Number 86      June 24, 1920

OCCASIONAL PAPERS OF THE MUSEUM OF
ZOOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Ann Arbor, Michigan    Published by the University

THE MAMMALS OF WARREN WOODS,
BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN

By Lee Raymond Dice

Few detailed studies of the mammal associations of the forestsof the United States have been made. But if we are ever toknow, for our different species of mammals, the natural environmentsunder which their evolution and differentiation occurred,we must study and describe their habitats and habitat limitationsbefore all the native areas in the country have been alteredby the activities of mankind. As a contribution to this subjectthe following paper is presented.

The Warren Woods are a state preserve under the Edward K.Warren Foundation. They are located in Berrien County, Michigan,about three miles north of Three Oaks. The preserve consistsof about two hundred acres, of which somewhat less thanhalf is in clearing and the remainder mostly covered by forest,much of it still nearly in its primitive condition.

Fig. 1.—Sketch map of Warren Woods Preserve. The distribution ofthe various mammal habitats is indicated.

The topography is nearly level, though the area is cut by anumber of ravines draining to the Galien River, which flows [Pg 2]
[Pg 3]through the preserve. Along the river and in its bends thereare moderate-sized flood-plains.

On the flood-plains a few small buttonbush swamps occur;and along the margins of the river a few freshly formed mudbars have not yet become forested; but most of the flood-plainsare covered by heavy forest. The higher ground, except thatin the clearing, is covered by heavy beech-maple forest.

Several types of habitats are represented in the clearing: ina few of the cleared ravines a thick growth of sedges and irisoccurs; on the higher ground small areas are dominated by rushes,other areas by sedges, while the greater part is covered by grass.In parts of the clearing blackberries and other shrubs have grownup to form thickets, and in many places, especially along the edgesof ravines, second-growth trees of oak, maple, or beech growin the thickets or form small groves.

The mammal habitats found on the preserve may be listedas follows: