Live-trapping of rodents in urban green spaces across Los Angeles

Abstract

Urban green spaces have the potential to function as multi-benefit spaces, for both human enjoyment and sustaining native wildlife populations. In our study, we trapped for small nocturnal mammals across a series of Los Angeles green spaces. Our results show that native rodents are only present in habitats that support native vegetation; in particular we highlight the native rodent biodiversity on Sage Hill, a coastal sage scrub remnant on the UCLA campus. Other urban parks that are composed of non-native grasses and non-native shrubbery yielded only invasive species of rodents, including Brown Rats (Rattus norvegicus) and House Mice (Mus musculus). Our study points to the ability of renovated green space in Los Angeles to support native fauna. In addition, our study demonstrates some of the difficulties in doing trapping studies in heavily urbanized environments.