Field immobilization of pygmy spotted skunks from Mexico.

We immobilized 21 pygmy spotted skunks (Spilogale pygmaea), in the tropical deciduous forest at the Chamela Biological Station (Mexico) from October 1994 to May 1997, with a mixture of ketamine (KH) and xylazine (XH). Skunks were immobilized with a mean (+/- SD) dosage of 15.7 +/- 8.3 mg/kg KH and 8.1 +/- 4.3 mg/kg XH. Mean induction and recovery time (n = 21) were 1.7 +/- 1.6 and 34.2 +/- 12.2 min, respectively. One individual was immobilized with XH, induction time was 1 min, and recovery time was 45 min. Foaming salivation was observed in this animal. No other adverse effects were observed for the other animals in this sample.

Effects of small mammal burrows on water infiltration in a cool desert environment.

The hypothesis that small mammal burrows can increase the amount of water infiltrating into the soil profile was tested. The amount of water added to the soil profile from spring recharge in areas adjacent to ground squirrel (Spermophilus townsendii and S. elegans) burrows was compared to nearby areas without burrows. Recharge amounts in burrow areas were significantly higher than nonburrow areas. An average of 21% more of the winter precipitation infiltrated into the soil near burrows. The amount of recharge was also found to be positively related to burrow density. Burrows also affected the distribution of the recharge by adding significantly more water to the deeper portions (>50 cm) of the soil profile.

Vertical distribution of soil removed by four species of burrowing rodents in disturbed and undisturbed soils.

Burrow volumes were determined in disturbed and undisturbed soils for four species of rodents in southeastern Idaho. Comparisons were made between soil types for the average volume and the proportion of the total volume of soil excavated from 10-cm increments for each species, and the relative number of burrows and proportion of total soil removed from beneath the minimum thickness of soil covers over buried low-level radioactive wastes. Burrows of montane voles (Microtus montanus) and deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) rarely extended below 50 cm and neither volumes nor depths were influenced by soil disturbance. Townsend's ground squirrels (Spermophilus townsendii) had the deepest and most voluminous burrows that, along with Ord's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ordii) burrows, were more prevalent beneath 50 cm in disturbed soils.