Missouri Natural Areas Newsletter 2021, Volume 21, Number 1

2021·4.9 MB·English

by  Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Natural Areas Committee

MISSOURI 2021
Natural Areas
Volume 21, Number 1
N E W S L E T T E R
“…identifying, designating, managing and restoring the best remaining examples of natural communities
and geological sites encompassing the full spectrum of Missouri’s natural heritage”
Editor’s Note
Missouri’s Mammals
I n the past ten years, populations of Missou- in highly urban areas. Since 1994, the Missouri
ri’s large native carnivores, black bear (Ursus Department of Conservation (MDC) has con-
americanus) and mountain lion (Puma con- firmed 86 sightings of mountain lions with the
color), have experienced a marked increase. Today, earlier specimens moving through the Missouri
black bear populations in Missouri are estimated River corridor from South Dakota. In the near
at 500 to over 800 individuals based on exten- future, this recent increase in large carnivores in
Missouri may prove to keep certain animal popu-
sive surveys and research conducted between
lations in check, to the benefit of all biodiversity.
2010 and 2019. The recovery of black bears in
This issue focuses on some of the more secretive
the state is strong, even warranting a regulated
and lesser well-known mammals that inhabit
hunting season for the first time in 2021, and
our state. Notable publications have extensively
sightings and encounters have been reported even
addressed our charismatic megafauna, including
this story map1 of the almost decade-long black
American black bear (Ursa americanus). This issue highlights animal
illustrations of longtime MDC mammalogist Charles W. Schwartz.
bear research.
Research in Missouri is also showing impacts
to our mammal populations caused by an
increase in different wildlife diseases. This issue
will examine trends in our cave bat populations
since White Nose Syndrome found its way to
Missouri in 2010. Chronic Wasting Disease is
impacting white-tailed deer in Missouri and
MDC now regularly conducts tests on harvested
1 https://mdcgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.htm-
l?appid=712cc83bff5145808936d38a3822ebb7
NATURAL AREAS FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
deer during hunting season to help track
its spread. In the article about swamp rab- Ha Ha Tonka Oak Woodland
Lincoln Hills
bits in southeast Missouri, learn about a
Island Branch
Greer Spring
disease that impacts rabbits that has not
Cowards Hollow
yet been documented in wild populations in Mingo
Donaldson Point
Missouri but in other nearby states. Big Oak Tree
But first, we will highlight the work of long-
time MDC mammalogists Charles W. and Eliza-
beth R. Schwartz who penned The Wild Mammals
of Missouri. Illustrations from this landmark pub- CONTENTS
lication will accompany the subsequent articles, Missouri’s Mammals
Allison Vaughn ............................................................1
ranging from Southern flying squirrels to swamp
Charles W. Schwartz and The Wild Mammals of
rabbits. Now in its third revised edition (2016), Missouri
Timothy Barksdale ......................................................3
The Wild Mammals of Missouri remains a standard
Shining a Light on the Impacts of White-Nose Syndrome
on Missouri’s Cave Bat Populations
text for budding and seasoned mammalogists.
Shelly Colatskie.........................................................10
Missouri’s long history of wildlife conservation Missouri’s Swampers
Kevin Brunke ............................................................15
and our thriving mammal populations have
Mind the Gap: Overcoming Movement Barriers for
offered scientists a virtual laboratory as we con- Missouri’s Flying Squirrels
Richard Essner and Jeremy Howard .............................19
tinue to learn more about mammal interactions,
A History of Managed Deer Hunts in Missouri State Parks
Allison Vaughn .........................................................23
habits, and impacts to biodiversity.
NATURAL AREA NEWS
In Natural Area News, learn about recent nat-
Ken McCarty receives National Natural Areas
ural area nominations including Greer Spring, Association Stewardship Award
Allison Vaughn ............................................................31
long-recognized as a premier example of a phre-
Natural Areas designated in 2021
atic spring. Department of Natural Resources Mike Leahy ................................................................33
E.O. Wilson, longtime advocate for nature dies at 92
Natural Areas Chair, Ken McCarty received a
Natural Areas Association ............................................36
prestigious national award for his long tenure Calendar of Events .....................................................36
and history of protecting not only state park
The Missouri Natural Areas Newsletter is an annual journal published by the
Missouri Natural Areas Committee, whose mission is identifying, designating,
lands, but state and regional ecosystems. To
managing and restoring the best remaining examples of natural communities
and geological sites encompassing the full spectrum of Missouri’s natural her-
learn more about Missouri Natural Areas and
itage. The Missouri Natural Areas Commit-
tee consists of the Missouri Department of
to read previous issues of the newsletter, visit the
Natural Resources, the Missouri Depart-
Missouri Department of Conservation website2. ment of Conservation, the U.S. Forest
..................................................................... ··
Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
— Allison J. Vaughn, editor Service, the National Park Service
and the Nature Conservancy.
Ii
Allison J. Vaughn is the Natural Areas Coordinator with the Missouri -..-= FISH &U W.Sil.. DLIFE
Department of Natural Resources. ~i
11m
Contact: [email protected]
MISSOURI ilijJiL ... '~
2 https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/natural-areas DEPARTMENT OF · '
NATURAL RESOURCES
2 Missouri Natural Areas Newsletter • Vol. 21, No. 1, 2021
P
h
o
to
s c
o
u
rte
sy o
f th
e
S
c
h
w
a
rtz a
n
d
M
ille
r Fa
m
ilie
s
Charlie painted the Missouri wildlife mural at the MDC Headquarters in Jefferson City.
Charles W. Schwartz and the Wild Mammals
of Missouri
by Timothy Barksdale
I reached up to the large reference section of Flipping through each page of The Wild Mam-
my bookshelves and pulled one thick book mals of Missouri, first published in 1959, one seems
down. As the book touched the desk, while to find a new gem of an illustration. Every por-
slipping from my grasp, the cover was accidently trait of each animal is as if you could touch
flung open. Suddenly transformed, it produced the fur, feel the bone, hear the crunch of the
a long tailed, buffy white and orange mouse--it foot in the snow or smell the odors. The pose
ran off the page, scurried across the desk, leapt of the animals involved actually does seem to
down, and bounded right out the door! The book come off the page and come to life. The life of
was of course The Wild Mammals of Missouri by the animal, deeply felt in each drawing, is the
Charles W. and Elizabeth R. Schwartz. work of a man whose genius was a product of
Vol. 21, No. 1, 2021 • Missouri Natural Areas Newsletter 3
his intense appreciation, skills of observation, actually also into the author and illustrator. We
education and affinity for all things natural. need to understand the illustrator’s personality
The joyful passion which surrounded Charles W. to more clearly understand what was brought to
Schwartz (1914–1991), known by many as Charlie, life in the Schwartzes’ books.
followed him everywhere, and thus he shared it Born in St. Louis in 1914, Charlie displayed
with those who were ready. an early passion for nature while bringing
As a filmmaker, artist, writer, photogra- home every frog, snake or refugee squirrel; he
pher, scientist, father, husband and observer tamed and hand-fed crows. Charlie deemed no
Charlie is unmatched and needs no compari- creature unworthy of attention. His immediate
sons to elevate his stature. From a very young magnetic attraction to nature flowed naturally,
age, Charlie attracted attention because of his and he inspired others from a very early age.
almost obsessive curiosity, his obvious skill set After entering the U.S. Army and attaining the
and demonstrated ability to affectionately (com- rank of sergeant, Charlie became a disciplined
passionately?) understand animals of every type. leader. The toughness of the training enhanced
In the preface to The Wild Mammals of Missouri, his sense of strictness, which never became over-
the Schwartzes write that the Missouri Conser- bearing. But he was not a pushover either, even
vation Commission had “long recognized the in later years after becoming a grandfather. His
enthusiasm never waned. As conservation writer
need for such a reference.” Unquestionably, this
Joel Vance recalls:
was true, but the rarity of the moment was clear:
here was a gifted pair of scientists, well-versed The best way I can sum it up was what
in mammalogy, and one of them happened to [fellow writer] John Madison said about
be an extraordinary artist. Charlie. John was my favorite outdoor
It is important to point out very early that writer of all time. He was of equal stature
when one writes that Charles W. Schwartz
Libby Schwartz examining specimens of small mammals in
accomplished anything, it is with the significant preparation for writing the text of The Wild Mammals of Missouri.
understanding that his wife Elizabeth Schwartz
(1912–2013) was in a very deep sense a co-creator.
Charlie and Libby were each individually gifted
scientists, but as a team, they were nothing short
of formidable. However, Charlie was the artist.
Every single illustration in The Wild Mammals
of Missouri reveals his depth of knowledge and
substantial amount of experience the artist
spent watching—and even living with—many
of the creatures he portrays. Hours and hours
of observations, the noticing of a tiny detail
or a behavior unique to the animal, perhaps a
method of chewing into an acorn, or a specific
way of constructing a burrow, gives the reader
a glimpse not only into the creature’s life, but
4 Missouri Natural Areas Newsletter • Vol. 21, No. 1, 2021
to Charlie Schwartz. John went to Char- Thinking about the natural world during the
lie’s house one day and Charlie was in early years of Charlie Schwartz’s youth pulls one
the backyard and had just gotten a new back into a time not long after the extinction of
canoe. He was sitting in this canoe with the passenger pigeon in 1914, the near complete
a paddle out in the middle of the yard, destruction of the Ozark pine ecosystems, and
not in water, and he was pretending to the rapid decline of many other wildlife popu-
paddle because he wanted to kind of get lations. It was this period that eventually gave
the feel of the canoe. John looked at him rise to the conservation movement in Missouri,
and he said, ‘Charlie Schwartz, 70-some- well-documented in numerous publications.
thing-years old going on 15.’ And that The destruction of the natural world motivated
summed up Charlie. He was absolutely people like the Schwartzes, and continues to
the most enthusiastic man I’ve ever known motivate many conservationists today. Charlie
and the only true genius. He was an abso- and Libby deeply felt the need to conserve, and
lute genius and Libby, his wife, was his sharing their love of nature was a natural expres-
equal in everything. I think Charlie was sion of that desire for conservation.
the erratic genius and Libby was sort of The text of The Wild Mammals of Missouri is
the balance beam. She was the one that straightforward and balanced, conveying the
kept him from flying off into outer space. solidity of facts. Before its publication in 1959,
Because Charlie was pure enthusiasm and forty-seven mammal species` accounts were pub-
Libby was practical, and common sense, lished in the Missouri Conservationist each month
she would essentially try to tame a wild between July 1953 and September 1957. Libby was
horse. She was the one that broke Charlie clearly the main author and editor of the text,
when he needed to be broken. so one can see how their personalities add a
Libby, grandson Craig Miller, and Charlie canoeing in an Ozark stream.
P
h
o
to
s c
o
u
rte
sy o
f th
e
S
c
h
w
a
rtz a
n
d
M
ille
r Fa
m
ilie
s
Vol. 21, No. 1, 2021 • Missouri Natural Areas Newsletter 5
P
h
o
to
s c
o
u
rte
sy o
f th
e
S
c
h
w
a
rtz a
n
d
M
ille
r Fa
m
ilie
s
Charlie liked to use live animals as models for his illustration. Here he is with a model, a Canada goose, who posed for a painting.
dynamism to the book: the unbridled passion is only the subject and the observer, everything
for wildlife and the steady hand of pragmatism else—hunger, pain, and time itself—all fade into
worked together for this masterpiece. Because it “other” and are not a part of things—until one
is impossible today to know exactly which pas- snaps back out. Suddenly, it is 2 a.m. and one
sage was added to or completed by either one realizes that they are tired. It is time to rest.
member of this team, the theme of this article Even in normal life, each of us glimpse concen-
will be in direct reference to the art and illustra- tration. Being good at what you do transcends
tions, because we know those are all Charlie’s. the normal, transporting the individual into
a space where creative and active are linked
Charlie Schwartz’s Passion:
with the background. You step into the portal
Today, we think we know what passion is, and the surroundings are a new world. It looks
but passion is expressed when time disappears exactly the same, but time and presence are
and nothing is left but focus and deep involve- “other.” Many of Charlie’s moments filled with
ment, when the universe melts away and there this kind of passion and creativity came late
6 Missouri Natural Areas Newsletter • Vol. 21, No. 1, 2021
at night when things calmed down around the draw things volumetrically is not a simple or
house, and even after Libby had gone to bed. common trait. Charlie worked at times with
The focused sessions began late at night and photos often pinned up around the easel, while
the routine of disciplined years would kick in. other times he was surrounded by stacks of pho-
Charlie was not passive, never bored; his deep tos as a sketch filled out into a creature. Most
attention to the natural world led to his endless wildlife artists draw and erase, draw and erase.
fascination and perpetual questions about any It may take several attempts to correctly sketch
and every aspect of wildlife. Reflecting their a two dimensional line. Charlie could do it in
broad interests, the Schwartzes’ house was filled very few strokes, but the biggest difference was
with study skins, photographs, skulls, feathers, in the dimensionality: one stroke could express
artwork and often orphaned creatures. Char-
the proper depth as well as shape and the for-
lie spent hundreds of hours with mammals of
mation of the subject…all in ink.
every kind in order to produce the numerous
Charlie had an exceptional gift of observation
drawings and paintings with a strong artist’s
fueled by his passionate desire to see and do it
sense, yet also accuracy and precision. So the
all. In Idaho, groups of pigeons frequented their
hours spent with deer fawns, raccoons, young
family farm. One winter, a Northern goshawk
rabbits, river otters, grey foxes, flying squirrels
took up residence in the area. Once Charlie
and many others allowed Charlie to develop a
found out about its presence, everyone in the
specific kind of familiarity with his subjects.
family was on alert to let him know immediately
Charlie lingered for entire days in the St. Louis
about the sightings so that he could run out to
Zoo observing and photographing captive
watch the goshawk chase pigeons, even in the
animals. Because of his hands-on experience
brutally cold Idaho winter weather.
with wild animals, he noted the differences
Particularly important to Charlie for his illus-
in behavior between the wild and the captive.
trations was the actual wild animal behavior
The Schwartzes also had access to helicopters,
versus the imagined. A New York-based artist
planes and the ease of travel allowed him a
ensconced in an apartment forty stories above
vision. Charlie took hundreds of still images
asphalt or concrete is simply not going to paint
to study each animal. There is something spe-
every detail accurately. Charlie and Libby added
cial about a drawing or a fine illustration that
to the authenticity factor by developing a series
cannot be replicated in a photograph, which
of notebooks, full of years and years of photos,
he used only as reference material.
sketches, field notes and journal notations. Char-
Charlie completed many of his drawings in
lie’s artistic and accurate excellence was noted
either a few minutes or few hours. Some draw-
by many, including the great land management
ings, which may have been intended as the main
and wilderness advocate Aldo Leopold. Char-
illustration, instead became useful as ancillary
material showing specific actions or behaviors. lie’s illustrations for Leopold’s A Sand County
Years of studying biology, anatomy and dissect- Almanac, a seminal book providing a land ethic
ing dead mice, roadkill or packing out a deer to communicate the true connection between
gave practical experience to depend upon. Vol- people and the natural world, represent the deep
ume, even in something as simple as a cylinder, friendship between Leopold and Schwartz. Leo-
can be turned into a lined and shaded axis of pold’s untimely death in 1948 tragically ended a
muscles right before one’s eyes. Seeing how to relationship which had only just begun.
Vol. 21, No. 1, 2021 • Missouri Natural Areas Newsletter 7
Charlie’s grandson, Craig Miller, reminisces excellent introduction that includes a discussion
about spending time with his grandfather: on the naming and organization of the species
prior to one key to the whole adult and one key
I remember laying on the bank of a
just examining the skulls.
large pond with my grandfather watching
Canada geese flying, swimming and feed- The Wild Mammals of Missouri is a source of
continual wonder, especially due to the thor-
ing. Late at night when I was young, when
oughness of many details such as bat fur colors;
I visited, I was given ice cream and allowed
each species’ burrow systems and pouches of the
to stay up late. Grandpa would go into his
pocket gopher, pocket mouse and chipmunk; the
studio and begin a painting or a pen and
differences in the feet of the two species of fox;
ink. In a few strokes, lines would express
teeth patterns of voles and the wearing of teeth
volumetrically the animal’s proportions.
to age white-tailed deer. All of these nuggets of
I would sit quietly in the background,
science, visualized, foster new naturalists.
watching in fascination as if I were being
Among the most through descriptions in the
initiated into a special world of wonder.
book, that of the white-tailed deer, weighs in at
All of this passion and knowledge shared
an extensive thirteen pages. At the time of publi-
between Charlie and Libby combined for a book,
cation in 1959, the white-tailed deer population in
now with a third edition, that continues to serve
Missouri was recovering, and significantly lower
as a primary text in Missouri schools. Let’s exam-
than even in the late 1970s before the publication
ine the typical species description: first, we see
of the 1981 revised edition. Noted in Missouri’s
the illustration. Looking closer, the sketches
conservation history, the recovery of this species
of the skulls and always crisp illustrations of
was largely hailed as a success, but in the 1981
the mammal’s teeth often include notes about
edition, the Schwartzes gave us a glimpse into
their pattern. Schwartz explains the origin of the
the future if deer became overly abundant on the
species’ name in English and Latin, followed by
landscape, discussing the potential for browse
a full species description including color, mea-
lines and extirpation of native flora. In the 1981
surements, teeth and skull, sex and age criteria
revised edition of The Wild Mammals of Missouri,
and ratio, lifespan, glands, and voice and sounds.
it reads “Populations have reached ‘landowner
Following the basic description is the animal’s
tolerance level’ in most agricultural areas. The
distribution and abundance with preferred
greatest potential for population increases is in
habitat and home, habits, details about repro-
the Ozark Highland.” In the third revised edi-
duction, adverse factors, importance in the eco-
tion, edited by esteemed mammalogists Debby
system (and, where appropriate, also economic
K. Fantz and Victoria L. Jackson, the editors
importance), management or control factors, and
recognize that Missouri’s deer population has
finally ending with important references.
far exceeded any naturally occurring levels and
Overall, the arrangement of The Wild Mammals
pointed to efforts by the Missouri Department
of Missouri follows the scientific order. Because
of Conservation to reduce the herd by “signifi-
opossums are marsupials, bats are insectivores,
cant liberalization of regulations, for example
mice are rodents and so on, the layout of the
increasing season lengths and bag limits,” all
book follows standard taxonomic orders of the
aimed towards reducing deer densities. With
established phylogeny. In the preface, there is an
increased fragmentation of our native habitats
8 Missouri Natural Areas Newsletter • Vol. 21, No. 1, 2021
and increased urbanization, deer populations and white, and later began to sculpt in bronze.
are well above the historic carrying capacity His unique combination of art and science, both
that historic landscapes once heralded. Vehicle quests for knowledge and the means to share it,
mortality and diseases such as Chronic Wasting were driven by an inner fire.
Disease (CWD) and Hemorrhagic Disease can Sixty-two years have passed since the first
cause localized decreases in populations, none publication of the Schwartzes’ book, making it
even more remarkable that The Wild Mammals
of which are desired among the citizens who
of Missouri remains the finest book on state
appreciate wildlife in Missouri. But Charlie never
mammals ever published, with great thanks
saw the deer population increase that we see
to the steady revisions provided in the Third
today. He worked for the Missouri Department
Revised Edition by Fantz and Jackson. Every
of Conservation during a time when deer pop-
Missourian should possess some amount of
ulations in the state were lower, recovering, and
pride that such multi-talented people, Charlie
he finally saw it recover. But he wrote extensively
and Libby Schwartz, developed their expertise
about this charismatic megafauna much to the
and talents here in a state with such incred-
wonder of many who picked up his book, often
ible wildlife diversity, while cultivating and
inspiring students to study mammalogy.
enriching so many other lives that they touched
Some have compared Charlie Schwartz to
through their numerous publications for the
acclaimed wildlife illustrator and birder John
young and old alike.
~
James Audubon, but he and Libby need no com- ..............................................................................................................................................................
parison to reach an elevation of exalted stature. Timothy Barksdale is a wildlife filmmaker, birder, educator and
founder of Birdman Productions.
They richly deserve prominent and permanent Contact: [email protected]
Literature Cited
recognition for their individual accomplish-
Schwartz, Charles W. and Elizabeth R. The Wild Mammals of Missouri.
ments, as well as the successful efforts of their 2nd rev. edition, 1980. University of Missouri Press and Missouri
Department of Conservation.
partnership. Charlie painted hundreds of birds, Schwartz, Charles W. and Elizabeth R. The Wild Mammals of Missouri.
3rd rev. edition, Debby K. Fantz and Victoria L. Jackson, 2016. University
mammals, lizards and even snails in color, black of Missouri Press and Missouri Department of Conservation.
2022 Missouri Natural Resources Conference
February 1–3, 2022 • Osage Beach, MO • www.MNRC.org
Vol. 21, No. 1, 2021 • Missouri Natural Areas Newsletter 9
Illu
Tragus stra
tio
Hairs not extending n b
beyond claws y C
h
a
rle
s W
. S
c
h
w
a
rtz
Calcar
Keel
Right hind foot
Fur of back — when parted,
the hairs show basal two-thirds
brownish black, narrow grayish
band, and cinnamon brown tips
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Shining a Light on the Impacts of White-Nose
Syndrome on Missouri’s Cave Bat Populations
by Shelly Colatskie
M issouri’s team of bat biologists, rep- fungus, which causes health declines and even-
resenting several agencies, non-gov- tual mortality for the bats. Following nearly a
ernmental organizations and volun- decade since the first WNS discovery in Missouri,
teers, often share the same personalities of the the state’s bat experts and others now wonder
creatures they study: reclusive, feisty, and not
what the future is for Missouri’s cave bats.
bothered by the late nights. It takes a unique
Bats are one of the world’s most unique
personality to monitor, study, and facilitate
groups of mammals. With over 1,400 known
conservation efforts for these often-misunder-
species worldwide, bats come in all sorts of sizes
stood mammals. This cohort of biologists have
and harbor a variety of adaptations. Bat ecolog-
been witnesses to one of the nation’s greatest
ical services are well known, especially for pest
biological tragedies in the form of the white-
control, seed dispersal, and pollination. Most of
nose syndrome (WNS) outbreak and decline of
these bat species face threats from pesticide use,
several species of cave bats. WNS is caused by
habitat loss, roost disturbance, disease, alterna-
the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), and
first appeared in New York State in the winter tive energy platforms, and a bad reputation. Of
of 2006. Pd is a cold-loving invasive fungus that those 1,400 species of bats, Missouri is home to
parasitizes on hibernating bats in caves or mines. 16, but they are no less important to our wide
Bats are aroused in mid-winter by the irritating array of natural communities.
10 Missouri Natural Areas Newsletter • Vol. 21, No. 1, 2021