20 
OCCASIONAL PAPERS, MUSEUM OF TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY 
dances in nine of the comparisons between the two meth- ducted. One possible reason no j ackrabbits or other 
ods- leporids were seen on spotlight surveys is that tall grass 
or other obstructive vegetation could have impeded the 
No red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were documented observer’s abilities to see them. Because cat food was 
using live-trapping or spotlight counts. However, a road- use d as bait, it is not surprising that no jackrabbits were 
kill specimen was collected on Fort Hood, Furthermore, captured in live traps. Although cottontails were cap- 
scent-station surveys at Fort Hood verified the presence tured using live traps, only three were captured over an 
of red fox in areas where live-trapping was conducted 18-month period. Early morning road-cruise game cen- 
(Carroll, 1997). Both gray fox and coyotes were seen S uses on Fort Hood have resulted in observations of 0.25 
on spotlight survey routes. Although red fox are present cottontails/km in 1977,0.66/km in 1976, and 0.76/km 
on Fort Hood, they appear to be less abundant than other j n 1975. Night time road-cruise censuses in 1977 indi- 
canids such as the coyote and gray fox. ca t e d 0.02/km. Numbers of black-tailed jackrabbits seen 
by Fort Hood Fish and Wildlife Section biologists dur- 
No black-tailed jackrabbits (.Lepus californicus) i ng game censuses were 0.42/km in 1975, 0.40/km in 
were captured during the survey or documented on the 1976, and 0.28/km in 1977. During the 1977 night cen- 
spotlight surveys. They were, however, detected using sus study, 0.11 jackrabbits/km were observed (Miller- 
scent-stations (Carroll, 1997) and were seen in areas Talley and Associates and Espey Huston and Associates, 
where both spotlight surveys and live-trapping were con- i nc> 1978 ), 
CONCLUSIONS 
Savannah and upland habitats support the greatest In order for Fort Hood’s mammalian fauna to re¬ 
diversity of medium-si 2 ed mammal species at Fort Hood. main intact, it is important to continue to monitor land 
Seven species of medium-sized mammals were docu- management, not only in areas with high military distur- 
mented in each of these habitats whereas five medium- bance but also in the low use sites. High use sites are of 
sized mammal species were captured in riparian areas. particular concern because of the trend towards reduced 
Military training appeared to have a negative affect on species diversity, as well as overall species abundance 
species diversity in that low use sites supported a greater documented in these areas. Low military use areas should 
number of medium-sized mammal species (nine) than continue to remain as free of tracked vehicle disturbance 
did the high military use areas (seven species). Heavy as possible to safeguard against further habitat reduc- 
military training in an area also had a negative effect on tion. Further monitoring of Fort Hood’s mammalian fauna 
relative abundance of species present. High use sites could give a clearer picture of the total impact of mili- 
had significantly lower relative abundances of medium- tary training on species present and could also aid in stud¬ 
sized mammals for all species except striped skunks, ies of non-mammalian vertebrates, 
which appeared to be unaffected by military training. 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
This research was completed under contract with ronmental Division who helped with field arrangements 
the Nature Conservancy ofT exas with funds provided by and permitted use of previous spotlight survey data for 
Forces Command of the United States Army, Fort analysis. James Fries of the Texas Hill Country 
McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia. We appreciate the efforts Bioreserve, the Nature Conservancy of Texas, also fa- 
of H. Daniel Keesee of the Fort Hood Environmental cilitated administration ofthe project. This reserach was 
Division who assisted in the selection of study sites and conducted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the 
provided logistic support throughout the study. We es- M. S. degree in the Deparment of Biology, Angelo State 
pecially thank Dennis Herbert, B. R. Jones, and others in University, by the senior author, 
the Natural Resources Management Branch of the Envi- 
