Roosts used by Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus) are not well documented among coastal habitats. Using radio telemetry, we obtained empirical evidence of roosting activity for Little Brown Myotis on the north coast of British Columbia. One non-reproductive adult female and 2 adult male Little Brown Myotis were found to use 4 unique roosting locations in the Prince Rupert area. Three of 4 confirmed roost sites were located in anthropogenic structures, including an industrial warehouse and two 2-story houses. The 4th roost was located in a cedar hedge on a residential property. Roosts were located within 890 to 1140 m of capture sites, which were sited in suitable bat foraging habitat. One male bat re-used the same daytime roost for the duration of the study period, whereas a 2nd male selected 2 different roost locations during the study. Despite the potential limitation of the small sample size of this telemetry study, our findings contribute to the understanding of roosts used by Little Brown Myotis on the north coast of British Columbia, and provide a basis for future directed studies and conservation efforts.

We describe the eggs, oviposition site, and pre-hatching development of the Olympic Torrent Salamander (Rhyacotriton olympicus) for the first time. We made field observations before oviposition and continued them until the site washed out. We also reared an egg to hatching in the laboratory to allow us to describe early development. Oviposition is similar to that of the other 3 torrent salamander species in that unattached eggs are deposited separately in the interstices of an unconsolidated coarse-clast substrate through which water flows. The number of eggs (n = 10) at this oviposition site falls within the range of variability ascribed to single clutches for other torrent salamander species (n = 5–11). However, haphazard dispersion of deposited eggs, likely typical, and sometimes communal oviposition sites, can create ambiguity in what comprises 1 clutch. Egg capsules averaged 9.5 mm ± 0.9 mm SD (range: 8.0–11.0 mm); their pale yellow-white ova, measured when still roughly round, averaged 4.5 mm ± 0.5 mm SD (range: 4.0–5.0 mm). Lack of attachment may constrain torrent salamander egg deposition to low-flow habitats, which appear more frequent in headwater landscapes. Colluvium, also frequent in headwater landscapes, may often provide the low-flow interstitial matrix ideal for torrent salamander oviposition.

Winter snowpack depth, snowmelt timing, and snowmelt duration are projected to change in the future, leading to increased frequency and severity of drought in the Pacific Northwest. In summer 2015, stream flows throughout the Pacific Northwest were at record low levels because of low winter snowpack conditions consistent with these climate projections. We explored effects of the 2015 low-snowpack-associated drought on Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii) abundance, growth, and movement patterns in two 100m reaches (<60 y and >350 y old forests) of an unnamed perennial western Oregon headwater stream before (2 y) and during a severe drought. We found that the abundance of Cutthroat Trout declined substantially during the drought year, regardless of habitat availability, riparian forest age, or stream wood structure. Fish growth during summer was consistently negative during all 3 y of the study in both reaches. During the drought year, estimated abundance and total biomass of Cutthroat Trout declined in both reaches compared to the 2y prior. In all 3 y, the majority (76%) of fish in the reach with a young riparian forest stand moved >2 m from their release point. In contrast, across the 3 study years, only 26% of fish on average moved >2 m from their release point in the old-growth reach, which had more large wood and pool area. Across both reaches, in the non-drought years, most fish moved into pools (32.4%), but some moved to riffles (23.3%). During the drought year, of the fish that were recaptured, only upstream movement to pools were observed. There were no observed movements of recaptured fish to riffles. Overall, study results suggest that increasing severity of summer drought in the Pacific Northwest is likely to reduce the abundance of fish in small headwater streams, and the remaining fish preferentially use pool habitats such as those found in structurally complex streams.

Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) historically inhabited the Black Hills region of South Dakota, but the species was extirpated from the area in the early 1900s concurrent with declines in population throughout their entire North American range. Translocation is a common management tool allowing for accelerated colonization of historic Bighorn Sheep habitat, but many attempts are unsuccessful. Mountain Lions (Puma concolor) and pneumonia are generally considered the most common limiting factors to Bighorn Sheep populations. Twenty-six Bighorn Sheep were translocated from Alberta, Canada to the Deadwood region of the northern Black Hills, an area with both a resident Mountain Lion population and potential for contact with Domestic Sheep (Ovis aries) and Goats (Capra hircus), known carriers of pathogens that are lethal to Bighorn Sheep. Adult survival and natality increased the population substantially in year 1, however, the only breeding-age male was euthanized owing to concerns about potential for pathogen transmission from Domestic Sheep and Goats. In year 2, the population experienced a pneumonia outbreak, resulting in 57.9% of all mortalities during the study period. Mountain Lion predation was not detected, nor was direct contact with Domestic Sheep or Goats observed. Intensive monitoring was critical in determining the outcome of the translocation.

Carrion consumption by herbivores is increasingly being observed in nature, however, we lack detailed analyses of its occurrence for numerous species. Here, we quantify incidences of scavenging by Snowshoe Hares (Lepus americanus) in Yukon, Canada between January 2015 and July 2017. Hares scavenged 12.4% of carcasses deployed and were more likely to scavenge during the winter. Hares consumed meat from a variety of different species, including Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis), as well as the carcasses of hares. On one occasion, an individual repeatedly ingested feathers from a Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis) carcass. Scavenging by hares may result from food or nutrient limitations during winter months and appears relatively common when compared to other lagomorph species.

We report the 1st record of the Prickly Fanfish (Pterycombus petersii) from the eastern North Pacific Ocean. The specimen was taken off the coast of Oregon at 44.938°N, 124.935°W in a pelagic trawl towed at 384 m gear depth over 494 m bottom depth on 4 November 2016.

We document the 1st records of the Pacific Snake Eel, Ophichthus triserialis, from washed-up specimens on the coast of Oregon. One specimen, with a damaged head region, was found near a public beach in Lincoln City, Lincoln County, Oregon, on 21 January 2017. We discuss another specimen found on a beach near Bandon, Coos County, Oregon, in March 2016.