Extirpated Species
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| Order Rodentia |
| ___ Cumberland Island pocket gopher (Geomys cumberlandius) |
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| This was the only mammalian species thought by some to have been endemic to a Georgia barrier island. recently the species was systematically lumped with the mainland form. The island population was reportedly extirpatetd by landowners due to the inconvenience of its mounds.
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| Order Carnivores – Carnivores |
| ___ Black Bear (Ursus americanus) |
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| Several early references support the fact that black bears were on the island, but some were also released in 1914. One of the last literature references to bear sign on the island was in 1936.
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Potentially Occurring Species
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| Order Insectovora |
| ___ Least Shrew (Cryptotis parva) |
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| One specimen was found in an owl pellet on the island.
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| Order Chiroptera |
| |
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| Several additional species of bats are likely to occur on Cumberland Island, but recent surveys have not been made.
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| Order Rodentia |
| ___ Eastern harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys humulis) |
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One skull was found in an owl pellet on the island.
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| ___ House mouse (Mus musculus) |
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Frequently found in association with human dwellings and cultivated fields on adjacent mainland.
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| ___ Oldfield mouse (Peromyscus polionotus) |
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| This species was mentioned as being on Cumberland Island in a 1926 publication, but no specimens have been found to support its occurrence on the island.
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| Order Cetacea |
| ___Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae |
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| One dead, floating specimen was towed to Cumberland Island and collected by a University of Georgia group.
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| Order Carnivora |
| ___ Coyote (Canis latrans) |
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Now found in all Georgia counties and has possibly visited the island.
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| ___ Gray fox (Urocyon cineroargenteus) |
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A gray fox was collected on a nearby marsh island but no records are verified for Cumberland Island.
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| ___ Long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata)) |
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| The closest museum record is from Charlton County, Georgia.
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| Back to main Mammal Checklist.
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