Mammals sometimes destroy crops and livestock. Between 1946 and 1960 an 

 average of $7600 was paid by MDIFW and landowners for damage caused by bears. 

 This ranged from $2600 to $15,000 (Hugie and Banasiak 1975). There are no 

 data on the costs associated with deer depredations but between 1969 and 1977, 

 an average of 37 deer were killed each year as a result of complaints of crop 

 damage (table 17-7). Other species of mammals that cause problems include 

 beavers, bats, rats, mice, squirrels, and raccoons. Mammals are also 

 important aesthetically, although quantifying aesthetic values is difficult. 

 Most people enjoy watching mammals and the opportunity to view some of the 

 more elusive mammals (such as mink, fisher, marten, and black bear) is an 

 added reward to any outdoor activity. Acutal excursions to view mammals are 

 probably limited to moose, deer, or beavers. Dunn and his colleagues (1975) 

 identified 57 frequently used sites for watching moose in Maine. Only two are 

 in the coastal WMUs , both in Unit 6, in Centerville and Northfield. While 

 many people make day trips to view moose, it is doubtful that anyone comes to 

 Maine specifically for that reason. 



Finally, mammals are of concern to humanity as a source of diseases, the most 

 obvious of these being rabies virus. The incidence of rabies among mammals in 

 Maine averaged 73 cases per year during 1971 to 1977. The seven counties 

 along the coast averaged 24 cases per year (32% of the State total; table 17- 

 11). Of the wild mammals affected, foxes account for 64% of the positive 

 cases. Most other species of wild mammals have relatively low incidences of 

 rabies (table 17-12). Not only people but domestic animals also are 

 susceptible to rabies. Domestic animals most affected are (in decreasing 

 order) cattle, cats, dogs, sheep, goats, horses, and pigs (table 17-12). 

 Since animals suspected of having rabies must be destroyed, the economic loss 

 may be considerable. 



MANAGEMENT 



Management of terrestrial mammals is the responsibility of the Maine 

 Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Management strategies for game 

 and furbearing mammals are determined by assessing the present status of, and 

 alternative goals and objectives for, each species. This information is 

 compiled in species management plans, which then form the basis for management 

 decisions. Periodically, these plans are updated and revised as necessary. 



More important are management alternatives that can be employed by persons 

 involved in making land-use decisions. As stated earlier, the most important 

 influence man has on mammals concerns habitat quality and quantity. Persons 

 proposing activities that will alter natural habitats should consider (1) the 

 species of mammals using the habitats (figure 17-2), (2) the amount of that 

 habitat type available (i.e., is it in short supply; see table 17-2 and 

 appendix tables 1 to 9), and (3) whether that habitat is necessary for any 

 species (figure 17-2). Increased awareness of particularly unique or rare 

 habitats can be achieved by registering them with the Critical Areas Program 

 of the Maine State Planning Office. 



More specifically, logging effects can be mitigated by leaving deer wintering 

 areas uncut; cutting in patterns that create a mosaic of successional stages 

 in close proximity to one another (i.e., prevent large tracts of uniform 

 habitat) ; using selective or partial cutting practices to preserve mature 

 forest habitats; leaving large undesirable "cull" trees for den sites; 



17-31 



10-80 



