Small Mammal Monitoring at Cape Cod National Seashore

Small mammal monitoring at Cape Cod National Seashore began in 2000.
Small mammals are an important component of the park's fauna. In addition to
their direct contribution to species richness, they play a major role in
trophic dynamics, consuming plant material and invertebrates, and in turn
serving as prey items for a number of species of snakes, raptorial birds, and
small to mid-sized carnivorous mammals. Through these relationships, small
mammals may directly influence population levels of insect pests and disease
vectors such as gypsy moths and deer ticks, as well as certain regionally rare
hawks and owls. In addition, through secondary effects, small mammals have the
potential to influence species up and down the food chain. At Cape Cod National
Seashore, small mammals are monitored to determine their abundance,
distribution, and habitat relationships.

Waterbody or Watershed Names: Cape Cod National Seashore

Sponsor: Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program