Since 1994, my lab, with
the field technical support of Dean Pearson and Mike Maples, has been
working to develop standardized survey protocols for American marten,
fisher, wolverine, and lynx employing remote sensing cameras and track
plates.
This research was organized
in three phases. The first phase, conducted from the Fall of 1994 through
the Summer of 1995, involved a comparison of three proposed censussing
methods, and an analysis of the suggested standardized protocols for
each.
These methods were:
- use of remote cameras,
- use of tracking plates
(both covered and uncovered), and
- snow tracking.
For a more detailed analysis of this research refer
to:
Foresman, K. R., and D. E. Pearson. 1995. Testing of proposed survey
methods for the detection of wolverine, lynx fisher, and American marten
in Bitterroot National Forest. Final Report for the Research Joint Venture
Agreement INT 94918,USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station,
Missoula, MT. 100 pp.)
Foresman, K. R., and D. E.
Pearson. 1998 Comparison of proposed survey procedures for detection
of forest carnivores. Journal of Wildlife Management 62(4):1217 1226.
Foresman, K. R., and D. E.
Pearson. 1999. Activity patterns of American martens, Martes americana,
snowshoe hares, Lepus americanus, and red squirrels, Tamiasciurus
americanus, in west central Montana. The Canadian Field Naturalist
113(3): 386 389.
Foresman, K. R. Surveying
rare wildlife in the Bitterroots. Montana Outdoors: Nov/Dec 1999, pg.
32 33.
The second phase of this
research was conducted between January and July 1996. Here the focus
was to expand the use of remote cameras and tracking plates into additional
habitat types as well as test tracking plates during different seasons
(Spring/Summer vs. previous Winter studies). For the results of this
research refer to:
Foresman, K. R., and M. T.
Maples. 1996. Application of remote sensing methods for the detection
of forest carnivores and their prey base in Bitterroot National Forest.
Final Report for the Research Joint Venture Agreement INT 97017, USDA
Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Missoula, MT. 85 pp.
The third phase of this research
began in the Fall of 1997. One of my Wildlife Biology graduate students,
Jake Ivan, determined "probability of detection" values (POD)
for American marten using covered track plates. For a more detailed
understanding of Jake's research "Effectiveness of carbon-sooted
aluminum track plates...".
