Summer 2010

Overview

Our goals for this trip include trapping several grids on SPNWR and several trap lines to compare the efficiency of each trapping system. Additionally, we intend to necropsy mongoose euthanitized by USFWS personnel.

Trapping Summary

We trapped for a total of 11 days and 445 trap-days. Traps were baited with chicken feet which were replaced every other day or earlier if they were missing.

Fifty-six animals were captured 61 times in 445 trap-days for a 13.7% trap success rate. Five of those 61 captures were recaptures for a 8.2% recapture success rate. Four animals were recaptured from August 2009.

Our stealth camera at C-line-2R revealed pink (051835309) and dark green (024278570) dragging chicken feet out of the pile.

Daily Notes

Friday 23 July

Arrived on STX on at about 4 pm. Island is very green and lush. Have had lots of rain the past few days and about a month earlier. But not much rain from October to June. Dinner at Lost Dog.

Saturday 24 July

Farmer's market at 7 am. Set out 12 traps on beach (A-line) and 13 traps along the road (B-line) in the afternoon.

Sunday 25 July

At 9:00 am set out S-grid in the thickest vegetation we could find. We managed to get 20 of 25 traps set using machettes and GPS. Checked trap lines in the afternoon and captured one old female along road that was first marked in 2007 and recaptured in 2009. She was post lactational.

Monday 26 July

Removed 12 traps from A-line and set 12 traps along road (C-line) close to refuge headquarters. No animals in B-line. Set remaining five traps on S-grid and caught one animal in the 20-trap grid. Noticed 3 captures in C-line at noon about 2 hours after they were set. Picked up three new animals and brought them back for processing. One large male, one very pregnant female and another young female. Two hours later captured a second female in the same location as an earlier capture (C-line).

Tuesday 27 July

Caught 2 animals from 25 traps in S-grid, 4 animals in B line (13 traps) and 4 animals in C-line (12 traps) - 2 in am and 2 in pm. Had 4 YCC students work with us in am setting up P-grid (24 traps), and 3 students in pm checking S-grid. Removed B-line.

Wednesday 28 July

Set 20 traps in D-line, picked up S-grid. Captured 8 animals: 2 in S-grid, 2 in P-grid, 4 in C-line.

Thursday 29 July

Went to Buck Island in am, checked P-grid, C-line, and D-line in pm. Captured 14 animals: 10 out of 20 traps in D-line, 3 in C-line, and 1 in P-grid. Released animals after 8 pm.

Friday 30 July

Picked up C-line and P-grid, set out 12 traps in M-line, and set out 20 traps on D-line-B (beach adjacent to D-line). Captured 4 animals: 2 in D-line and 2 in C-line. Released animals after 11:00 pm.

Saturday 31 July

Farmer's market at 7 am. Captured 7 animals out of 12 traps in M-line and 2 animals out of 20 traps in D-line. No animals captured on D-line-B. Picked up D-line. Set out trail camera at C-line-2R

Sunday 1 August

Captured one animal on at D-line-18B out of 20 traps. Captured 5 animals out of 12 traps in M-line. Set 12 traps on Z-line. Stealth camera at C-line-2R revealed pink (051835309) and dark green (024278570) dragging chicken feet out of the pile.

Monday 2 August

Picked up D-line-B and caught one rat on D-line-14B released later that day. Picked up M-line - recaptured one male. Checked Z-line - 2 animals. 3 animals captured out of 44 traps. Mike provided us with 70 frozen mongoose carcasses that had been captured over the years from SPNWR and South Gate. Five animals from SPNWR had PIT tags: 087513084, 087514266, 087513069, 087513092, 087530529. We collected Stomachs from 32 males and 20 females. Placed a fish at trail camera in pm, then 10 lbs frozen meat at 9:00 pm.

Tuesday 3 August

Checked 12 traps on Z-line - captured one animal at 9:00 am. Replaced batteries in trail camera. Camera not functioning properly - draining power from batteries.

Wednesday 4 August

Picked up 12 traps from Z-line. No animals.

Thursday 5 August

Packed up equipment.

Friday 6 August

Headed home to MA.