Habitat characteristics of small mammals in southeastern Utah

We describe habitat characteristics of 8 small mammal species occurring in the Manti-LaSal National Forest in southeastern Utah. Thirty-seven grids ac ross 7 vegetation types were sampled by live-trapping from May though Octob er 1994 and 1995. Logistic regression models of habitat measurements correc tly classified small mammal presence 36%-87% of the time. Except for 1 inst ance, 4 Peromyscus species present in a specific vegetation type were negat ively associated with forb or grass cover Microtus montanus was present pri marily on mesas and was positively associated with tall tree and low shrub cover Neotoma mexicana was present only in canyons and was found primarily in the pinyon-juniper (Pinus edulis-Juniperus osteosperma) vegetation type. Tamias spp. was present in all vegetation types. Our results allow better management of these species by providing greater understanding of their use of habitat within vegetation types.