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Black bears are sometimes seen in the park but they are very rare considering the park is named for them. The lakes and streams have beaver, otter and mink. Many of the small mammals in the park are inconspicuous such as meadow voles, deer mice, weasels, moles, and shrews but eastern chipmunks are numerous and are not inconspicuous. They frequent the campgrounds, especially on South Manitou Island and can be a nuisance for campers. Fox squirrels and gray squirrels are common including the black phase of the gray squirrel. One of our treasured mammals is the northern flying squirrel. This seldom seen resident of our hardwood forests may serve as an indicator of the health of our beech/maple forests. Other mammals noticed mostly from their sign are the meadow voles. As the winter’s snows melt away, you can see where the meadow voles have been active under the snow by their exposed runways and remains of their stores of linear haymows. Long lines of protruded soil tell the presence of the eastern mole. Bats and shrews are busy little insectivores. They are not often seen because of, in the case of bats, the hours we keep (dawn to dusk) while bats are out from dusk to dawn. Among the bats found in the park are the big brown bat, hoary bat, red bat, and silver-haired bat. We don't often see shrews because they live in wet areas or the litter of the forest floor. Some mammals, such as coyotes and opossums, are fairly recent arrivals to the park area. The white-tailed deer was not present in significant numbers until the forests were cleared. Raccoons are common since human habits provide conditions favoring opportunities for food and habitat for them. Bobcats are elusive and live in some of the more wild parts of the park and neighboring swamps. Cougars have been reported to be seen in the park.
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