Important Mammal Areas
Preliminary Nomination Form


Would you like to nominate a site as an important mammal area? If so, please read the criteria below and make sure your site fulfills at least one of them. Then feel free to download the form to nominate a site.

Click here to download the IMAP Preliminary Nomination Form.

Site Criteria

The following categories and criteria were developed by the Mammal Technical Committee (MTC) of the PA Biological Survey. We consider these to be working definitions in the sense that no such list can cover all possibilities or describe all considerations that will enter into a final decision about designating a site as an Important Mammal Area. If you are uncertain about whether a site meets a specific requirement, please discuss these issues with Richard Whiteford (IMA Project Director, 717-232-3480, imap@pa.net).  Ultimately the evidence presented in the nomination packet and accompanying documents will be the basis for a decision.

Areas nominated should fulfill at least one of the following:

 
Category 1
The site supports diverse or unique communities of mammals.
1A. There are significant populations of species or subspecies with specific habitat requirements.
1B. The habitat is representative, rare, threatened, or unique.

A diverse mammal community is one that contains a wide array of species of all types and sizes, both game and non-game. While this description could potentially apply to thousands of sites, we are really interested in mammals with specific habitat requirements and places that contain prime examples of such habitats. If the habitat itself is rare, threatened, or unique, this will add greater urgency to ensure that it remains suitable for the mammals that live there. We know, for example, that old-growth forests support mammal communities not found elsewhere. While some of those species may be on our special concern list, that is not a requirement of this category.

 

 
Category 2
The site supports high density populations.
2A. There are significant aggregations of mammals in one or more seasons.
2B. There are important core populations or population segments.

This category is designed to include sites where mammals gather or reach high numbers because the habitat is important in providing some critical element for their survival or reproduction. A prime example would be places where bats hibernate in great numbers or where there are bat maternity colonies. These are not only significant aggregations of bats, but also include In such places, the bats are only there in great numbers at certain times of year but also include important population segments (moms and their young).

 

 
Category 3
Site supports species or subspecies listed as endangered or threatened by the PA Biological Survey.

3A. There is a confirmed viable local population.
3B. The species or subspecies regularly occurs at the site during one or more seasons.

We are using the PA Biological Survey list of species of special concern because it is the most complete list that is based on scientific information. We are interested in sites where we know these species actually maintain viable populations during at least part of the year (confirmed within the past 5 years). While a few records of highly mobile species would provide very weak support for a site to be nominated under this category, a few records of very sedentary species would be more convincing. Examples of sites that would fit this category would include a bat hibernaculum or maternity colony that has Indiana bats or a cave where Allegheny woodrats are regularly found.

 

 
Category 4
The site supports species or subspecies that are declining or vulnerable nationally or listed as candidate species by the PA Biological Survey.

4A. There is a confirmed viable local population.
4B. The species or subspecies regularly occurs at the site during one or more seasons.

Candidate species are those that have not declined sufficiently to be listed as endangered or threatened, but that are nevertheless at risk or rare. Otherwise, the comments under Category 3 also apply to Category 4.

 

 
Category 5
The site is important for public education.

5A. There are wild populations of mammals that can be viewed in their natural habitat.
5B. The site is a natural area associated with an established educational program that interprets the natural history of resident mammals.

We recognize that ultimately conservation of mammals and other native species depends upon our concern for their welfare. Education is a vital part of informed decision making. Therefore, it is important to recognize and include places that play a role in public education. Being able to see mammals in their natural habitat is not a common occurrence and we would like to find, recognize, and/or develop such places. An example would be a site where beavers could be viewed going about their activities. We also include in this category natural areas that have ongoing educational programs about mammals that are offered to the general public, including such events as searching for mammal tracks or bat-netting.

about IMAP / learn about PA mammals / nominate a site / spread the word / featured site / view IMAs / main page