CHAPTER IV: WILDLIFE HABITATS FOR MISSISSIPPI’S SGCN,
THREATS AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS^95LOCATION, SIZE, CONDITION AND CONSERVATION STATUS
EGCP, UEGCP
Tracts of the dry-mesic hardwood forests subtype range in size from 50 to 1,000
acres, a majority of which are located in northern part of the state. The tracts
are found within a complex of pine and hardwood forests. The Tombigbee
National Forest contains some prime examples of this forest type. It is estimated
that there are over a million acres of this forest subtype in the Mississippi.
Many tracts containing this forest subtype have been converted to pine
production areas. Very few forests of this subtype are managed with
prescribed burns. Where fire management is used, there is a significant
reduction in the density of shrubs and small trees and an improvement in herbaceous ground cover.
This subtype is vulnerable in the state due to significant historical losses and recent conversion to other
uses; lack of seasonally appropriate burning has resulted in deterioration of remaining tracts.
SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED ASSOCIATED WITH
DRY-MESIC HARDWOOD FORESTS
GROUP SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME TIER
Birds Thryomanes bewickii Bewick's Wren 1
Dendroica cerulea Cerulean Warbler 2
Hylocichla mustelina Wood Thrush 3
Helmitheros vermivorus Worm-Eating Warbler 3
Oporornis formosus Kentucky Warbler 3
Piranga olivacea Scarlet Tanager 3
Scolopax minor American Woodcock 3
Caprimulgus carolinensis Chuck-Will's-Widow 3
Mammals Ursus americanus luteolus Louisiana Black Bear 1
Myotis grisescens Gray Myotis 2
Myotis septentrionalis Northern Myotis 2
Ursus americanus Black Bear 2
Lasiurus cinereus Hoary Bat 2
Lasiurus intermedius Northern Yellow Bat 2
Myotis lucifugus Little Brown Myotis 2
Myotis sodalis Indiana Or Social Myotis 4
Lasionycteris noctivagans Silver-Haired Bat 4
Reptiles Lampropeltis triangulum syspila Red Milk Snake 2
Eumeces anthracinus pluvialis Southern Coal Skink 2
Micrurus fulvius Eastern Coral Snake 2
Ophisaurus attenuatus Slender Glass Lizard 2
Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster Prairie Kingsnake 2
Range of Dry to Mesic
(dry to moderately moist)
Hardwood Forests