A Natural Areas Inventory of the - Kansas Natural Heritage Inventory ...

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the single record reported by Brumwell (1951). This suggests that eastern chipmunk populations may have expanded greatly on FLMR during the past 50 years. Recommendations. Existing stands of oak-hickory forest on FLMR should be maintained. This species is fairly tolerant of forest fragmentation and may utilize habitat in disturbed woodlands. Franklin’s ground squirrel: Spermophilus franklinii (Sabine) Past Records. Franklin’s ground squirrel is known historically from scattered sites in more than a dozen counties in the eastern half of Kansas, including Leavenworth (Bee et al. 1981). Brumwell (1951) reported a colony of a dozen or fewer individuals on the bank of the Missouri River opposite Grant Hill. This squirrel has experienced widespread declines in the southern part of its range, including Kansas and Missouri (Pergrams and Nyberg 2003). No recent records are known from FLMR or from northeastern Kansas. Available Habitat and Surveys. This mammal typically occupies prairie-forest ecotones, building burrows in dense grass, weedy fields, wasteland, and shrubby forest edges (Bee et al. 1981, Schwartz and Schwartz 1981). Surveys were not conducted for this species, and no individuals were observed during this study. Davis (2003) was unable to find any Franklin’s ground squirrels in his study at FLMR. Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. With the loss of most grassland vegetation on FLMR, suitable habitat virtually has been eliminated. It is probable that Franklin’s ground squirrel has been extirpated on the installation. Recommendations. If nearby populations are discovered, additional surveys for this species should be conducted on FLMR. Red-shouldered hawk: Buteo lineatus Gmelin Past Records. This hawk is a local, uncommon, summer resident and transient in the eastern quarter of Kansas. Records exist for Leavenworth and most surrounding counties (Thompson and Ely 1989). However, most of these individuals probably are transients. Few summer records exist for northeast Kansas (Busby and Zimmerman 2001, KSNHI unpublished data). Brumwell (1951) reported a nesting pair in a cottonwood tree near the upper reaches of Corral Creek on FLMR. Red-shouldered hawks were not observed by Freeman et al. (1997), but they were recorded at MAPS banding stations in the mid-1990s, including one bird at the Weston Bend North site on 24 June 1995 and 15 June 1996, and at the Weston Bend South site on 11 June 1996 (Institute for Bird Populations unpublished data). Available Habitat and Surveys. This hawk favors wooded floodplains and wetlands, and FLMR appears to offer excellent habitat. One bird was detected in the mature floodplain forest near the great blue heron colony on 9 June 2003 (Figure 3.6). Observations of red-shouldered hawks during the breeding season suggest a breeding pair occurs on or near FLMR. NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF FT. LEAVENWORTH II 60
Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. Red-shouldered hawks were confirmed on FLMR. It is unclear if the birds breeds on the installation or are transients. Suitable habitat is present, and surveys should continue to determine if this species breeds in the area. Recommendations. Floodplain forests on FLMR should be maintained. Floodplain pools and wetlands provide important foraging habitat for this species, and accordingly, these features should be maintained and restored. Southern flying squirrel: Glaucomys volans (Linnaeus) Past Records. The southern flying squirrel is widespread in the eastern U.S., reaching the western limit its range in eastern Kansas. About a dozen occurrences are known in Kansas, most of which are in the two easternmost tiers of counties (KSNHI unpublished data), including Leavenworth (Bee et al. 1981). Brumwell (1951) reported a squirrel killed by workmen while felling a tree on FLMR. Five specimens labeled “West bank Missouri River, Ft. Leavenworth” with collection dates of 1 January-14 March 1955 are deposited in the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History. Available Habitat and Surveys. This small, nocturnal squirrel inhabits deciduous and mixed forests, particularly beech-maple, oak-hickory, and poplar. Mature, closed-canopy forests near water are preferred. Squirrels readily use nest boxes and abandoned bird and squirrel nests. Nest boxes were used to survey for the species in floodplain and upland forests on FLMR. Three series of nest boxes (four boxes per site) were installed on 5 December 2002 and checked in April and November 2003 (Figure 3.1). No flying squirrels were found using nest boxes. Davis (2003) trapped unsuccessfully for this species on the installation. However, one southern flying squirrel was captured while netting bats near the Boy Scout Camp on 2 June 2003 (C. Davis personal comm.). Sightings in 2003 include one animal on 3 May on the River Trail by S. Seltman (personal comm.) and reports by bow hunters in the cottonwood forest north of the airfield (C. Davis personal comm.). Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. Flying squirrels were found during this study, with one confirmed record in White oak-Shagbark hickory Forest and several observations in the floodplain forests. Limited records indicate that the southern flying squirrel is an uncommon resident in larger forest tracts on the installation. Recommendations. Mature forest stands on the installation should be maintained. Additional surveys should be carried out if more detailed information about this species’ distribution and abundance is needed. Timber rattlesnake: Crotalus horridus Linneaus Past Records. The timber rattlesnake, the largest venomous snake in Kansas, is restricted in Kansas to counties in the eastern quarter. Specimens have been collected in Leavenworth and all surrounding Kansas counties (Collins 1993). Brumwell (1951) reported the species from Corral Creek, Government Hill, and other locations on FLMR. The Pest Control office has one timber NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF FT. LEAVENWORTH II 61
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A NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF THE FT
Page 3 and 4:
TABLE OF CONTENTS List Of Figures .
Page 5 and 6:
LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1.1. Locatio
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LIST OF TABLES TABLE 2.1. Summary o
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work was carri
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1.1. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1. BACKGR
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intentionally or accidentally from
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east toward the Missouri River. Two
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Agriculture figures (1874), there w
Page 19 and 20: examined the status and ecological
Page 21 and 22: NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF FT. LEAV
Page 23 and 24: CHAPTER 2. NATURAL COMMUNITIES 2.1.
Page 25 and 26: TABLE 2.1. Summary of natural commu
Page 27 and 28: TABLE 2.3. Locations of vegetation
Page 29 and 30: green ash seedlings, and silver map
Page 31 and 32: Genus Species Common Name 1995-‘9
Page 33 and 34: ounding. Genus Species Common Name
Page 43 and 44: Phryma leptostachya American lopsee
Page 45 and 46: 1 2 3 4 5 Family Scientific name Co
Page 47 and 48: 1 2 3 4 5 Family Scientific name Co
Page 49 and 50: annuals initially. Eventually, herb
Page 55 and 56: TABLE 3.1. Animal species protected
Page 57 and 58: September. On 8 September, four tra
Page 59 and 60: warbler, ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapi
Page 61 and 62: TABLE 3.4. Carrion beetles (Coleopt
Page 63 and 64: Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. B
Page 65 and 66: Recommendations. The lack of suitab
Page 67 and 68: suggests that practices that degrad
Page 69: 1996, Freeman et al. 1997). Availab
Page 73 and 74: FLMR is the only site in northeast
Page 75 and 76: A Broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypte
Page 77 and 78: Species Old-growth Mid- Early- Succ
Page 79 and 80: (68%) have been confirmed since 199
Page 87 and 88: 4.1. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 4. PLANTS
Page 89 and 90: Date Location Time Notes 39.3611°N
Page 91 and 92: plants (including all infraspecific
Page 93 and 94: TABLE 4.3. Number and cumulative pe
Page 95 and 96: limestone derivation. After the 200
Page 97 and 98: ock outcrops; it is often found wit
Page 99 and 100: hickory Forest on FLMR. Observation
Page 101 and 102: Scientific Name Carex crus-corvi Sh
Page 103 and 104: epresenting 5 families, 13 genera,
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with other considerations, includin
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existing natural areas information.
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these areas would enhance the prair
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Other trails and paths on the insta
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FIGURE 5.1. One of the small remnan
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While FLMR supports a diverse flora
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Sorghum halepense, previously repor
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Brumwell, M. J. 1951. An ecological
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Kansas State Board of Agriculture.
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Schwartz, C. W. and E. R. Schwartz.
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APPENDIX A. Directions to vegetatio
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The GPS reading is the SE corner of
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APPENDIX B. Checklist of vertebrate
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ORDER Species Common Name Presence
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Equisetum ×ferrissii Clute (Equise
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Daucus pusillus Michx. southwestern
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Aster oolentangiensis Riddell var.
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[Solidago nemoralis Ait. var. longi
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Thlaspi arvense L. field pennycress
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Commelina communis L. Asiatic dayfl
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Carex vulpinoidea Michx. fox sedge
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Dalea candida Michx. ex Willd. var.
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56. Hydrophyllaceae, the waterleaf
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Nothoscordum bivalve (L.) Britton y
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Spiranthes lacera (Raf.) Raf. slend
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Echinochloa muricata (P. Beauv.) Fe
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misidentified specimen of Sporobolu
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91. Rhamnaceae, the buckthorn famil
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99. Scrophulariaceae, the figwort f
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Phryma leptostachya L. American lop
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Net sets 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11
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However, Anabat recordings indicate
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APPENDIX E. Report on a 2003 field
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TABLE E.1. Reptiles and amphibians
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APPENDIX F. Exotic and Invasive Pla
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TABLE F.2. Life forms (habit) of ex
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are in bloom. Fire has not been pro
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Euonymus fortunei (Celastraceae; Ch
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disperse their seeds. They are foun
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Reed canary grass can become highly
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References Information on exotic an
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