2016 Final Mojave Excursion: Mammals

Desert Woodrat - Neotoma lepida Camping at the Granite Well site has been the coldest excursion of all the museum outings. It is good that this is the last outing until spring next year. On this trip the science team from the San Diego Natural History Museum included ornithologists and mammalogists. We also enjoyed the company of a member from the San Diego Zoo who wanted to observe the mammal team in the field, and Drew Stokes, who is SDNHM’s resident bat expert.

Our campsites on this expedition were off a side road south of “Hole-in-the-Wall” camp and north of Mitchell Caverns (north of Essex, California). We spread our camps on three sites along a side road with me nearest the highway, Drew at the end of the road (near the well), and the rest of the team in between. Cold and windy was the weather, but cheerful and pleasant was the company. Our stay began on Monday (11/28) and we all left on Friday (12/02). The maps above indicate the three most recent camps we stayed for this re-study. The Cima camp is at the top of the right map, the Cedar Canyon camp is at the middle, and the Granite Well camp is at the bottom (marked as “Black Canyon Road”).

Perhaps it was because of the cool weather, or perhaps because it was the final expedition of the season, or the combination of team members on this trip, but there was a more laid-back air about this trip than the preceding trips. The mammal team had about a 20% catch rate in their traps, which is generally about average.

I used the bicycle on this trip to advantage. I camped away from the group, but I was still able run down for a visit. I also hauled my camera gear up-canyon and worked on the Crissal Thrashers (mild success) and other birds, but you’ll have to wait for the next post to see those images.

Merriam's Kangaroo Rat - Dipodomys merriami — **Merriam's Kangaroo Rat**
*(Dipodomys merriami)*

**Description:**
Adult seen while camped with the Science Team from the San Diego Natural History Museum at Granite Wells and gathering data as a followup study from previous studies of about 80 years prior. Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California.
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**Date Taken:** 2016:12:02 5:27

**Location:**

Granite Well
Essex, California
United States
3894.55 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/125

**File Name:** MerriamsKangarooRat_D5X1788

© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Pin It — **Merriam's Kangaroo Rat**
*(Dipodomys merriami)*

**Description:**
Adult seen while camped with the Science Team from the San Diego Natural History Museum at Granite Wells and gathering data as a followup study from previous studies of about 80 years prior. Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2016:12:02 5:27

**Location:**

Granite Well
Essex, California
United States
3894.55 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/125

**File Name:** MerriamsKangarooRat_D5X1788

© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Cactus Mouse - Peromyscus eremicus — **Cactus Mouse**
*(Peromyscus eremicus)*

**Description:**
Camped with the Science Team from the San Diego Natural History Museum at Granite Wells and gathering data as a followup study from previous studies of about 80 years prior. Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California.
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**Date Taken:** 2016:11:29 7:15

**Location:**

Granite Well
Essex, California
United States
3894.55 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/125

**File Name:** CactusMouse_D5X0708

© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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White-Tailed Antelope Squirrel - Ammospermophilus leucurus — **White-Tailed Antelope Squirrel**
*(Ammospermophilus leucurus)*

**Description:**
Camped with the Science Team from the San Diego Natural History Museum at Granite Wells and gathering data as a followup study from previous studies of about 80 years prior. Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California.
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**Date Taken:** 2016:11:30 8:49

**Location:**

Granite Well
Essex, California
United States
3871.58 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/6400

**File Name:** WhiteTailedAntelopeSquirrel_D5X1216

© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Panamint Kangaroo Rat - Dipodomys panamintinus — **Panamint Kangaroo Rat**
*(Dipodomys panamintinus)*

**Description:**
Camped with the Science Team from the San Diego Natural History Museum at Granite Wells and gathering data as a followup study from previous studies of about 80 years prior. Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California.
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**Date Taken:** 2016:11:30 6:52

**Location:**

Granite Well
Essex, California
United States
3894.55 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/250

**File Name:** PanamintKangarooRat_D5X1083

© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Desert Woodrat - Neotoma lepida — **Desert Woodrat**
*(Neotoma lepida)*

**Description:**
Camped with the Science Team from the San Diego Natural History Museum at Granite Wells and gathering data as a followup study from previous studies of about 80 years prior. Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California.
Read More

**Date Taken:** 2016:11:29 7:28

**Location:**

Granite Well
Essex, California
United States
3894.55 ft above sea level

**Camera Information:**
NIKON D5, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/320

**File Name:** DesertWoodRat_D5X0787

© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com

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Click map markers to reveal further information

Merriam's Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys merriami

Adult seen while camped with the Science Team from the San Diego Natural History Museum at Granite Wells and gathering data as a followup study from previous studies of about 80 years prior. Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California.

Cactus Mouse

Peromyscus eremicus

Camped with the Science Team from the San Diego Natural History Museum at Granite Wells and gathering data as a followup study from previous studies of about 80 years prior. Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California.

Cactus Mouse

Peromyscus eremicus

Cactus Mouse

Peromyscus eremicus

White-Tailed Antelope Squirrel

Ammospermophilus leucurus

White-Tailed Antelope Squirrel

Ammospermophilus leucurus

Panamint Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys panamintinus

Panamint Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys panamintinus

Panamint Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys panamintinus

Panamint Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys panamintinus

Seen here grooming its tail while camped with the Science Team from the San Diego Natural History Museum at Granite Wells and gathering data as a followup study from previous studies of about 80 years prior. Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California.

Panamint Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys panamintinus

Desert Woodrat

Neotoma lepida

Merriam's Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys merriami

Adult seen grooming rear leg, while we camped with the Science Team from the San Diego Natural History Museum at Granite Wells and gathering data as a followup study from previous studies of about 80 years prior. Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California.

Merriam's Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys merriami

Sub-Adult. Seen while camped with the Science Team from the San Diego Natural History Museum at Granite Wells and gathering data as a followup study from previous studies of about 80 years prior. Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California.