324 



P RED AT I ON 



Over the State as a whole, ahliough specific data are scarce, there is nothing to indicate that 

 the situation has difTered in any important respect. Of course it must be borne in mind 

 that the occurrence of these species is not the same in different localities. Thus the great 

 horned owl is much less connnon in the Adirondacks than in central New \ork. Skunks are 

 more numerous in agricultural sections than in the deep forest. Excejjt for its southern bor- 

 der, the gray fox is aiincjst unknown in the Adirondacks. Yet, aside from ])urely local cir- 

 cumstances, their inniilicrs from year to year have not varied materially. 



Apparent fluctuations during the past twenty years, suggested b) the numbers of various 

 fur-bearers, particularly the red fox, reported taken by license holders, may be traced mainly 

 to the rise and fall of fur prices. There does, however, seem to have been an ai)preciable re- 

 duction in the skunk jiopulation during the decade prior to the period of the Investigation. 

 At the same time, as mentioned above, the gray fox has, for the past quarter century, been 

 extending its range through southern New York. So also has the o|)ossum (Didelphis virgin- 

 iaria). But in none of these species has anything approaching cyclic behavior been noted. 



On the other hand changes in land use have often produced substantial local differences 

 in predator abundance. The adoption of "clean farming" in many of the better agricul- 

 tural areas has reduced many species. The reversion of sub-marginal land following its 

 abandonment has been adverse to some while favoring others. Similar effects have follow- 

 ed lumbering operations. 



Another type of fluctuation results from the temporary invasion of an area from time to 

 time by unusual numbers of predators. With respect to grouse in the Northeast the goshawk 

 ( Astur atrieapillus) and snowy owl (Nyctea nyctea) are the principal species in this category, 

 appearing from the north during the winter. 



In New York the goshawk breeds sparingly in the northern Adirondacks and is a regular 

 winter resident of this section in limited numbers. But south of the Mohawk River*, aside 

 from occasional wanderers, it a|)])ears only at irregular intervals, at which times it also be- 

 comes more numerous in the northern part of the State. Flights of this kind have been 

 recorded by Deane"" and Fleming'" in 1896-97, 1897-98 and 1906-07. According to Fleming, 

 as quoted by Deane. that of 1906-07 was "not a quarter as large" as the one of 1896-97 in 

 southern Ontario. Again in 1916-17 and 1917-]o unusual numbers were observed"'' '"' and 

 more recently in 1926-27 and 1927-28'^". Since the latter date no marked influx has occur- 

 red in the State, although Clarke'^ recorded one for Ontario in 1934-35. On Coimccticul Hill, 

 however, a few individuals have been observed during several winters, particularly that of 

 1935-36. An interesting feature of these migrations is lliat they ha\e usnally involved two 

 successive years, the first being the heaviest. 



Records of the snowy owl have been traced by Gross''^ as far back as the winter of 1876-77. 

 In ( imlrast with the goshawk this species has appeared only one year at a time, although this 

 has often coincided with an invasion of the other. In 1911-12 a modcrati' inflnx of these owls 

 was noted in some parts of New York but was not felt on Connecticut Hill. 



* Also brpcds sparingly in tlir* moiminins 



