Relative Abundance of Small Mammals in Native and Restored Tallgrass Prairie

Relative abundance was assessed for small mammals captured on native and restored tallgrass prairie habitats. Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) (n = 30), meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) (n = 4), deer mice (Peromyscus spp.) (n = 5), northern short-tailed shrews (Blarina brevicauda) (n = 3), pygmy shrews (Sorex hoyi) (n = 2), and thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Citellus tridecemlineatus) (n = 3) were captured using snap traps. Relative abundance of voles (Microtus spp.) was higher in native prairie (163.3) than in restored prairie (10.2). Rela- tive abundance of deer mice (20.4), thirteen-lined ground squirrels (13.3), and shrews (20.4) was higher in restored than native prairie (< 5.1) habitat. Results indicated that restored prairie habitats provide adequate components (forage, cover) to support viable small mammal communities.