mammal survey serra da estrela portugal - De Zoogdiervereniging

4 MICE by: Kees Mostert4.1 SURVEY METHODSAs part of the summer camp, a large number of traps were placed in several locations in order to captureterrestrial small mammals (see map 5). Mainly Longworth traps were used (150 units) besides smallernumbers of pit-falls and some Sherman traps, which were placed in trees in the hope of catching the Gardendormouse (Eliomys quercinus). Wooden mole traps were also used for a few days. The bait that was usedconsisted of a standard mixture of peanut butter, oatmeal and apple. Live mealworms were added to thetraps to increase survival rates of shrews. In placing the traps, a few simple principles were followed: thetraps were numbered consistently and placed at 5 to 10 meter intervals. Traps were placed in the shadewhere possible and tagged with a small piece of aluminum foil in the vegetation in order to facilitate retrievalof the traps at night.The first lines of Longworth traps were placed alongside streams: the Ribeiro das Tapadas and Ribeira daNave northeast of Loriga and Covão more to the south. Because the streams were frequently used by theinhabitants of the villages as well (for irrigation), it was not always easy to place the traps inconspicuously.Wood mouse, Algerian mouse, Greater or Lesser white-toothed shrew and several Miller's water shrews werecaught here.After a few nights, most of the traps were moved to locations in the higher parts of the mountains. Traps wereplaced in the vicinity of the highest peak of the Estrela (Torre), near Covão do Boeiro at an altitude of 1750meter and also in an area of rocks and small bogs close to the Lagoa Comprida at Malhadais do Cavalho,1,580 meter above sea level. The traps were placed here in the hope of catching Snow vole (Chionomysnivalis), a species that is not known to occur in Portugal (yet?), but that has been found in mountainousareas in Spain similar to Serra da Estrela. However, hardly anything was caught at these trap sites (only someWood mice and one Iberian wall lizard). During the last nights of the summer camp several lines of trapswere placed in open fields with herbaceous vegetation in a wooded area near Senhora do Desterro (at thehydropower station Camara de Carga). Apart from Wood mice and Algerian mice, several Spanish shrewswere caught here. In the chestnut forest near Lapa dos Dinheiros 12 tree traps were placed, but unfortunatelynothing was caught.Map: Filipe Martins / CISEMap 5. Live trap locations.24 Dutch Mammal Society