Small mammals and hares play a keystone role in both arctic and boreal
ecosystems. They are a major prey species for many northern carnivores.
Cyclic fluctuations in the abundance of
small mammals and hares is shown are repeated fluctuations in the
abundance of their predators. The Small Mammal and Hare Surveys in the
Northwest Territories are designed to monitor changes in voles, mice,
lemmings, shrews and hares in many sites across all ecozones in the
Northwest Territories using
standard protocols.
Partnerships
Renewable Resource Officers, wildlife co-management boards,
government biologists, casual employees, academic researchers, and
environmental consultants have performed data collection since the beginning of
the survey in the late 1980s. At some sites, students assisted in data
collection as part of research camps or school field courses. The surveys are
successful because of the following agencies:
Gwich'in Renewable Resource Board
Sahtu Renewable Resources Board
Université Laval
Government of the
Northwest Territories
University of British Columbia
Government of Nunavut
International Polar Year 2007-08
The Small Mammal Survey in the Northwest
Territories is part of a full proposal under IPY called Arctic Wildlife
Observatories Linking Vulnerable EcoSystems. You can find this proposal on
the
IPY
web site.
Hantavirus Testing
Each year, some survey specimens are sent for hantavirus
testing. This infection is transmissible from mice to humans by simple
inhalation of dried excrement and can cause serious illness. Testing was
initiated in 1994. In 1998, cases of
hantavirus were reported as far north as near Fort McMurray, Alberta. To
date, there is no evidence that hantavirus is present in NWT.
For more information, contact: Dr.
Brett Elkin,
Wildlife Veterinarian.
Species Identification and Distribution
Project
The distribution of some species of small
mammals in the NWT is not clear. In addition, some species are hard to
identify in the field - see
identification booklet Standard Protocols. The surveys help map species
distribution by keeping track of species identified at each survey location.
All location coordinators are strongly encouraged to send specimens to a
recognized museum and to send new information on species identification back
to the survey coordinator. The recommended long-term repository for small
mammal specimens from the NWT is the
University of Alaska Museum of the North.
Survey Locations - Descriptions
Click on any survey location in either the
NWT or
Nunavut map for a summary description of survey duration, habitats, lists of
coordinators, latitude and longitude, method modifications, citing instructions,
and other information.
Survey Results
The Small Mammal and Hare Surveys in the
Northwest Territories are part of a network of surveys done across Canada to
monitor these important species.
Make a Graph
here for the Northwest Territories and for other jurisdictions in Canada.
Survey results from the NWT are presented in graphs, displayed per location, or
grouped by ecozone or by jurisdiction.
Information and data from the NWT Small Mammal
and Hare Surveys have been used in many studies. Please follow citation
instructions for each location if you are using these results in your work. Raw
data are also available upon request: see contact information for each
location.
Survey Coordinator
We always welcome new location coordinators. If you wish to participate,
perform the survey in a new location, or find more information on the survey,
please contact:
- Dr
Suzanne Carrière
- Ecosystem Management Biologist
Wildlife Division
- Environment and Natural Resources
- Government of the Northwest Territories
- web:
www.nwtwildlife.com
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