2017 Southeastern Naturalist Notes Vol. 16, No. X
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A.M. Moser, C.A. Diggins, and W.M. Ford
High-elevation Observations of Long-tailed Weasel and Eastern
Chipmunk in North Carolina
Allison M. Moser1, Corinne A. Diggins1,*, and W. Mark Ford2
1Abstract - Observations of Mustela frenata (Long-tailed Weasel) are rare within the southern Appalachians,
while observations of Tamias striatus (Eastern Chipmunk) are uncommon in high-elevation
spruce–fir forests. We conducted camera-trap surveys at Roan Mountain Highlands, Mitchell County,
NC, during summer 2016 in a Picea rubens (Red Spruce)–Abies fraseri (Fraser Fir) forest. During
the survey, we observed a Long-tailed Weasel at 1893 m in elevation and an Eastern Chipmunk at
1703 m in elevation. These are the highest-elevation records for both species in the eastern United
States outside of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the highest elevation record for Longtailed
Weasel in North Carolina.
Mustela frenata Lichtenstein (Long-tailed Weasel) is an elusive carnivore that is widely
distributed throughout North America (Akers and Wallin 1988, Reid 2006). This species
is considered rare in the state of North Carolina (Lee et al. 1982), with most observations
occurring within Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP; Linzey 2016,
Linzey and Linzey 1971). While Long-tailed Weasels are thought to inhabit all elevations
within the state (Lee et al. 1982, Linzey 2016, Linzey and Linzey 1971), little documentation
of the species at high elevations exists.
While conducting a camera-trap study on Sylvilagus obscurus Chapman (Appalachian
Cottontail) in high-elevation habitats of the Roan Mountain Highlands in Mitchell County,
NC, we obtained accidental captures of 2 species of interest. We conducted camera-trap
surveys using Bushnell 6MP Trophy Trail Cameras with white flash (Bushnell Corporation,
Overland Park, KS).We randomly placed 18 cameras in forested, transitional, and open habitat
at elevations above 1675 m. We set cameras at 40–50 cm from the ground attached to the
base of a tree and programmed them to run 24 hrs/day using 3-photo capture at a 30-sec trigger
interval. We baited cameras with a commercial salt lick wheel placed less than 30 cm from the
ground and sprayed the ground in front of the camera with apple juice. On 16 July at 12:36, we
observed a Long-tailed Weasel in a Red Spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.)–Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri
[Pursh] Poir.) forest at 1893 m on Roan High Bluff (36°6.202'N, 82°8.048'W; Fig. 1). The
highest-elevation record for this species in the eastern United States was documented in a Red
Spruce–Fraser Fir forest at 2011 m on Mount Le Conte in GSMNP, Sevier County, TN (Linzey
and Linzey 1971). Three additional records for this species occur within the Roan Mountain
Highlands. Grundman and Hines (1983) captured an individual on Big Yellow Mountain on
the ecotone between grassy bald and northern hardwood forest. Akers and Wallin (1988) captured
an individual on the southeast face of Round Bald. Smith (1988) captured an individual
in a talus slope on Big Hump Bald. Although specific locations of these captures were not
documented, the maximum elevations of these 3 mountains are 1658 m, 1879 m, and 1609 m,
respectively. Our observation is the only record of Long-tailed Weasels in southern Appalachian
Spruce–Fir habitat outside of GSMNP and represents the highest-elevation record for
the species outside of GSMNP. Furthermore, our observation is the highest-elevation record
for Long-tailed Weasels in the state of North Carolina.
Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060. 2US Geological
Survey, Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Blacksburg, VA 24060. *Corresponding
author: cordie1@vt.edu.
Manuscript Editor: Andrew Edelman
Notes of the Southeastern Naturalist, Issue 16/3, 2017
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2017 Southeastern Naturalist Notes Vol. 16, No. X
A.M. Moser, C.A. Diggins, and W.M. Ford
Tamias striatus L. (Eastern Chipmunk) is a common semi-arboreal squirrel that is
widely distributed throughout eastern North America (Lee et al. 1982, Reid 2006). It is
found in a diverse array of habitats, but is generally more common in hardwood forests
(Linzey 2016, Linzey and Linzey 1971). During the same camera-trap survey in the Roan
Mountain Highlands, we observed an Eastern Chipmunk in Red Spruce–Fraser Fir forest at
Carver’s Gap at 1703 m on 10 July at 12:43 (36°6.310'N, 82°6.676'W; Fig. 2). The highest
Figure 1. Mustela frenata (Long-tailed Weasel) in a Red Spruce–Fraser Fir forest on Roan High Bluff,
Roan Mountain Highlands, Mitchell County, NC, at an elevation of 1893 m.
Figure 2. Tamias striatus (Eastern Chipmunk) in a Red Spruce–Fraser Fir forest at Carver’s Gap, Roan
Mountain Highlands, Mitchell County, NC, at an elevation of 1703 m.
2017 Southeastern Naturalist Notes Vol. 16, No. X
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A.M. Moser, C.A. Diggins, and W.M. Ford
confirmed record for Eastern Chipmunk is on Clingman’s Dome at 1983 m in Swain County,
NC (Linzey 2016). Additionally, there is an anecdotal account of an Eastern Chipmunk atop
the summit of Mount Le Conte at an elevation of 2009 m (Linzey and Linzey 1971). Within
the Roan Mountain Highlands, Eastern Chipmunks were found on Big Yellow Mountain,
Round Bald, and Big Hump Bald (Akers and Wallin 1988, Grundman and Hines 1983,
Smith 1988). Our observation is the only record of an Eastern Chipmunk using Spruce–Fir
forests in the Roan Mountain Highlands and the highest documented elevation for Eastern
Chipmunks in the southern Appalachians outside GSMNP.
Camera trapping can be particularly valuable for assessing the distribution of multiple
species across a landscape (Rich et al. 2016, Welbourne et al. 2015). Wildlife managers may
find camera trapping useful as a tool to understand species distribution across the landscape,
especially for rare species (i.e., Long-tailed Weasels) or rare habitat associations of common
species (i.e., Eastern Chipmunk) . Understanding species distributions is important for
effective wildlife management (Graeter et al. 2015), especially due to a changing landscape
and climate.
Acknowledgments. We would like to thank the Atlantic Coast Conference Creativity and Innovation
Fellowship and the Honors College at Virginia Tech for funding this project. Thanks to Marquette
Crockette and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy for providing housing. Thanks to
Sara Cheatham and Eli Podyma for providing field assistance. We thank Andrew Edelman and 2
anonymous reviewers for comments that improved this manuscript. This work was conducted under
Virginia Tech IACUC permit #16-049. The use of any trade, product, or firm names does not imply
endorsement by the US government.
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