Date on Honors Thesis

Spring 5-2026

Major

Wildlife & Consv Bio/Zoo

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Andrea Darracq, Advisor

Examining Committee Member

Mr. John Hewlett, Committee Member

Examining Committee Member

Dr. Kate He, Committee Member

Abstract/Description

Monitoring wildlife is an important part of conservation and is particularly vital for newly acquired conservation areas to provide a baseline of what is present. In 2025, the 22 ha Murray State University Easley Conservation Stewardship Area (MSU ECSA) was established following a donation to the university by Melissa Easley. I conducted a survey using trail cameras at the ECSA in fall 2025 and winter 2025/26 to record mammalian diversity. The survey consisted of two subprojects: a mesomammal subproject of 18 knee height trail cams and a small mammal subproject using 15 custom small mammal bucket cameras. I uploaded all detections and images to Wildlife Insights and calculated the relative abundance index (RAI), naïve occupancy, chao1 richness estimation, and diel activity patterns. The chao1 estimated a richness of 20, while the observed richness was 18. This indicates adequate trap effort. The most common species were white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginiana) and northern raccoon (Procyon lotor). We detected several rarer species including bobcats (Lynx rufus), North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), and an American mink or weasel (Neogale sp.). The diel activity patterns we observed were generally similar to prior studies. Our study provides a framework for future monitoring and research at the ECSA and other MSU conservation areas.

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