Okefenokee Swamp Vertebrates 
67 
sponsored by the State Geological Survey and X\\q Atlanta Constitution in 
1875. Somewhat more extensive observations resulted from a brief survey 
by B.T. Gault in 1903 (reported in Harper 1927). The mammals of the 
swamp, however, are known primarily as a result of the work of F. Har- 
per. Harper’s (1927) classic Mammals of the O kef inokee Swamp, based on 
surveys conducted by him, other Cornell personnel, and local hunters, 
represents the definitive work on the mammals of the region. Subsequent 
observations and records by Refuge personnel, particularly R.J. 
Fleetwood, have provided valuable historical data including the first 
records of Myotis austroriparius and Tadarida brasiliensis. More recently 
small mammal surveys have been conducted in the swamp and sur- 
rounding uplands by L. Logan and J. Laerm. Significant collections of 
mammals from the swamp have been deposited in the Philadelphia 
Academy of Natural Sciences, Cornell University, Florida State 
Museum, National Museum of Natural History, and University of 
Georgia Museum of Natural History. 
Comparison With Regional Fauna 
The 48 species and subspecies of mammals known to occur in the 
Okefenokee Swamp and surrounding uplands represent a typical 
southeastern fauna (Table 5). It is interesting to note that 12 (25%) of the 
mammals occurring in or around the swamp are at or very near the limits 
of their ranges. The Okefenokee Swamp region of Georgia and adjacent 
Florida represents the southern limit of the range of Condylura cristata 
and Castor canadensis, and the northern limit of the range of Neofiber 
alleni. The southern limit of the ranges of the subspecies Cryptotis parva 
parva, Eptesicus fuscus fuscus, and Sciurus niger niger occurs in the region 
of the swamp and the northern limits of Geomys pinetis floridanus, Ursus 
americanus floridanus, and Procyon lotor elucus occur also at or near the 
swamp. In general the subspecific affinities of these mammals is poorly 
understood and to a large extent suspect. Proper subspecific affiliation 
must therefore await systematic study. 
The composition of the mammalian fauna of the swamp has 
changed little since Harper’s (1927) surveys. There are, however, ap- 
parent changes in population level of a number of species. 
Nycticeius humeralis, once the most common bat in the swamp (Har- 
per 1927) is one of the most uncommon today. Its decrease is probably 
due to the decrease in man-made structures, common nursery colony 
sites (Watkins 1972), since the establishment of ONWR. Similarly, pop- 
ulations of Plecotus rafinesquii, Rattus rattus, and Mus musculus have ap- 
parently decreased due to the reduction of such structures. 
The most striking change in the mammalian fauna of the swamp has 
been the extirpation of Canis rufus niger and probably Felis concolor 
coryi. These two carnivores were becoming rare during Harper’s surveys. 
There have been a few unconfirmed recent reports of Felis in the area. 
Odocoileus virginianus was driven nearly to local extinction by hunters 
