Canis latrans (Coyote) is known to influence herbivore communities through predation. In particular, Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) recruitment rates on the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Louisiana may be negatively influenced by Coyote predation on fawns during summer months. Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge is mostly bottomland forest surrounded by agricultural croplands and, although Coyote diets have been extensively studied, prey selection in bottomland forests is poorly understood. We collected scat samples within Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge to determine food habits of Coyotes. Coyotes used prey differently between pre-fawning and fawning seasons and exhibited inverse consumption of White-tailed Deer and small mammals by season. Consumption of White-tailed Deer increased ∼27% from the pre-fawning to fawning seasons, whereas consumption of small mammals decreased ∼21% . These findings are an important first step towards understanding prey selection by Coyotes in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley.

A paucity of observations of winter aggregations have been reported, only in <20% of madtom species, but the behavior is potentially more prevalent. Aggregation behavior may produce benefits such as defense and mate selection, whereas costs include competition and temporal bottlenecks, which can be a risk for imperiled species. We quantified aggregations (measured as an increase in quadrat densities) of Noturus eleutherus (Mountain Madtom) and Noturus stanauli (Pygmy Madtom), and also of the comparative species Nothonotus denoncourti (Golden Darter) and Nothonotus rufilineatum (Redline Darter), leading up to winter during July, September, and November 2017. We observed increasing numbers during each month for all species except during September for the Pygmy Madtom. Understanding grouping behavior of imperiled species and the potential risks of temporal bottlenecks may help inform future conservation planning and management decisions.

To increase our knowledge of the early life history of Megalops atlanticus (Tarpon) along the United States Atlantic coast north of Florida, we estimated the age and hatch dates of Tarpon larvae (i.e., leptocephali) recruiting to salt marsh pools in the North Inlet estuary, SC. We collected leptocephali (n = 36) from marsh pools during June through October 2016 and kept a subset (n = 24) of these individuals for aging. We were able to estimate ages for 18 individuals by counting presumed daily rings on their otoliths. We estimated hatch date by subtracting estimated age from the capture date. Mean age was 25 days post hatch (dph) and varied from 17 to 30 dph. Hatch dates spanned from 25 July to 9 September 2016. These are the first age and hatch date estimates for Tarpon leptocephali from estuaries north of Florida and provide insight into the biology and possible spawning behavior of Tarpon in this area of the US Atlantic coast.

Pituophis ruthveni (Louisiana Pinesnake) is considered to be one of the rarest snake species in North America and, accordingly, was federally listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2018. Although much previous work has demonstrated the species' tight association with its primary prey, Geomys breviceps (Baird's Pocket Gopher), relatively little work has been done on habitat selection, hampering management and conservation efforts. Here we use a variety of technologies, including traditional radio-telemetry, automated radio-telemetry, and subsurface temperature loggers, to monitor Louisiana Pinesnake behavior and habitat use for one of the few remaining populations of the species. We find support for previous studies indicating that Louisiana Pinesnakes exhibit bimodal seasonal activity patterns and preferences for areas with Baird's Pocket Gophers. However, we also document extensive individual variation in behavior and habitat use with some individuals exhibiting small home ranges (8.36 ha) in relatively open habitats and others with much larger home ranges (166.83 ha) in relatively closed habitats. These results suggest that Louisiana Pinesnake habitat selection, although largely restricted to areas with pocket gophers, can be extremely variable in other habitat features. Based on subsurface temperatures, our results suggest that snakes are most often found relatively close to the surface (88% of observations within 15 cm of surface) when utilizing burrows. Although we document relatively high annual survival (56%) compared to previous studies, we also detected Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, the fungal causative agent for snake fungal disease, in 3 of our 7 individuals included in the study, highlighting the continued threats facing the species.

Bird–window collisions (BWCs) represent a source of mortality for both resident and migratory birds that researchers aim to quantify. Factors that limit carcass detection, including removal of carcasses by scavengers and inherent error in observer detection, can complicate these efforts. We combined 2 studies to examine what proportion of carcasses were scavenged and removed and how successful observers were at detecting bird decoys of multiple types. In fall 2019 and spring 2020, we deployed 40 bird carcasses at Radford University campus buildings and monitored visitation events with game cameras for up to 4 nights/5 days. Scavengers visited 31 of the carcasses and scavenged (disturbed but not removed) 14/31. Scavengers included Felis catus (Domestic Cat, n = 6 events), Mephitis mephitis (Striped Skunk, n = 3), and Procyon lotor (Raccoon, n = 3). All mammalian scavenging events were nocturnal. Cats visited carcasses without disturbing them (n = 22 events), whereas Raccoons (3/3 events) and Striped Skunks (3/4) scavenged carcasses on discovery. Mammals scavenged or removed 3 carcasses in the first night after deployment (e.g., in the first 14 h), suggesting that scavenging can cause daily surveyors to miss ∼7.5% of carcasses. Across spring and fall 2020, we deployed 60 decoys of 4 unique types (varying in color or shape), partially obscuring them under shrubs and along landscaped herbaceous vegetation. We found that observers detected 48% of the decoys on their first attempts (min–max: 8.7–100%). Decoy type did not affect observer detection. By our estimates, 2 observers per day could have collectively missed 27% of carcasses. Although BWC projects typically complete surveys once or twice daily, we suggest twice-daily surveys when monitoring BWC during migratory seasons and once-daily surveys at other times to minimize carcass loss due to scavenging.

We conducted a 14-year mark–recapture study of a population of Drymarchon couperi (Eastern Indigo Snake) inhabiting an unusual geologic region (Altamaha Grit) embedded within the Vidalia Uplands Physiographic Province of southeastern Georgia. Here, we documented regular cool-season use of refuges (ground holes, crevices) associated with aboveground sandstone outcrops. Several discrete rock outcrop sites were used throughout our study period, with individual snakes often returning to the same rock dens in successive years. We describe these habitats and discuss the significance of this discovery.

Cryptotis parva (Least Shrew) is an insectivore that is widely distributed across peninsular Florida but has only twice been captured in the Florida Keys, both times on the island of Key Largo, Monroe County. To preliminarily evaluate the presence of Least Shrews, we installed drift fence arrays (cross design) in January and December 2013 at locations near areas with previous observations on North Key Largo. We sampled 4318 trap-nights, with 1276 trap-nights in the first session and 3042 in the second session. In total, we captured 3 individuals at 2 of 3 drift fences. Including our 3 individuals, only 5 Least Shrews have been captured on Key Largo. A more comprehensive effort to survey for shrews across Key Largo and compile unpublished records is needed to determine the species distribution.

Salvator merianae (Argentine Black and White Tegu, hereafter also ABWT) is a large bodied, omnivorous lizard native to South America. In Florida, where the species was introduced via the pet trade and is invasive, there are at least 3 established populations as well as numerous one-off observations. We collected ABWTs from public and private property to determine their diet in central Florida (Hillsborough County) from 2012 to 2016. We determined frequency of occurrence (FO) for items identified to various taxonomic levels, calculated niche overlap to check for an ontogenetic shift in diet, and evaluated seasonal variation in diet. Stomach contents revealed ABWTs (n = 93) in central Florida consume fruit, invertebrates, and vertebrates, including hatchling Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise). Frequency of occurrence of food items varied seasonally. Vertebrate prey was most common in the spring, whereas invertebrates and plants were consumed most frequently in summer. Diets among ABWTs were very similar, as indicated by Pianka's measure of niche overlap, regardless of age or sex. A greater proportion of ABWTs in central Florida consumed vertebrates compared to other invasive and native populations (FO_centralFL = 81%, FO_southernFL= 37%, FO_Brazil = 27%, FO_Argentina = 44%). Argentice Black and White Tegus in central Florida are generalist omnivores and consume a diversity of taxa across several trophic levels, including imperiled species.

We investigated Sistrurus miliarius (Pygmy Rattlesnake) foraging in field behavior trials by filming rattlesnakes found in typical foraging postures and randomly exposing each snake to 1 of 3 prey-stimulus treatments: frog, anole, or control. Treatment snakes were presented with a prey item tethered away from the snake using dental floss, while control snakes were exposed to a similarly placed piece of floss with no attached prey. We observed 3 instances of caudal luring and found that Pygmy Rattlesnakes tongue-flicked and respired at significantly higher rates if they relocated during the trial. There was no statistically significant effect of prey type on relocation or respiration rate. Our research provides an adaptable methodological framework for studying foraging behavior in free-ranging predators using introduced, responsive prey.

Little is known about the nesting habits of Drymarchon couperi (Eastern Indigo Snake), a federally threatened species native to the Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States. Here, we describe locations of nest sites based on reports in the literature and from our field observations of putative nests and hatched eggshells. All wild nest sites (n = 7) known for the species (i.e., excluding those from translocated and/or captive-bred snakes) have been found in xeric sandhill habitats in southern Georgia and all have been associated with Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) burrows, including in the sand of burrow aprons. To protect snake nests, buffers around tortoise burrows are highly recommended during all habitat management activities (e.g., selective thinning, Pinus palustris [Longleaf Pine] restoration).

Bottomland oak restoration projects have been marginally successful because professionals often recommend conventional tree-planting procedures that prove problematic in hydric soils. A reliable method of matching oak species to bottomland sites is needed prior to planting. To address the issue, we planted 8 different species of oak seedlings into previously farmed hydric soil in West Tennessee in 2004. We took measurements after 6 and 14 growing seasons to ascertain survival and growth trends based on soil mottling and the depth to gleyed matrix. The later measurements mostly supported early findings that Quercus lyrata (Overcup Oak), Q. texana (Nuttall Oak), Q. palustris (Pin Oak), and Q. phellos (Willow Oak) are most tolerant of poorly drained soil and that as soil drainage improves, species diversity may expand.

Habitat loss, overfishing, and decline in abundance and quality of natural resources continue to threaten marine ecosystems. A common tool used to measure health and diversity within a system is genetic diversity. The purpose of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of 2 crustacean populations by sequencing the 16S rRNA mitochondrial loci. We collected Callinectes sapidus (Blue Crab) and Arenaeus cribrarius (Speckled Swimming Crab) using seines and standard crab pots from 2 study sites along the Georgia and South Carolina coasts. We extracted DNA from leg or claw tissue and used previously published primers to sequence the 16S rRNA loci of the mitochondria and record the number of mutations found from individual crabs. A total of 177 crabs (Blue Crab: n = 129; Speckled Swimming Crab: n = 48) were sequenced. Overall, the Blue Crab showed more genetic diversity relative to the Speckled Swimming Crab, but this result may due to sample size. Knowledge of the genetic diversity of an economically important species has implications for management.

The type specimens of Drillia wolfei originated in a poorly documented commercial fishery for Argopecten gibbus (Calico Scallop), and the published type locality (east of Cape Lookout, NC) is in error. Evidence presented here indicates that the type material most likely originated from the rarely fished Calico Scallop grounds in the eastern Gulf of Mexico (off western Florida between Tampa and the Florida Keys). In accord with International Code of Zoological Nomenclature rules, it is recommended that the type locality be corrected to the Gulf of Mexico's west Florida shelf, between Tampa and the Florida Keys, at 12–46 m depth. This region corresponds to authenticated specimens in the collections of the US National Museum and the Delaware Museum of Natural History.

Invasive predators are of conservation concern because they contribute to species declines and extinctions worldwide. Interactions of native fauna and invasive predators can be complex, but understanding these relationships can guide management and restoration. Observations of these interactions are especially important for invaders with low detectability like Python bivittatus (Burmese Python) where data are sparse. Here, we provide the first detailed documentation of mammalian attacks on Burmese Pythons in Florida: 1 Lynx rufus (Bobcat) predation of an adult male python and 1 Ursus americanus floridanus (Florida Black Bear) non-lethal attack on an adult female python.

Lontra canadensis (North American River Otter; hereinafter “River Otter”) is a widespread, semi-aquatic mustelid. Despite considerable research and management of the species, there is limited information on the initiation of natal denning and characteristics of natal den habitat, especially in the southeastern United States. In February 2020, during a survey for bats in a cave in Jackson County, FL, we encountered a River Otter natal den containing 3 pups and an adult. The den was located in a small side chamber within the cave, 9.6 m from the nearest entrance and in an area with little available light. The nearest cave entrance was 492 m from the closest permanent body of water. We estimate that the pups were born in late January. Caves may make ideal natal dens because of reduced disturbance by predators, a stable temperature and humidity, and protection from harsh weather.

Peromyscus gossypinus allapaticola (Key Largo Cotton Mouse) is a federally endangered subspecies of Cotton Mouse endemic to the island of Key Largo, FL. While conducting a live-trapping session to estimate Key Largo Cotton Mouse population size, we were scheduled to survey at 1 of our trapping grids on 02 November 2007, a week after a perigean spring tide, an event known to occasionally cause coastal flooding in low-lying areas. Upon arrival, ∼ 0.5 m of water was inundating our grid. Therefore, we delayed trapping by 14 days, although the grid was still partially flooded. Despite this flooding event, during 4 consecutive nights of live trapping, we recaptured 6 of 11 individuals marked earlier that year in March and July. Our observations of the Key Largo Cotton Mouse's response to flooding are the first for the subspecies. Understanding how the subspecies responds to short-duration flooding events may help inform conservation efforts by identifying areas least vulnerable to periodic flooding and assessing how those areas overlap with remaining habitat for the Key Largo Cotton Mouse.

I report a case of predation by Pantherophis alleghaniensis (Eastern Rat Snake) on an adult Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Red-headed Woodpecker) at an active nest cavity of a Dryobates borealis (Red-cockaded Woodpecker [RCW]) in the North Carolina Sandhills. The first RCW nest in this cavity failed during the nestling stage, either from the activities of the snake or the Red-headed Woodpecker. I believe this is the first documentation of a predation event of a kleptoparasite at an active nest cavity of a RCW by a rat snake. The resident RCWs re-nested successfully in the same cavity, illustrating the complex species interactions among rat snakes, cavity kleptoparasites, and RCWs in the Pinus palustris (Longleaf Pine) ecosystem.

The distributional range of Dasypus novemcinctus (Nine-banded Armadillo, hereafter Armadillo) has been expanding into the southern and midwestern United States since the mid-1800s. Here we document recent evidence of Armadillos in southwestern Virginia from verified photographs submitted to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and voucher specimens deposited into the Mammal Collection of the Virginia Museum of Natural History. These recently collected and observed Armadillos are likely dispersers from expanding populations in eastern Kentucky and eastern Tennessee. This report provides a foundation for future investigations into the distribution and abundance of the Armadillo in Virginia.