JACKSON, Wyo. — On May 3, a free virtual presentation hosted by the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation (JHWF) will provide information on how to identify small mammals found within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE).
Dan Bachen, Montana Natural Heritage Program’s lead zoologist, will be giving the presentation.
According to the JHWF, the talk will focus on which species can be reliably identified in the field using combinations of fur, wool or hair color or pattern, habitat and behavior. Small mammals in the GYE include shrew, bat and rodent species.
The National Park Service (NPS) emphasizes that monitoring small mammals is a crucial part of understanding wildlife’s fine-scale responses to environmental change. Because most small mammals don’t hibernate, they respond and adapt to year-round conditions, with high reproductive rates and large populations that can make them easier to locate and observe.
Small mammals can indicate climate, biodiversity and ecosystem change, the NPS says.
Email hilary@jhwildlife.org to receive the Zoom link for the presentation tonight.
