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Many
ground dwelling species of wildlife (amphibians, reptiles, small
mammals, insects, etc) routinely seek overhead cover during
their resting hours. In many cases they rest in natural hideaways
such as underground burrows, inside rotting logs, or just under
the leaf litter. In these cases they are widely distributed
and difficult to discover and observe. The concept of a Coverboard
Project is that by systematically placing quantities of sizeable
pieces of plywood or similar materials in forested, grassy,
or wetland habitats these "boards" will act as natural
overhead cover objects and attract small and medium sized animals
that will use them as "hiding locations". These animals
can then be easily discovered by an observer simply lifting
the coverboards and looking under them. Thus Coverboard Projects,
under this Catawba River Corridor Coverboard Program, will be
an effective tool for determining information about the occurrence
and abundance of certain animal species in the Catawba Corridor,
and can also serve as a tool in educational programs (grade
school, high school, college) related to the environment, wildlife,
and ecology. These Projects should be of value to scientists,
resource managers, and teachers/students.
It is useful to note that while
coverboards attract wildlife, they do not harm the animals.
None of the animals are trapped. They are free to come and go
as they please, utilizing the coverboards at will. It is simply
a matter that appropriately placed coverboards increase the
chances of scientists or educators finding animals. The animals
can be observed, recorded, and released.
The Catawba River Corridor Coverboard
"Program" (CRCCP) will provide opportunities for
Coverboard "Projects" at select locations within
the Catawba River Corridor. These Projects will require minimal,
but important maintenance. The following paragraphs provide
information about: 1) establishing and maintaining a "Coverboard Project" under the CRCCP, 2) data acquisition from
an approved Coverboard Project, 3) where CRCCP Coverboard
Projects can be established, 4) applying for a CRCCP Project,
and 5) the role of the CRCCP partners. |
