Synaptomys borealis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	CRICETIDAE

Scientific Name:

Synaptomys borealis

Species Authority:

(Richardson, 1828)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Northern Bog Lemming, Okanagan Bog Lemming

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Linzey, A.V. & NatureServe (Reichel, J.D. & Hammerson, G.)

Reviewer/s:

Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Chanson, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern, although it is thought to be uncommon, it is very wide ranging, it occurs in many protected areas and there are no major threats.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is found in Labrador, Canada, west to central Alaska in the United States, and south to Washington, Montana, southeastern Manitoba and northern New England (see Clough and Albright 1987 for recent records from Baxter State Park, Maine, and from Mt. Moosilauke, Grafton County, New Hampshire). Its distribution is apparently spotty even in the centre of its range in central Canada.
Countries:	Native: Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Labrador, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Québec, Saskatchewan, Yukon); United States (Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire - Possibly Extinct, Washington)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Its widespread distribution extends from Alaska to Labrador and south to portions of the northern United States, but populations are localized; population sizes are not known for any location, although nowhere does this mammal appear to be common. It is patchily distributed throughout the range. Population densities may range up to three dozen per acre.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is found in a variety of habitats where moisture levels are high and where sedges and grasses provide both food and cover. Such habitats occur within high-elevation sedge-grass meadows in pine or spring forests, spruce-fir forests, wet meadows, sphagnum bogs, tundra, riparian areas within spruce forests, and in early successional grasslands associated with recently burned forests. Atypically, one subspecies occurs on sagebrush slopes in southern British Columbia. It occupies burrow systems up to one foot deep and surface runways. Young are born in nests that may be underground or on the surface in concealing vegetation. Breeds May-August. Gestation lasts probably three weeks. Litter size is 2-8 (average four). Several litters per year. At least some breed during the summer of their birth. Maintains a home range of probably less than one acre. Very sociable; may be found in small colonies. Feeds on grasses, sedges, and other herbaceous vegetation. Active day/night throughout the year.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It is found in a variety of habitats where moisture levels are high and where sedges and grasses provide both food and cover. Such habitats occur within high-elevation sedge-grass meadows in pine or spring forests, spruce-fir forests, wet meadows, sphagnum bogs, tundra, riparian areas within spruce forests, and in early successional grasslands associated with recently burned forests. Atypically, one subspecies occurs on sagebrush slopes in southern British Columbia.

It occupies burrow systems up to one foot deep and surface runways. Young are born in nests that may be underground or on the surface in concealing vegetation. Breeds May-August. Gestation lasts probably three weeks. Litter size is 2-8 (average four). Several litters per year. At least some breed during the summer of their birth.

Maintains a home range of probably less than one acre. Very sociable; may be found in small colonies. Feeds on grasses, sedges, and other herbaceous vegetation. Active day/night throughout the year.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats to this species.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to this species.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	In Montana two sites are in Glacier National Park and one is in a USFS Special Botanical Area. In Washington three sites are USFS Wilderness Areas. The majority of lower 48 state occurrences have been found in the past 15 years and more are likely to be located. In eastern Canada more work is needed and the extent of occupied habitat even within the centre of its range in western Canada is currently unclear. Little is known of the ecology of the species. Essentially all publications deal only with distribution or taxonomy. Much additional information is needed on population parameters, movements, and habitat requirements.

Conservation Actions:

In Montana two sites are in Glacier National Park and one is in a USFS Special Botanical Area. In Washington three sites are USFS Wilderness Areas.

The majority of lower 48 state occurrences have been found in the past 15 years and more are likely to be located. In eastern Canada more work is needed and the extent of occupied habitat even within the centre of its range in western Canada is currently unclear.

Little is known of the ecology of the species. Essentially all publications deal only with distribution or taxonomy. Much additional information is needed on population parameters, movements, and habitat requirements.

Citation:	Linzey, A.V., Reichel, J.D. & Hammerson, G. 2008. Synaptomys borealis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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