In this first-ever landmark study of New Mexico's wild carnivores, Jean-Luc E. Cartron and Jennifer K. Frey have assembled a team of leading southwestern biologists to explore the animals and the major issues that shape their continued presence in the state and region. The book includes discussions on habitat, evolving or altered ecosystems, and new discoveries about animal behaviour and range, and it also provides details on the distribution, habitat associations, life history, population status, management, and conservation needs of individual carnivore species in New Mexico.
Like Cartron's award-winning Raptors of New Mexico, Wild Carnivores of New Mexico shares the same emphasis on scientific rigour and thoroughness, high readability, and visual appeal. Each chapter is illustrated with numerous colour photographs to help readers visualize unique morphological or life-history traits, habitat, research techniques, and management and conservation issues.
Foreword / Don E. Wilson
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Abbreviations
Carnivore Morphology
Maps
PART I: Introductory Chapters
Chapter One. Carnivores in the Ice Age of New Mexico / Arthur H. Harris
Chapter Two. Vegetation, Fire Ecology, and Climate of New Mexico’s Ecosystems / F. Jack Triepke and Timothy K. Lowrey
Chapter Three. Predator Damage Management in New Mexico / J. Alan May and Stewart Breck
Chapter Four. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and Carnivore Management / Elise Goldstein
Chapter Five. Future Climate-driven Impacts and the Conservation of Carnivores in New Mexico / Jean-Luc E. Cartron, F. Jack Triepke, David S. Gutzler, Kassidy M. Steckbeck, and Kenneth C. Calhoun
PART II: Species Accounts
Chapter Six. Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) / Jacob S. Ivan
Chapter Seven. Bobcat (Lynx rufus) / Robert L. Harrison and Jean-Luc E. Cartron
Chapter Eight. Jaguar (Panthera onca) / James N. Stuart and Charles L. Hayes IV
Chapter Nine. Cougar (Puma concolor) / Kenneth A. Logan and Linda L. Sweanor
Chapter Ten. Coyote (Canis latrans) / Jean-Luc E. Cartron and Eric M. Gese
Chapter Eleven. Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) / John K. Oakleaf, Phillip S. Gipson, Colby M. Gardner, Stewart Breck, and Tracy Melbihess
Chapter Twelve. Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) / Matthew J. Gould, Jean-Luc E. Cartron, and Gary W. Roemer
Chapter Thirteen. Kit Fox (Vulpes macrotis) / Jonathan L. Dunnum and Joseph A. Cook
Chapter Fourteen. Swift Fox (Vulpes velox) / Robert L. Harrison, Jean-Luc E. Cartron, and Jonathan L. Dunnum
Chapter Fifteen. North American Red Fox (Vulpes fulva) / Jennifer K. Frey, Matthew E. Gompper, and Jean-Luc E. Cartron
Chapter Sixteen. Black Bear (Ursus americanus) / Cecily M. Costello
Chapter Seventeen. Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) / David E. Brown, Matthew J. Gould, and Jean-Luc E. Cartron
Chapter Eighteen. Wolverine (Gulo gulo) / Jennifer K. Frey
Chapter Nineteen. Northern River Otter (Lontra canadensis) / Melissa Savage and James N. Stuart
Chapter Twenty. Pacific Marten (Martes caurina) / James N. Stuart and Brian J. Long
Chapter Twenty-One. American Ermine (Mustela richardsonii) / Jennifer K. Frey
Chapter Twenty-Two. Black-footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes) / Dustin H. Long and James N. Stuart
Chapter Twenty-Three. Long-tailed Weasel (Neogale frenata) / Jennifer K. Frey
Chapter Twenty-Four. American Mink (Neogale vison) / Jennifer K. Frey
Chapter Twenty-Five. American Badger (Taxidea taxus) / Robert L. Harrison and Jean-Luc E. Cartron
Chapter Twenty-Six. White-backed Hog-nosed Skunk (Conepatus leuconotus) / Jerry W. Dragoo and Christine C. Hass
Chapter Twenty-Seven. Hooded Skunk (Mephitis macroura) / Christine C. Hass and Jerry W. Dragoo
Chapter Twenty-Eight. Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) / Christine C. Hass and Jerry W. Dragoo
Chapter Twenty-Nine. Western Spotted Skunk (Spilogale gracilis) and Rio Grande Spotted Skunk (S. leucoparia) / Jerry W. Dragoo and Christine C. Hass
Chapter Thirty. Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) / Robert C. Lonsinger and Gary W. Roemer
Chapter Thirty-One. White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica) / Jennifer K. Frey and Christine C. Hass
Chapter Thirty-Two. Raccoon (Procyon lotor) / Jean-Luc E. Cartron
Chapter Thirty-Three. Free-ranging and Feral Domestic Dog (Canis familiaris) and Domestic Cat (Felis catus) / David L. Bergman and Scott C. Bender
Appendices
Glossary
Combined Publication Record of Contributing Authors on Topics or Species Presented in Their Respective Chapters
Jean-Luc E. Cartron is a research professor of biology at the University of New Mexico. He is the author of Raptors of New Mexico as well as a coauthor of A Field Guide to the Plants and Animals of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque (both from UNM Press).
Jennifer K. Frey is a professor in the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Ecology at New Mexico State University. She is a leading expert on the mammals of the southwestern United States and the author of numerous scientific articles on the carnivores and other species of mammals in the region.