Hopewell Culture National Historical Park - Mammals

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park by National Parks Service

One of the most visible mammals seen on park land is the white-tailed deer, however, many more utilize the areas. Based on the results of a recent survey, at least 28 species use park land, and that does not include bat species! During the warmer season, thirteen-lined ground squirrel can be easily observed peeking from their burrows in the reconstructed mounds at Mound City Group. The deer mouse apparently enjoys the labors of archeologists, as they can usually be found in the holes dug by researchers. Running among trees and shrubs are the active fox squirrel, gray squirrel, and eastern chipmunk, and sometimes soaring above from tree to tree is the southern flying squirrel. During the winter months, the meadow vole may be seen darting from one snow-covered hole to the next, perhaps avoiding the smallest carnivore in the world, the least weasel.

Other mammals that may be encountered include: Virginia opossum, short-tailed shrew, least shrew, masked shrew, eastern mole, eastern cottontail, woodchuck, beaver, eastern harvest mouse, white-footed mouse, prairie vole, house mouse, muskrat, meadow jumping mouse, coyote, red fox, raccoon, striped skunk, and mink.

A separate survey was conducted specifically for bats, with at least seven species identified by calls and capture. Careful study of the summer sky during twilight hours may reveal flying hunters such as big brown bats, eastern red bats, and little brown bats; all these species feed on thousands of insects each night. Over larger streams, the hoary bat feeds, and most bats in general prefer areas with water available. Other species observed were the evening bat, northern bat, and eastern pipistrelle.