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Table 5.14--Important habitat components and associated management guidelines for selected mammals in the South. Adapted from Allen (1988)

Species	Key components of habitat	Management guidelines
Badger	Nonforest habitats with soil suitable for burrowing and support of fossorial prey.	Maintain grassland communities of sufficient size interspersed with agricultural land to support prey base.
Beaver	Availability of suitable deciduous woody vegetation within foraging distance (< 100 m from water).	Manage vegetation to provide early successional stages of vegetation in suitable size classes.
Black bear	Mosaic of forested and nonforest cover; mixed forest with variety of tree and shrub species; refuge provided by relatively inaccessible terrain.	Provide a variety of successional stages; provide refuge habitat and travel corridors; maintain forest cover and riparian areas. Enhance production of mast-producing vegetation.
Bobcat	Early to mid-successional habitat; ecotones and mosaic of cover types; ledges, cliffs, and rock outcrops.	Maintain mosaic of early successional and riparian habitat; maintain cover adjacent to physical features to facilitate dispersal.
Coyote	Range expansion a result of forest clearing and agricultural development that has indirectly increased food availability.	Elimination of competitors, urbanization, and agricultural expansion enhance habitat conditions. Specific actions to enhance habitat are unnecessary.
Florida panther	Habitat synonymous with primary prey (white-tailed deer); mosaic of vegetation types; isolation from human disturbance; large tracts of suitable habitat.	Maintain mosaic of cover types and enhance deer habitat; preserve cover in riparian areas to provide travel corridors.
Gray fox	High degree of habitat edge; interspersion of a mosaic of woodland, shrubland, cropland, and grassland habitat.	Maintain woodlots in agricultural areas; provide vegetation diversity; maintain fencerows for travel corridors.
Kit fox	Mosaic of grassland shrub/steppe communities.	Establish vegetative communities to support adequate prey base; maintain interspersion of native vegetation within agricultural lands.
Least weasel/ Long-tailed weasel	Avoids dense forest; abundant in ecotones where prey diversity is greatest.	Maintain woodlots in agricultural areas to enhance vegetation diversity; maintain fencerows as travel corridors.
Mink	Permanent surface water and vegetative cover adjacent to wetlands; structural cover woody debris, boulders) to provide foraging and den sites.	Maintain vegetative cover adjacent to wetlands; provide aquatic habitat structural diversity; increase pool to riffle ratios; ensure water permanence.
Muskrat/ Nutria	Permanent water of sufficient depth and velocity to prevent water column freezing; maintain aquatic and riparian vegetation.	Manage vegetative succession to provide preferred foods; control water levels to provide suitable habitat year-round.
Opossum	Ecotones between wetland, woodland, and agricultural habitats; suitable den sites, particularly ground burrows.	Maintain woodlots in agricultural areas to enhance understory diversity; maintain fencerows as travel corridors; encourage soft mast production.
Raccoon	Wetlands, riparian habitats, suitable den sites and winter food.	Preserve wetlands and riparian areas; maintain snags or diseased trees for den sites; encourage mast species; maintain fencerows.
Red fox	High degree of habitat edge; interspersion of mosaic of woodland, shrubland, cropland, and grassland habitat.	Maintain woodlots in agricultural areas to enhance vegetation diversity; maintain fencerows for travel corridors; encourage softmast production.
Red squirrel	Dense or clumped stands of mature forest; multi-storied stands; suitable nest sites; sufficient shade for cone storage.	Maintain large deciduous trees with cavities; preserve densely branched trees; provide clumped stands near mature conifers with interlocking crowns.
Ringtail cat	Rocky, brushy areas, talus slopes or wooded habitats in close proximity to water.	Maintain riparian vegetation in association with draws and ridgelines as travel corridors.
River otter	Water quality; permanent surface water, vegetative cover adjacent to wetlands; structural cover to provide foraging and den sites.	Maintain vegetative cover adjacent to wetlands; increase pool to riffle ratios; ensure water permanence; encourage beaver establishment.
Spotted / Striped skunks	Ecotones between forest/shrubland and agricultural lands; riparian areas in arid regions.	Maintain woodlots in agricultural areas to enhance vegetation diversity; maintain fencerows for travel corridors; encourage softmast production.
Swift fox	Mid to shortgrass prairie habitats suitable to support an adequate prey base.	Establish vegetative communities to support prey base; maintain interspersion of grassland communities with agricultural lands.

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