Non-Invasive Survey of Forest Carnivores in the Northern Cascades of Oregon, USA

Abstract

Several species of forest carnivores are of state or federal concern in Oregon and are or may be sensitive to timber management practices, wildfires, climate change, and other large-scale disturbances. We implemented a non-invasive survey of forest carnivores in the northern Cascades of Oregon during fall–spring, 2012–2014. We collected 111,148 images from 21 elevated and 39 ground-level baited camera stations located from 586 to 2237 m in elevation. We detected (≥1 image) Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) at 9 ground stations, of which 4 also detected Coyote (Canis latrans). We detected American Marten (Martes americana) at 63% of all stations (elevation range = 1252–2237 m), including 5 of 7 stations located in areas that experienced wildfires since 1996 that covered >5000 ha. Other forest carnivores detected included Bobcat (Lynx rufus), Black Bear (Ursus americanus), Mountain Lion (Puma concolor), Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor), American Mink (Neovison vison), weasel (Mustela spp.), and skunk (Mephitis mephitis, Spilogale gracilis); but we did not detect Wolverine (Gulo gulo), Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis), Fisher (Martes pennanti), or Gray Wolf (Canis lupus). Future periodic non-invasive surveys of forest carnivores may provide information about changing species composition and distribution, especially in relation to climate change, vegetation succession, and potential recolonization by Gray Wolves.