Canadian Forest Service Publications
First record of the southern red-backed vole, Clethrionomys gapperi, in Newfoundland: implications for the endangered Newfoundland marten, Martes americana atrata. 2006. Hearn, B.J.; Neville, J.T.; Curran, W.J.; Snow, D.P. The Canadian Field Naturalist 120: 50-56.
Year: 2006
Issued by: Atlantic Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 27375
Language: English
Availability: Order paper copy (free)
Abstract
We report on the first capture of the southern red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi), the eleventh non-native terrestrial mammal established on the island of Newfoundalnd over the last 150 years. Red-backed voles may have been accidentally introduced by unknown sources in pulpwood imports or may have been deliberately introduced in an attempt to augment the depauperate small mammal fauna as a vigilante recovery effort for the endangered Newfoundland marten (Martes americana atrata). We anticipate significant utilization of the red-backed vole as prey by both Newfoundland marten and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) with associated demographic responses within and between these species. Red-backed voles will likely change habitat utilization patterns for the endemic subspecies of meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus terraenovae.