Abstract
We collected owl pellets from 4 counties to examine the distribution of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) and other small mammals in the Texas Panhandle. We identified 797 individuals of 15 genera and species of small mammals from 207 owl pellets. Overall, the 5 most abundant small mammals, Peromyscus (331 individuals), Reithrodontomys (182 individuals), Cryptotis parva (74 individuals), Sigmodon hispidus, and M. ochrogaster (60 individuals), comprised 89% of all individuals identified. This study extends the known range of M. ochrogaster 24 km south and 13 km east of the previous record in Carson County, Texas, and provides new county records of M. ochrogaster in Armstrong and Ochiltree counties. Additionally, we identified C. parva in samples from Ochiltree and Carson counties and Notiosorex crawfordi in samples from Armstrong County, both of which represent new county records. Our results, along with other recent work on M. ochrogaster, suggest that this species is more widespread in the northern and central Texas Panhandle than previously reported. More work is necessary to determine the southern limit of this species in the Texas Panhandle.
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