Mammals of Mount Rainier National Park

by Merlin K. Potts; Russell K. Grater

THE VARYING HARES

Two kinds of varying hares, or snowshoe rabbits, are known to occur within the park. A brief discussion of each follows:

The Washington varying hare, Lepus americanus washingtonii Baird, is a medium-sized hare, larger than the common cottontail rabbit. Mammalogists differ in their discussions of the coloration of this species. The variations of opinion are of interest. H. E. Anthony, in his Field Book of North American Mammals, thus describes the Washington Varying Hare:

“Summer and winter pelages both dull, dark reddish brown (no white winter pelage); tops of feet more intense reddish; soles of hind feet sooty.”

Taylor and Shaw, in Mammals and Birds of Mount Rainier National Park, are in general agreement with Anthony’s description of summer pelage, but describe the winter coat as follows:

“In winter in the lowlands the pelage merely puts on a slightly paler or more vinaceous cinnamon tinge; but in Mount Rainier National Park a white coat is assumed.”

Still another observation was made by Mr. Walter W. Dalquest of the Department of Zoology, University of Washington. After examining study skins of the varying hares collected in the park, Mr. Dalquest made the following comments in a letter addressed to the park naturalist (April, 1939).

“The snowshoe hares of the entire Western Cascade region are a very interesting but mixed up group. I should refer all three of your specimens to Lepus americanus washingtonii plus cascadensis.

“The summer specimen from Longmire seems to be typical washingtonii in color and skull. The white winter specimen seems to be typical cascadensis while the very dark specimen (still in winter coat) represents an interesting condition found only in the Western Cascades, in which the specimens are darker than any other forms of Lepus americanus I have ever seen. This character is well represented in a large series from Skykomish, Washington, in which the winter coat varies from pure white to almost black.”

From these observations it would appear that there is a marked variation in the winter coloration of Lepus americanus washingtonii, and further that another subspecies of varying hare, Lepus americanus cascadensis, is found in the park.

The Washington varying hare is not abundant in the park, having been recorded only from the southwestern section, from the park boundary to an elevation of about 3,000 feet, rarely higher.

It occurs on the western slope of the Cascades to the coast in Washington, and northward into British Columbia.

The Cascade varying hare, Lepus americanus cascadensis Nelson, is about the same size as the Washington varying hare. In summer it is a dark, rusty brown, reddish along the back, darker on the rump; white in winter.

This hare apparently occurs most frequently in the southwestern part of the park also, although tracks observed in winter at Yakima Park may have been those of this species. Its range undoubtedly overlaps that of the Washington varying hare, but it seems probable that in general it is found at the higher elevations, 3,000 to 5,000 feet.

The distribution of this species, within its altitudinal range, is about the same as that of the Washington varying hare.

Specimens in park collection: Washington varying hare, RNP-57, RNP-99, and a mounted specimen; Cascade varying hare, RNP-98; Longmire Museum, Park Headquarters.

From the foregoing data, it is apparent that positive field identification of either species is impossible in most instances. If a brown hare is observed in winter (mid-October to mid-April) it may be identified with reasonable accuracy as the Washington varying hare. However, if the hare is white, it may be either species, particularly if its habitat is near the elevation of overlapping distribution, 3,000 feet. Since the summer pelage of both species is similar, it is not possible to differentiate during that season. In general the observer may expect to find the Washington varying hare at 3,000 feet or lower, the Cascade varying hare at 3,000 feet or higher. That such identification can not be considered infallible, however, is demonstrated by a brown specimen collected near Reflection Lake, elevation 4,800 feet, in February, and identified as the Washington varying hare.

The aptness of the common name, varying hare, is easily understood, since it applies to the seasonal change of color, brought about by the shedding of the coat during the moult. The term “snowshoe rabbit” is derived from the long, broad hind feet of the animal, Nature’s wise provision which permits rapid and efficient progress over deep, soft snow.

The food preferences and habitats of the snowshoe rabbits are similar. Both species prefer the dense cover of swamps and thickets, which provide excellent protection from hawks and owls above as well as avenues of escape from coyotes, foxes, and other predators on the ground. Every large predator is the enemy of the snowshoe.

Green plants, grasses, and clover make up the bulk of the food in summer. The winter diet consists chiefly of the bark, buds and twigs of various trees and shrubs. Coniferous foliage is often eaten.

WESTERN BUSHY-TAILED WOOD RAT
Neotoma cinerea occidentalis Baird

This large, gray-brown rat (head and body nine inches, tail eight inches), can not be mistaken for any other park animal. It closely resembles a several times magnified white-footed mouse, except that the tail is so well-haired as to be almost like that of a squirrel. The ears are conspicuous, the eyes large and lustrous, the feet, underparts, and underside of the tail are dull white.

Specimens in park collection: RNP-19 and RNP-20, Longmire Museum, Park Headquarters.

The wood rats are found over the western United States, northward into western Canada, and in some of the southeastern and mid-western states.

The Mount Rainier species inhabits southern British Columbia, all of Washington and Oregon, northern California and Nevada, and most of Idaho. In the park it is found from park boundaries to forest line, rarely higher, and is not common, although Taylor and Shaw (1919) found it “unusually abundant in the timber along Tahoma Creek,” and recorded one individual at Camp Muir (10,000 feet).

Every woodsman has a fund of “pack rat” stories, nearly all of them emphasizing the thieving propensities of the animal, and every story has a basis, at least, in fact, because the wood rat will usually pick up and carry away anything about the camp that strikes his fancy, if such articles are not beyond his physical powers. At times these treasures may be found cached away in a bulky pile of dead twigs, leaves and other debris in some rock crevice, but the wood rats seem to place little dependence upon these “nests” as a place of refuge, preferring to retreat into a more adequately protected spot in the rock mass itself.

These animals are ordinarily nocturnal in habit, but may occasionally be seen by day. They are not excessively shy, and oftentimes create quite a disturbance with their nightly prowlings when they are found about campsites or dwellings. Their presence is frequently made known by a soft “thump-thump-thump” made at regular intervals of about one second by tapping a hind foot on the ground, rock, or some object.

The wood rat has a distinct musky odor, and a cave, crevice, or cabin in which they have established residence can be recognized at once, even by man’s inferior sense of smell, by the atmosphere.

It is readily apparent from the preceding discussion that the reputation the wood rat has made among woodsmen and campers as a nuisance is not ill-founded. They are interesting and active creatures, however, not nearly so unsavory as the name “rat” implies, and in many instances the entertainment they provide outweighs their less engaging habits.

The inquisitive and abundant white-footed mice are immaculately clean animals.

WASHINGTON WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE, DEER MOUSE
Peromyscus maniculatus oreas Bangs

The white-footed mouse is about the size of a house mouse, with the head and body about three and one-half inches in length, the tail about four and one-half inches. The ears and eyes are large; the tail is comparatively long, blackish-brown above, white below. The general coloration over the head and back is a rather dark tawny-brown, intermixed with black hairs, with a preponderance of black toward the base of the tail. The underparts are white, with the lead-gray hair bases showing through; the feet are white. In examining this mouse, the impression is one of an immaculately clean little animal, definitely at variance with the usual conception of mice.

Specimens in park collection: RNP-3, RNP-4, RNP-22, RNP-23, RNP-35, RNP-36, RNP-37, RNP-38, RNP-39, RNP-77, RNP-84, and RNP-91, together with a mounted specimen; Longmire Museum, Park Headquarters.

The white-footed mice are distributed over nearly all of North America south of the Arctic Circle.

The Washington species is found in the western part of the state and northward into southern British Columbia. On Mount Rainier it occurs throughout the park to elevations well above forest line, and has been recorded on the summit of the Mountain.

The inquisitive, active, and abundant white-footed mice are attractive and familiar inhabitants of the woods about the Mountain. They are readily adaptable to a variety of conditions, and are quick to invade camps and dwellings in search of shelter and food. They are particularly fond of cereal grains, and will often damage clothing left within their reach, since these materials are evidently highly prized for the nest. Campers will do well to protect food-stuffs and garments from their foraging instincts.

These animals are nocturnal in habit, it is rare to see them abroad by day. They feed upon a wide variety of plant seeds and vegetable material, and are preyed upon by all of the four-footed carnivores, as well as the owls.

RAINIER POCKET GOPHER
Thomomys talpoides shawi Taylor

The sturdily built pocket gopher, with its long, sharp, fore claws, tiny eyes and ears, external cheek pouches, robust body, and short legs, can hardly be confused with any of the other rodents. The head and body are about six inches in length, the thinly haired, whitish tail about two and one-half inches. The color is light brown above, with the lead-colored hair bases showing through in places; paler brown on the sides; gray-white below, with white on the throat and a small, irregular white patch on the nose.

Specimens in park collection: RNP-101, Longmire Museum, Park Headquarters.

The pocket gophers are widely distributed over western North America, and are abundant in many regions.

In Mount Rainier National Park the local species is found on the east side of the park in the Hudsonian Zone above 4,500 feet, usually on the grassy hillsides and in the open meadows.

These animals are burrowers in the true sense of the word, rarely venturing above ground, but constructing elaborate systems of connecting tunnels a few inches beneath the surface. Because of this subterranean habit they are seldom seen, although the evidences of their presence may be conspicuous. Mounds of freshly turned earth scattered about over a meadow indicate that active excavations by pocket gophers are in progress.

The fore claws are well adapted for the purpose of digging, and as the burrow progresses, the earth is disposed of by thrusting it out through a surface opening. Careful observation may be rewarded by a glimpse of the head, shoulders and forelegs as the gopher accomplishes this disposal, thus forming the mound of earth, which eventually closes the emergence-hole. When not in use, these openings are closed by earthen plugs.

Pocket gophers feed almost exclusively upon the roots and bulbs exposed by their burrowing activities, although at rare intervals they may move a short distance from the burrow to gather surface food.

Earth excavated during the winter months is firmly packed in tunnels which the gopher makes on the surface of the ground beneath the snow. These winding ridges of earth are revealed by the melting snow as further evidences of pocket gopher activity.