The Effects Of Channelization On Furbearers And Furbearer Habitat

Biological data were collected over a 3 year period (1974-1977) from an old channelized segment (55 years), an unchannelized segment and a newly channelized segment (4 years) of the Luxapalila River in Mississippi and Alabama. This study revealed that furbeal'er habitat in the channelized segments has not recovered to the level exhibited in the unchannelized segment. Indices of furbearer abundance were obtained by night lighting and sign counting. Beaver (Castor canadensis), mink (Mustela vison), muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), and raccoon (Procyon lotor) were more numerous in the unchannelized segment than in either the old or newly channelized segments.