Andrea Walle
Save Nigel!
Nigel is part of the Aplodontia rufa nigra subspecies, also known as the Point Arena Mountain Beaver. He is a subspecies of the Mountain Beaver Aplodontia rufa. Though the Mountain Beaver is not endangered, the subspecies has made it onto the Endangered Species List. Nigel and his family are in desperate need of your help!
Description and Ecology
The Aplodontia rufa nigra, which happens to be one of the oldest rodents, is only one of the seven subspecies of the mountain beaver. The Aplodontia rufa nigra have differing characteristics in comparison to the Aplodontia rufa. The most obvious differences are shown in the appearances, including the unique black coloration that outline the nose and cranial measurements (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2). They are also small, round, and compact; have tiny eyes, rounded ears, and a distinctive cylindrical stump of a tail (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1)).
Aplodontia rufa nigra also live in a different ecology environment. The majority of the Aplodontia rufa beavers live by ponds, forests and woodlands, lakes, rivers and streams but the subspecies lives in areas like coastal grasslands and forests. They can be seen in narrow valleys which have steep sides and north facing slopes and in areas where the soil is easiest to dig, so they can make tunnels to live in protected burrows (IUCN).
Geographic and Population Changes
The rest of the Aplodontia rufa population live along the Pacific Northwest, seen along the Pacific Coast of North America, from Southern British Columbia to Point Reyes, California, and east of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Ranges (Animal Diversity Web). Unfortunately the Aplodontia rufa nigra are considered a pest throughout this coastal range, and are targeted by humans (IUCN). The Aplodontia rufa nigra population has only been seen in Mendocino County in California. They are only found in this one area and not dispersed, like the mountain beaver, because of the development of livestock grazing. They could have been widely distributed had the destruction of their land for the livestock not reduced the habitat they lived in. This lead to a limitation of the distribution of this subspecies (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1)).
Listing Date and Type of Listing
The Aplodontia rufa nigra became listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as an endangered species on December 12, 1998. They were put on as the highest priority; labelled as the “Species of Special Concern” in California (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2). There was only about 100 members when they were finally listed as part of Endangered Species Act (Vol. 56).
Main threats to its continued existence
The mountain beaver subspecies decline was due to the increase in livestock grazing, highway construction, recreational control, housing developments, feral animals, human intervention, irrigation systems, pesticide/ rodenticide use and agricultural land (IUCN).
Description of Recovery Plan
A recovery plan was set in place so that by 2025, the Aplodontia rufa nigra population can be taken off the endangered list. The plan consists of protecting and monitoring what is left of Aplodontia rufa nigra through acquisitions, easements, and conservation agreements. Putting Aplodontia rufa nigra in protected areas is essential for its conservation, because the major threat of his habitat is destruction. The population would not have to worry about their home being destroyed now that they are protected. Plans are set to implement management guidelines, so the Aplodontia rufa nigra can be protected in private and public lands. For example, the procedure involves putting fences in place to protect Aplodontia rufa nigra from humans and grazing animals who destroy their habitat. The plan also consists of controlling exoctic plants, along with domestic and feral predation. By these means, Aplodontia rufa nigra should be able to sustain themselves and hopefully rebuild their population. They will also be monitored to make sure their family is doing well and will be checked up on once every year for any signs of need in habitat modification, disturbance or other threats (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2).
What can we do to help Nigel and his family?
- Vote for politicians in the local government that will look out for the welfare of the environment
- Try to illegalize the killing of the Aplodontia rufa nigra by writing to the Mendocino County and the government of California
- Stop using pesticides and rodenticides in your household (Endangered Species Project)
Other Resources
Work Cited
Animal Diversity Web. Newell, Toni Lynn. “Aplodontia Rufa (Mountain Beaver).” 2002,
animaldiversity.org/accounts/aplodontia_rufa/.
Encyclopedia of Life. “Mountain Beaver - Aplodontia Rufa -.”
eol.org/pages/327978/details.
Endangered Species Project. Contreras, Jose, and Kyriakos Tsoulfas. "WHAT CAN WE DO?"
Point Arena Mountain Beaver N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2016.
Gale Virtual Reference Library. “Point Arena Mountain Beaver Species Profile.”
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=gvrl&u=calpolyw_csu&id=gale%7ccx3400600053&v=2.1&it=r&sid=exlibris&usergroup=calpolyw_csu&authcount=1.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Aplodontia Rufa .”
www.iucnredlist.org/details/1869/0.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1). “Point Arena Mountain Beaver Species Profile.” Point
Arena Mountain Beaver Species Profile, 11 Feb. 2011,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2). Steel, Dale T., and Laurie Litman. “Point Arena Mountain Beaver Recovery Plan .” Recovery Plan for the Point Arena Mountain Beaver, 2 June 1998,
Vol. 56, no. 239, 4 Dec. 1994, pp. 827–830. Smith, Richard N. “Threatened and Endangered Wildlife and Plants .” Point Arena Beaver (Aplodontia Rufa Nigra),
Andrea Walle
Cute intro with Nigel! It's crazy that their populations got to such small numbers before they were listed
ReplyDelete-Emily Sydow
Very interesting to see species become endangered because people consider them "pests". It brings up the question if humans have the right to kill animals and even potentially eradicate a species just because it does not profit or causes annoyance to them. -Devon Winger
ReplyDeleteIt does seem to be a common theme that these "pest" animals that are in abundance one moment are near extinction the next. I do like that the things we can do to help the population include contacting very local government officials. It makes it seem more practical and attainable to actually help Nigel and his friends.
ReplyDelete-Anita Velazquez
I had no idea there were subspecies of beavers. I can't believe there were only 100 of the mountain beavers remaining when they were listed. It's sad that some animals are labeled "pests" for reasons out of their control. We have to be more aware when building roads and houses in areas that are home to other animals.
ReplyDelete- Lukas Wegmuller
It is unfortunate that the development of land for livestock grazing ended up interfering with the distribution of the beavers. It seems like saving an endangered species would take a higher priority over having a bit more land for livestock grazing.
ReplyDelete- Nicholas Tyra