Orville Dyer. 1998. Mammals in Smith, I.M., and G.G.E. Scudder, eds. Assessment of species diversity in the Montane Cordillera Ecozone. Burlington: Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network, 1998.

MAMMALS

Orville Dyer

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW (continued)

ORDER LAGOMORPHA: LAGOMORPHS

The Lagomorphs are represented by 2 families, 3 genera and 4 species. One species is Red Listed and thought to be extirpated, 1 species is Blue Listed and 2 species are Yellow Listed. One species is also listed by COSEWIC as Vulnerable. These species occur in the endangered Okanagan ecosystem and are at the northern extreme of their range. The main conservation concerns are habitat loss due to urban and agricultural development, competition with livestock for forage and historic poisoning and killing. In addition, 1 subspecies is Red Listed due to its small, geographically isolated population.

FAMILY OCHOTONIDAE: Pikas

Ochotona princeps (Richardson) - Common Pika

The Common Pika is found throughout mountainous areas of western North America from central British Columbia to New Mexico. Within the Montane Cordillera Ecozone, it is widely distributed in rock outcrop and talus, from Mount Robson and the Itcha and Ilgatchuz mountains south to the U.S. border. This species occurs over a broad range and its habitat is under little threat . The species is Yellow Listed. However, one subspecies (O. p. septentrionalis), which occurs only in the Itcha and Ilgachuz mountains, has recently been Red Listed due to its restricted range and small population size. Research into this subspeciesÕ population size, distribution and viability is required, along with clarification of its habitat usage and an assessment of potential threats.

FAMILY LEPORIDAE: Hares and Rabbits

Lepus americanus Erxleben - Snowshoe Hare

The Snowshoe Hare inhabits boreal forests throughout North America, from Alaska to New Mexico. It occurs throughout the entire Montane Cordillera Ecozone where deciduous trees and shrubs provide food and conifer thickets provide cover. It does not occur in dry, hot shrub-steppe habitats. This Yellow Listed species is an important prey item for several species of carnivore. Lynx depend on it, almost exclusively, for survival.

Lepus townsendii Bachman - White-tailed Jackrabbit

The White-tailed Jackrabbit can be found in the Great Plains and intermontane areas of North America. In Canada this species occurs in southern grasslands from British Columbia to Ontario but the townsendii subspecies is restricted to the extreme, south central Montane Cordillera Ecozone. Historically, it was restricted to low elevation shrub-steppe, agricultural and open ponderosa pine habitats in the lower Similkameen and Okanagan valleys, as far north as Penticton . This species is Red Listed in British Columbia and may be extirpated; the last sighting was in 1985 near the U.S. border. Suspected causes of their disappearance include habitat loss to urban and agricultural development, competition with livestock for forage, poisoning in agricultural areas and shooting. Jackrabbits have relatively large home ranges (up to 100 ha.) and current protected areas are not adequate to sustain a viable population. Research into this species’ ecology, the genetic effects of small populations and the effects of livestock grazing in nearby areas (Washington State), is required to determine whether reintroduction of this species is practical (Carter et. al 1991).

Sylvilagus nuttallii (Bachman)-Nuttall's Cottontail

Nuttall’s Cottontails are found in grasslands and intermontane regions of western North America, from extreme south central British Columbia to Saskatchewan and south to Arizona. The nutallii subspecies is found, in Canada, only in the extreme south central Montane Cordillera Ecozone, where it is restricted to the lower Similkameen and south Okanagan valleys, as far north as Summerland. It prefers sagebrush - steppe habitats with rock outcrops or gullies for cover but may also use ponderosa pine, riparian and agricultural areas where cover is available. This species has expanded its range into the Ecozone during the 20th century, but has never been numerous. Population numbers appear to have been relatively stable over the past decade. The nuttallii subspecies is Blue Listed in British Columbia and Vulnerable in Canada due to its restricted range, substantial habitat loss to urban and agricultural development and potential competition with livestock for forage. Detailed research into population trends, specific habitat use, impacts related to livestock grazing and habitat fragmentation is required (Carter et. al 1993).