The Importance of Small Mammals to Quail

By February 1, 2025 Articles, Media

Small mammal (i.e. rodents) trapping occurs twice per year (Winter and Spring) on the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch. Small mammals serve as an alternative prey source for mesocarnivore predators. The greater the abundance of small mammals, the more predators tend to focus on them as opposed to quail. Abundant small mammal populations therefore effectively divert predators’ attention away from quail. Additionally, small mammal populations are influenced by similar weather and habitat phenomena that drive quail population dynamics. Weather patterns which produce an explosion of small mammals may foreshadow similar quail population booms. Of particular interest it that of the Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus). In the recent past, explosions of this rodent species have closely mirrored similar quail population explosions (see graph below notice 2015-2016). Accordingly, as a predictor of quail populations, we have been monitoring small mammal populations on the Quail Research Ranch for the past 15+ years.

Winter 2025 Small Mammal Capture Summary:

  • 1,176 small mammal Sherman traps were set across the research ranch for 12 nights (Jan 7-24), resulting in 4,704 total trap nights
  • A total of 206 unique individuals captured among 9 species
  • And cotton rats comprised only 1% of the captures.
  • 2 species: Plains Harvest mouse (32%) and Peromyscus spp. (24%) accounted for 56% of total captures
  • 2 additional species: Merriam’s Pocket mouse (14%) and Fulvus Pocket Mouse (13%) accounted for 27% for total captures

by Dan Foley