was seen sitting on a rail
fence beside a pasture, eating a grasshopper, the remains of which have
been identified by T. H. Hubbell as _Melanoplus_ sp. probably
_bivittatus_.
_Tamias striatus griseus._ Gray Chipmunk.
Black ash swamp, 1.
Hemlock forest, 1.
Wet hardwood forest, 10.
Dry hardwood forest, 8.
Shrub stage, 2.
Five records were obtained in the Cisco Lake Region; 9 near Little
Girl's Point, and 8 near Gogebic Lake. It is most numerous in hardwood
forest.
An adult male taken July 5 had in its cheek-pouches numerous seeds of
Carex and a fruit capsule of Viola, the identification being by E. A.
Bessey. Of eight adult or nearly adult females examined between July 5
and September 1, one taken July 15 in the Cisco Lake Region contained
eight large embryos.
_Sciurus hudsonicus loquax._ Southeastern Red-squirrel.
Black ash swamp, 1.
Arbor-vitae swamp, 3.
Black spruce--tamarack bog, 2.
Hemlock forest, 1.
White pine forest, 1.
Wet hardwood forest, 9.
Dry hardwood forest, 7.
Shrub stage, 1.
Paper birch--aspen stage, 3.
Early hardwood forest stage, 1.
Edificarian, 1.
Seventeen records from the Cisco Lake Region; 6 from Little Girl's
Point; and 7 from Gogebic Lake. None were noted more than a few yards
from the protection of a forest.
In a grove of white pines near Little Girl's Point cut pine scales were
numerous August 13 on the ground and on logs, and one red-squirrel
taken had much pitch on the fur around the mouth. August 24, cut-open
fir cones were numerous around the small fir trees in a paper
birch--aspen growth near Gogebic Lake, and were certainly the work of
this species. July 2 a young red-squirrel which had frequently been
seen around the camp in the Cisco Lake Region was found ravenously
feeding on the kidney of a recently skinned woodchuck. After feeding it
showed no fear, and allowed itself to be picked up; it seemed very
sleepy and slept for about a half-hour before running away. This
individual was badly infested with fleas. Another juvenile taken July 1
in the same region was infested with small patches of red seed ticks
around the anus, anterior to the genital opening, on the belly, on the
thigh, and at the base of one ear.
Six small embryos were found in an adult female taken in the Cisco Lake
Region July 16.
_Sciurus carolinensis leucotis._ Gray-squirrel.
In 1911, J. E. Marshall reported that a few occurred near Gogebic Lake.
_Glaucomys sabrinus macrotis._ Mearns Flying-squirrel.
Black ash swamp, 1.
Hemlock forest, 1.
Wet hardwood forest, 2.
Dry hardwood forest, 1.
Two were taken in the Cisco Lake Region and three near Gogebic Lake in
Ontonagon County. A female taken July 4 near Fish-hawk Lake was still
suckling young, and contained no embryos, but a female taken July 6 in
the same region contained five small embryos. An immature female taken
August 27 near Gogebic Lake was without embryos.
_Castor canadensis michiganensis._ Woods Beaver.
Leather leaf bog, house.
Two houses were found in the Cisco Lake Region, both being in leather
leaf bogs near deep water. Around the house studied there was an
incomplete moat connected with a channel leading to deep water, and
canals and tunnels radiated out through the bog. No beavers were
observed nor secured, but fresh cuttings were noted at the edges of
some of the "forms" in the bog.
A few beaver are reported to occur near Little Girl's Point and near
Gogebic Lake. E. E. Brewster in 1895 wrote Dr. Gibbs that it was not
uncommon in Gogebic County and in probably all the counties of the
Upper Peninsula where trapping and lumbering had been discontinued; he
stated that beaver were appearing again even in localities where
formerly most sought. In 1911, J. E. Marshall reported it scarce near
Gogebic Lake.
_Lepus americanus phaeonotus._ Snowshoe Hare.
Forest--shore, 1.
Arbor-vitae swamp, signs.
Leather leaf bog, signs.
Black spruce--tamarack bog, 1.
Wet hardwood forest, signs.
Dry hardwood forest, 1.
Shrub stage, 7.
Paper birch--aspen stage, 1.
Cultivated-field, 1.
Edificarian, 1.
Rare during the season of 1920 in the areas visited. In the Cisco Lake
Region an adult female was taken in a trap set for muskrat under water
on a brushy point. Other hares were occasionally seen in the evenings
in the shrubby clearing around the camp house; and one was even seen on
the porch. Droppings were found in a leather leaf bog, and a hare was
seen at the edge of a black spruce--tamarack bog. Near Little Girl's
Point a juvenile was taken August 13 in the upland hardwood forest, but
was partly eaten in the trap by some carnivore; several were seen in
shrubby clearings; and a young one was reported captured in an oat
field by a farmer. Droppings were found in an arbor-vitae swamp. Near
Gogebic Lake in Ontonagon County droppings were found in wet hardwood
forest, in a thick growth of aspen and white birch saplings, and in an
extensive tamarack bog.
An adult female taken July 4 at Fish-hawk Lake had much milk in the
mammae. At the camp on Lindsley Lake June 27 one was seen to eat some
wood ashes; and June 30 one was seen to feed on the blades of quack
grass (_Agropyron repens_), which was identified by E. A. Bessey.
_Odocoileus virginianus borealis._ Northern White-tailed Deer.
Forest--shore, 1.
Mud-flat, signs.
Tall-sedge, 1.
Grassy-meadow, 1.
Alder-thicket, signs.
Black ash swamp, signs.
Arbor-vitae swamp, signs.
Black spruce--tamarack bog, signs.
Hemlock forest, signs.
Wet hardwood forest, 10.
Dry hardwood forest, 7.
Shrub stage, 8.
Paper birch--aspen stage, 1.
Deer are abundant in the Cisco Lake Region; they are less common near
Lake Gogebic; and only a few were seen near Little Girl's Point. Most
of those seen were in the hardwood forest and in the brushy clearings,
but trails and signs were common in many habitats.
Wolves were reported to prey extensively on deer in the region, and
wolf dung examined August 7 near Little Girl's Point contained much
deer hair and some deer bones.
_Alces americanus._ Moose.
J. E. Marshall reports that a moose was seen near Gogebic Lake in the
winter of 1885, and an individual, perhaps the same one, was killed on
Flambeau Reservation that year.