Small Mammal Monitoring at Cape Cod National Seashore

Small mammals are an important component of the park's fauna. In addition to their direct contribution to species richness, they play a major role in trophic dynamics, consuming plant material and invertebrates, and in turn serving as prey items for a number of species of snakes, raptorial birds, and small to mid-sized carnivorous mammals.

Through these relationships, small mammals may directly influence population levels of insect pests and disease vectors such as gypsy moths and deer ticks, as well as certain regionally rare hawks and owls. In addition, through secondary effects, small mammals have the potential to influence species up and down the food chain. At Cape Cod National Seashore, small mammals are monitored to determine their abundance, distribution, and habitat relationships.