Bailey’s Eastern Woodrat (Neotoma floridana baileyi): Species Conservation Assessment

Authors

Melissa J. Panella, Nebraska Game and Parks CommissionFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

11-2013

Citation

Bailey's Eastern Woodrat (Neotoma floridana baileyi) A Species Conservation Assessment for The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project. Prepared by Melissa J. Panella, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Wildlife Division, November 2013

Abstract

The primary goal in development of at-risk species conservation assessments is to compile biological and ecological information that may assist conservation practitioners in making decisions regarding the conservation of species of interest. The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project recognizes the Bailey’s eastern woodrat (Neotama floridana baileyi) as a Tier I at-risk species. Provided are some general management recommendations regarding Bailey’s eastern woodrats. Conservation practitioners will need to use professional judgment for specific management decisions based on objectives, location, and site-specific conditions. This resource was designed to provide an overview of our current knowledge of Bailey’s eastern woodrats and may aid in decision-making for their conservation or in identifying research needs for the benefit the species. Species conservation assessments will need to be updated as new scientific information becomes available. Though the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project focuses efforts in the state’s Biologically Unique Landscapes (BULs), it is recommended that whenever possible, practitioners make considerations for a species throughout its range in order to increase the success of conservation efforts.

Criteria for selection as Tier I Endemic

Trends since 2005 in NE Increasing

Range in NE North-central Nebraska

Habitat Pines and bluffs, woodlands and rocks

Threats Habitat degradation; excessive fire

Climate Change Vulnerability Index: Not Vulnerable, Presumed Stable

Research/Inventory Conduct surveys to assess distribution, abundance, and dispersal

Landscapes Keya Paha, Middle Niobrara, Snake River

According to the last review in 1993, the Bailey’s eastern woodrat has a state of Nebraska Heritage status rank of S2, a U.S. national status of N3, and a global conservation rank of G5T3 (NatureServe 2009). Natural Heritage conservation ranks range 1 to 5 with 1 being the most critically imperiled (for definitions of ranks, see Appendix 4 of Nebraska Natural Legacy Project; Schneider et al. 2011). The species is considered to be vulnerable (NatureServe 2009). Because Bailey’s eastern woodrats are thought to be endemic to Nebraska (theoretically, they may occur in South Dakota), their survival is likely dependent on conservation in Nebraska (Schneider et al. 2011). The Nebraska Natural Legacy Science Team set a goal of maintaining at least ten populations in the state, assuming there is little movement between populations during the breeding season and fates of populations are not correlated (Schneider et al. 2011). Moderate viability (40% chance of survival) of each population gives >99% probability of at least one population surviving 100 years (Morris et al. 1999). (Schneider et al. 2011). According to Kansas State University Extension (2008), Neotoma floridana has a typical lifespan in the wild of 3 years.