-3- 



Procedures Included interviews with resource management personnel and 

 local residents to obtain locations of prairie dog colonies. All located 

 colonies were visited, the prairie dogs were identified, and, for white- 

 tail colonies, the colony was mapped, acreage estimated and general habitat 

 observations were noted. 



Fifteen colonies were located which together comprise about 700 A. Status 

 and location of these colonies are presented in a final report to be 

 published elsewhere (Flath, in prep.). 



Mound characteristics of white-tailed prairie dog maternity burrows 



Mound characteristics of white-tailed prairie dogs range in size from 

 virtually nothing to as much as 6 m in diameter. Preliminary observations 

 of white-tailed prairie dog litters suggested associations between litters 

 and burrows with particularly large mounds. If specific maternity burrows 

 could be readily identified, the reproductive status of a particular colony 

 could be rapidly assessed by noting frequency of occurrence of current 

 maternity burrows. 



Accordingly, the objectives of this project were to (1) determine whether 

 white-tailed prairie dogs use specific burrows for maternity purposes; 



(2) establish criteria for identification of maternity burrows; and, 



(3) establish a pattern in mound size variation. 



Field studies involved 2,055 measurements of 685 mounds. These were 

 categorized and subjected to an analysis of variance which showed that 

 litters of pups occurred in burrows with mounds significantly larger 

 than those of non-maternity burrows. Much of the field work was done 

 by Ronald K. Paulick, Billings, who volunteered his time to the nongame 

 program. A final report (Flath and Paulick, in prep.) will be published 

 elsewhere. 



Habitat Assoaiations of Small Mammal Communities 



Distribution and habitat associations of many species of small mammals 

 are poorly known in Montana. To provide base-line data on indigenous 

 species, 48 habitat-specific study plots were selected for sampling. 

 Ten plots were sampled in 1977; an additional 38 plots are scheduled 

 for sampling during 1978-79. Analysis and interpretation of data 

 presented here is inappropriate pending complete sampling of all study 

 plots. 



General location of study plots is based on descriptions provided by 

 Ross and Hunter (1976). Specific sample sites are located with the aid 

 of local biologists. All sites sampled are representative of the habitat 

 types described by Ross and Hunter (1976) and their system of numbering 

 is used. 



Two traplines were sampled concurrently on each of the selected plots, 

 with the exception of type 4, which had only one trapline. Each trap- 

 line contained 25 stations on a line, 30 feet apart. Each station 

 contained one sunken can pitfall, one Sherman live-trap and two snap- 

 traps. Trapping was conducted for five consecutive nights on each 



