Dr

August 27, 2016

Dr. Nancy Moncrief, curator of mammalogy, presented a mammal trapping program at the statewide Virginia Master Naturalist conference today at Smith Mountain Lake. Most native mammals in Virginia are small, secretive, difficult to identify, and active only at night. The only effective method for studying many species is trapping.

During the program, participants explored various methods of capturing mammals, as well as set their own traps. Participants observed and photographed the animals that were captured, and then released them where they were caught. Additionally, Dr. Moncrief reviewed with participants various other methods for studying mammals that do not require capture and handling.