4. Mammals

4.1 Voucher Requirements

• Generally, inventory projects only include the collection of mammals when it is necessary for identification purposes. After identification has been determined, the voucher may be prepared as a museum specimen for their permanent collection, stored in an unprepared state for a time, or discarded. This will depend on the species collected, the condition of the specimen after identification, and what material has already been collected and preserved at the museum, etc.
• Whole specimens are not required for identification of species of large mammals. For small mammals and bats, particularly for the genera Sorex, Tamias and Myotis, whole specimens will likely be necessary for accurate identification. Contact the Royal BC Museum for specifics.
• When whole specimens are collected for identification purposes or are needed for further analysis, natural history museums must first be canvassed to see what material has already been collected. If existing material is not available or adequate to meet the needs, advice on collecting should be sought from professionals.
• When inventory methods involve trapping, the Royal BC Museum should be contacted to see whether they are interested in specimens from trap mortalities.
• See Table 1 below for details regarding suggested vouchers for inventory groups (listed in the order found in the Components of British Columbia's Biodiversity RIC manual series). If no voucher requirement is listed, then visual detection or identification from animal sign by qualified observers is considered adequate. When possible, photographs should be used to confirm observations.

Table 2. Suggested vouchers for taxon-specific mammal inventories.

Series #	Mammals	Suggested Vouchers
20	Bats	wing punch or whole specimens for easily misidentified species when capture is part of the inventory protocol (e.g. Myotis lucifugus from M. yumanensis and distinguishing between long-eared bats: M. keenii, M. evotis, and M. septentrionalis) morphometric data, photographs, digital sonograms or cassette tapes with reference calls should also be collected as evidence of rare or endangered bats
21	Bears	hair and scat can be collected for mitochondrial DNA analysis to determine species in areas that both black and grizzly bears occur
22	Beaver & Muskrat	whole specimens not necessary
23	Hare & Cottontails	whole specimens only if trap mortalities occur
24	Marten & Weasels	whole specimens only if trap mortalities occur photographs if possible to distinguish between Mustela species or fisher and marten tracks
25	Medium-Sized Territorial Carnivores - Wolverine, Coyote, Red Fox, Lynx, Bobcat, Fisher, and Badger	photographs if possible to help record species occurrence and distinguish between species, e.g. between fisher and marten when tracks are used for inventory
26	Moles & Pocket Gopher	whole specimens only if trap mortalities occur
27	Mountain Beaver, Woodrat, and Porcupine	whole specimens only if trap mortalities occur
29	Pikas & Sciurids	whole specimens only if trap mortalities occur
31	Small Mammals - Shrews, Voles, Mice, Rats and Lemming	3 of each species: 1 of each sex (if sexes are distinguishable) and the 3rd a juvenile (of either sex) is preferred, especially if there is much difference from the adults. Specimens are particularly important for the difficult to distinguish genera: Sorex and Tamias.
32/33	Aerial-based / Ground-based Inventory Methods for Selected Ungulates	whole specimens not necessary
34	Wolf & Cougar	whole specimens not necessary

4.2 Data Needs

Enclose a field label with each specimen as described in section 2.4.2 with the collection date, location, collector's name and field collection number.

4.3 Preparation and Care of Specimens

4.3.1 Hair Samples

• Hair capture sites should be checked carefully to ensure that all hairs are collected.
• A sheet of white reflective plastic can be run under the wire etc., so that the hairs are more visible.
• Place each hair sample (i.e., all the hair from one barb) in a separate envelope which is marked with the site sample number. All hair sample envelopes from one site should be put in a large envelope.
• Record site sample details in a field notebook.
• Hair samples and envelopes can be dried and stored in a freezer (Woods et al. 1996, Gibeau and Herrero 1996) or dried and stored in a cool, dry place.
• Send samples to a laboratory that specializes in DNA analysis from hair to obtain species identification. Note that results from different labs may vary, thus all samples from one project should be sent to the same lab.

4.3.2 Tissue Samples

• Seal specimens individually in a ziplock type plastic bag with a field label as described in section 2.4.2 with the date, location, collector and field reference number. Keep bats and Peromyscus tissue separate from other specimens so that only they need to be treated with extra caution.
• Keep specimens cold (ice packs in an insulated bag works well) and freeze as soon as possible. Dry ice in an insulated chest will last up to eight days in the field and can be used to refreeze the ice packs as well.

4.3.3 Whole Specimens

• Currently the Royal BC Museum is the only facility in the province with the necessary biohazard equipment and staff trained to prepare whole small mammals as museum specimens for identification. Because of the health risks and because of the need to meet museum standards for prepared specimens it is recommended that this work be done by the Royal BC Museum. It would be necessary to arrange to get this work done at the Royal BC Museum before field work is started.
• The Royal BC Museum is also willing to hold specimens in an unprepared state for as long as a researcher needs (for a storage fee) if that is all that is required by the researcher. At the end of the storage period the Royal BC Museum is then free to use the specimens in whatever manner they see fit including disposing of them.

Collecting

Care should be taken in handling fresh small mammals and their traps because of disease hazards. Rabies risks are covered by the mandatory RIC Bat Inventory training course. It is strongly recommended that the RIC Small Mammal Inventory training course be taken as well to cover methods of dealing with the risk from Hanta virus (in Peromyscus) and plague.

Killing

• To kill small mammals humanely place them in a sealed container with a cotton ball soaked with Isoflurane (available from veterinary suppliers) for about 10 minutes.

Storing specimens in the field

• Seal specimens individually in a ziplock type plastic bag with a field label as described in section 2.4.2 with the date, location, collector and field reference number. Keep bats and Peromyscus separate from other specimens so that only they need to be treated with extra caution.
• Keep specimens cold (ice packs in an insulated bag works well) and freeze as soon as possible. Dry ice in an insulated chest will last up to eight days in the field and can be used to refreeze the ice packs as well.
• Fluid preservation of small mammals is not recommended because it is not possible to see coat colours and because it roughly doubles the preparation time and cost. In an emergency, where freezing is not possible, specimens can be fixed in 10% formalin or in 95% ethanol.
• Tissues may need to be taken in the field for mDNA Analysis. Check with the lab where this work is to be done for preservation method.

Preparation

• In the case of mammals it is best to prepare the specimens as soon after collection as possible to avoid freezer burn, etc. However, if the researcher has no need to have the specimens prepared then they can be left unprepared.

4.4 Museum Accessioning

• It is necessary to arrange to have whole small mammals prepared as museum specimens for identification at the Royal BC Museum before field work is started.
• Deliver specimens to the Royal BC Museum in person to ensure that they do not thaw in transit. Thawed specimens may be unuseable.

Royal BC Museum Contact: Lesley Kennes, Registrar and Mammal Collection Manager

Phone (250) 387-1216 Fax (250) 387-5360

Email lkennes@rbml01.rbcm.gov.bc.ca

4.5 Materials and Costs

• It is necessary to get an estimate of the cost to have whole small mammals prepared as museum specimens for identification from the Chief of Collections at the Royal BC Museum before field work is started.
• Specimens submitted to the Royal BC Museum will be prepared as standard round study skins and skulls. Extra preparation may be needed for identification depending upon taxonomic group such as X-rays, tissue samples and mDNA analysis, or genital bone preparation. The current charge for preparation of a small mammal varies from about $80.00 to $150.00 depending on the preservation state of the specimen and the amount of extra preparation.
• The cost of housing should also be figured into the budget. Annual storage fees are based on the amount of cabinet space used to store the vouchers. This will vary as to size and number of specimens.

Table 3. Cost of materials associated with whole mammal specimens.

Item	Specifications	Cost ($)
Durphy boxes	Small	1.00 each
Durphy boxes	Medium	1.50 each
Durphy boxes	Large	2.00 each
Drawers	Small, 25 per case	65.00 each
Drawers	Large, 10 per cabinet	75.00 each
Trays	Polyethylene trays for small mammals, (8 fit per drawer)	7.90 + tax each
Lane cases		958.00 each
Mammal case	Large	2,399.50 each

4.6 References

Gibeau, M., and S. Herrero. 1996. Grizzly bear population estimate for the Banff/Kananaskis Region; 1996 field season plan. Eastern Slopes Grizzly Bear Research Project, Calgary, AB 4 pp.

Nagorsen, D.W. 1990. The mammals of British Columbia. A taxonomic catalogue. Royal BC Mus., Memoir No. 4.

Nagorsen, D.W., and R.L. Peterson. 1980. Mammal collector's manual. Royal Ont. Mus. Life Sciences Misc. Pub. 79 pp.

Nagorsen, D.W., and R.M. Brigham. 1993. Bats of British Columbia. Roy. BC Mus. Handb., Victoria, BC.

Woods, J.G., B.N. McLellan, D. Paetkau, M. Proctor, P. Ott and C. Strobeck. 1996. Census techniques for bears. West Slopes Bear Research Project, Revelstoke. 10 pp. Draft discussion paper.