With regard to trophic posi- 

 tion, 8 of the mammals are clearly 

 top predators, 7 are primarily 

 insectivorous, 5 are exclusively 

 herbivorous, and 2 are scavengers. 

 The remaining mammals are the omni- 

 vorous rats and mice, and the root- 

 ing feral hog and the nine-banded 

 armadillo. 



distinct differentation of male and 

 female social behaviors; males foray 

 over a wide area while females bear 

 the brunt of brooding. There is also 

 the suggestion that canals and 

 levees may somehow enhance the mink 

 habitat. 



Six mammalian species having 

 range within the lower Everglades 

 are listed by Layne (1977) as rare 

 or endangered. Classified as endan- 

 gered are the mangrove fox squirrel 

 ( Scuirius niger avicennia ) and the 

 Florida panther ( Felis concolor 

 coryii ) . Three species are listed 

 as threatened, the West Indian 

 manatee ( Trichechus manatus ), the 

 Florida black bear ( Ursus americana 

 floridanus ) , and the Everglades mink 

 ( Mustela vision ). The round tailed 

 musk rat ( Neofiber alleni ) is identi- 

 fied as a species of special concern 

 (Woolfenden 1982). 



Smith (1980) points out that 

 for the Everglades mink ( Mustela 

 vision ) , a lack of information is at 

 least partially to blame for its 

 present status. The mink is an ex- 

 tremely secretive mammal only rarely 

 seen even by long term residents and 

 virtually never caught. Smith re- 

 ports capturing zero (0) mink in 

 over 1000 trap-nights of trying, 

 although many other species were 

 observed in the traps. Examination 

 of scat reveal that mink feed on 

 insects, fish, and small mammals. 

 From road kills, interviews, report- 

 ed sitings, and personal observa- 

 tions. Smith speculates that the 

 mink population ranges farther east, 

 toward Miami, than previously 

 thought. The majority of specimens 

 observed are males and there seems 

 to be an increased incidence of sit- 

 ings along canals and levees. This 

 suggests that there is probably a 



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