Red-backed mice were numerous in most localities where Alcorn trapped. A number of specimens were taken adjacent to and within abandoned road camps, where second growth vegetation was rank. As in the case of C. gapperi, he found C. rutilus in varied habitats.
Clethrionomys gapperi athabascae (Preble)
Red-backed Mouse
Evotomys gapperi athabascae Preble, N. Amer. Fauna, 27:178, October 26, 1908. (Type from Fort Smith, Slave Lake, Mackenzie District, Northwest Territories, Canada.)
Clethrionomys gapperi athabascae Harper, Jour. Mamm., 13:28, February 9, 1932.
Specimens examined.—Total 14, as follows: British Columbia: N side Muska River, 1200 ft., 4 mi. W Fort Nelson, 1; E side Minaker River, 1 mi. W Trutch, 3; 5 mi. W and 3 mi. N Fort St. John, 4. Alberta: Assineau River, 1920 ft., 10 mi. E and 1 mi. N Kinuso, 6.
Remarks.—These red-backed mice were taken in various habitats: grassy areas in aspen and poplar forest, heavy spruce forest with no undergrowth excepting lichens and moss, thick underbrush in river flood plain, and at the site of an old sawmill. The northwestern distribution of this species along the Alaska Highway as found by Alcorn is approximately the same as that found by Rand (1944:44).
Ondatra zibethicus spatulatus (Osgood)
Muskrat
Fiber spatulatus Osgood, N. Amer. Fauna, 19:36, October 6, 1900. (Type from Lake Marsh, Yukon, Canada.)