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Mammals
of
Lithuania:
status
and
protection
by
L.
Balciauskas,
A.
Ulevicius,
R.
Juskaitis
Lithuanian
mammal
fauna
contains
mostly
broad-leaved
forest
species
(some
bats,
yellow-
necked
mouse,
dormice, martens,
red
deer
etc.), but there
are aiso
species typical for
East
European
taiga
(moose
and mountain
hare)
and steppe.
Mammal
fauna
is not indigenous,
and
there
are no
endemic
species.
It
the
course
of last 5-6
hundred years
Lithuanian
fauna
lost
some forest-dwelling
species:
aurochs
(Bos
primigenlus)
was
eliminated
by
man
and landscape
changes
uitit
tOtfr
century,
Russian
flying
squirrel
(Pteromys
volans)
and wolverine (Guto guto)
-
untit tgtn
century,
Oison
.
(8lson
bonasus)
and red
deer
(Oervus
elaphus\
were
exterminated
between
i6th
and 18th
-
century,
brown
bear
(Ursus
arctos)
and
wild horse
(Eguus
gmelini
sytvaticus)
-
until 19th
century.
From
the
literature
sources
of
19th
century
only
there
are
dita
on
white-toothed
shrew
\9p"!!rl"
suaveo/ens),
lesser
horse-shoes
bat
(Rhinolophus
hipposideros),
Bechsteins
bat
(Myotis
bechsteini),
greater
mouse-eared
bat
(Myotis
myotis)
and wildcat
(Felrs
s/vesfns).
Possibly,
some
more'
species
may
occur
in Lithuania
regarding
of fhe fauna
of
adjacent
countries.
These
are Eurasian
hedgehog (Einaceus
europaeusl,
Mediterranean
or Miller's
water
shrew
(Neomys
anomalusl,
Laxmann's
shrew
(Sorex
caecutien's),
grey
long-eared
bat
(p/ecolus
ausfnacus)
and
pine
vole
(Pr?ymis
subtananeus).
List
of
the
present
Lithuanian
mammal
species
and
data
on their
status
are
presentecl
in
the
Table
1.
Russian
desman (Desmana
moschata),
squirrel-teleutka (Sciurus
vulgais
exalbrdus),
rabbit
(arydolagus
cuniculus),
silver variety
of red
fox
(Vulpis
vulpes)
ind Siberian
roe
deer
(Qaprcolus
clpryolus
pygargus)
are not included
in
the li;t:
they'were
introduced
in
the
period
after
Second
World
war,
but failed
to
survive. Three
introduced
ungulate
species,
namely
fallow
deer
(Ceruus
dama),
Sika
deer
(Cervus
nippon)
and mouflon
(Ois
ammon musimon)
are
not
abundant
and
spreaded
only locally.
Two
other
species
were
iniroduced
successfully.
American
mink
(Musfela
vison)
speeded
up
extinction
of aborigenous
European
mink
(Musfela
tu,ireotay
and now
is
common
widespreaded
species
with
htgh
density.
Muskrat
@ndatra
zibelhicai
established
in
the whole
suitable
environment
range,
but
population
is
periodically
crashed.
B93u9r. (Castor
fiber)
and
red
deer
(Ceruus
elaphus)-are
mosi
successfully
reintroducbo
spe"'es
'vith
high
abundance,.
while
bison is
spreaded
only locally.
Racoon
dog
(Nycfereules
-rocyonoides)
naturally
invaded
from
Byelorussia
and
Latvia
about fifties.
Lithuanian
species
under
threat were
mentioned
for
the firsl
time in
1959,
in
the Nature
Protection
Law.
In 1962-1964
a
list
of
rare
and threatened
animals
and
plants
was
compiled.
In
1981
,the
first
Lithuanian
Red
data
book was
issued.
The last
1992
Red
data
book
edition
contains
18
mammal
species
(see
Table
1 with
IUCN
threatened
species
categories) (Red
data,..,
1992).
...:
:
. .
i.
Out
of 14
Lithuanian
bat
species
9 are included
into
Lithuanian
Red
data book
(see
Table
1)
as
indeterminate
species
(having
in
mind insufficient
knowledge
and rarity)
The
main
bat
winreiing
place
in
Lithuania
are
forts
of Kaunas
with
800
-
1100
b;ts wintering
every
year.
Eleven
baj
preserves
are
established
in
this
area
(papza.
pauziene,
in
press).
SAUGETIERSCHUTZ
I
Zeitschrift
fiir
Theriophytaxe (Deiligsen)
|
Nr.27l1997
|
s.
4
-
I
-4-
Out
of the
3
dormice
species
from
Lilhuanian
Red
dala book,
the
only location
of
garden
dormouse (Eliomys
quercinus)
was
known
in 1957-1959
with
no
later
Lvidence
Tod"ay
we
know
single
locality
of foresl
dormouse (Dryomys
nileduta)
and
six localities
of
fat
dormouse
(Myoxus
g/ls)
(Juskaitis,
1994)
Five
of the fat
dormice
locatities
are
situated in
protected
territories,
and
two
of
them
are
established
in
Kaisiadorys
district for
the
protection
of this
specres.
Birch
mouse
(Slcista
betulina)
is
referred
as
indeterminale
species,
but
in
the last
years,
widening
research
on
the
small mammals,
new localities
of this'species
were
revealed.
ioOay
species is
known
from
about
20
localities,
among
them from
Cepklliai
and Viesvile
strict
nature
preserves
and
some
protected
areas.
Mountain-hare (Lepus
timidus)
in
Lithuania
is
species
on the
southern
edge
of distribution
area.
From
1989
hunting
on
mountain
hare
is forbidden.
Species
lives
in
xairanos,
Cepkeliai
I
Viesvile
s-lrict nature preserves
and
some
other
protected
areas. nccoroint-io-.tli"
.r,,-f
data,
in 1996
there
were
about
4800
mountain
hares
in
Lithuania.
In
the
period
of
about
20
years
there
is no
evidence
about
European
mink
presence.
Last
data
published
was
from
Merkys
river
basin
(197S-1979,
but
skull
oi the
specimen
absent)
(Fauna
'
1.999t
Check
up
in
1989-1990
was
without
positive
results.
ileintroduction
is'hardly
possible:
niche is
fully
occupied
by introduced
American
mink.
Status
of the
otter
(Lutra
tutra,
in
Lithuanian
Red
data
book
was
determined
from
very
limited
data set..According
to the last
knowledge,
otter is
common
and
widespread
species,
oicupying
almogJ-aJ!
range
of water
bodies
and Jtreams
(Ulevicius,
Balciauskas,
1996;
Baranauskas
et
al.' 1994).
Hultig
is
prohibited
since 1975.
Lithuanian
otter
population
may
be
used for
species
re-eslablishment
in
other
west-European
countries.
Grey
seaf
(Halichoerus
grypus,
in
Lithuania
is
protected
as endangered
species.
In
.1960
-1990
this
species
was
observed
more
than 40
times
in
Lithuanian
coait
zone.
Since 1975
hunting
prohibited
in
Lithuanian
territorial
waters.
Since 1987
breeding
and
setting free
program
ii
carried
in Klaipeda
Marine
museum-aquarium.
Bison
in
Lithuania
from
1991
is
referred
as restored
species.
About
10
bisons
are kept
fenced
in
the
.S.tate
breeding
station
(central
Lithuania),
ani
free
herd
contains
20
more
animals.
Possibilities
for
establishing
second
free-living'herd
in
southern
Lithuania
are
considered.
Surplus
of
bisons
are hunted
with
special
permiisions
from
Environmentaipiotection
ministry.
In the
Lithuanian
legal
frame
there
are no
laws
and regulations
direcfly
protecting
mamm2ro,
l{ifgtty,
the following
Lithuanian
raws
concerns
mammals:
Law
on enuir-1n"ni
iroi""
)
(1992)'
Law
on Protected.Areas (1993),
Law
on Land
(1994)
and Law
on Forests
(1994)
and
Special
Terms
and Conditions
for
Utilization
of Land
and forest
(1993).
-
Presented
to
the Parliament
are: Law
on Preservation
and
Utilization
of Animals
and Law
on
Protected
Animal,
Plant
and Fungi
Species
and Communities.
The
existing
iystem
of
protected
areas
(strict
nature
reserves,
national
parks,
nature
conservation
reservei
ahd regiorial
parks;
covers
11.27o
of Lithuanian
tenitory,
thereby
protecting
valuable
mammal
habitais.
From
thd
set of international
conventions
acceded
or ratified
by
Lithuanian
Parliament,
most important
for
mammal
and
their
habitat
protection
are:
Ramsar
(1971);
Rio
de Janeiro
(1992j;
Bern
(1979).
CITES
convention
is
not
acceded,
but regulations
o'bserved
in Lithuania.
Fines
for
illegal
mammal
hunting/poaching
(as
well
as for
spdcies,
not included
into
Red
data
book)
are
set by
Government
decree.
Also,
requirements
ior
mammal
and
their habitat
protection
are
lixed in
the National
Environmental
Strategy
and
Strategy
for Biodiversily
Frofdction (bolh
in
progress).
Table 1.
Status
of Lithuanian mammals
Species
IUCN
Abundance
Population
Distribution
Direct
cgleoories icndenev hr rman hracc
Erinaceus
concolor
Talpa
europaea
Sorex araneus
Sorcx
minutus
Neomvs
ficdiens
c
c
c
c
.>
st.
st.
st.
st.
sl?
VC
VC
VC
c
NC
Myotis
dasycneme
Myotis
daubentoni
lfotis
bnndti
Myotis
mystacinus
Myotis nattercri
Plecotus
auitus
Ba rb
a stel
I
a
b a
rb
a st e I I
u s
Nyctalus
noctula
Nyctalus
leisleri
Pipistrellus
nathusii
Pipistrcllus
pipistrellu
s
Epleslcus
serofinus
Epfeslcus
nilssoni
Vesoertilio
murinus
4(r)
R
-c
4
(r)
c
(w)
-sl
-
c(w)
_NC
4
(r)
c
(w)
4
(r)
NC
4
(r)
sl
-c
4(r)
R
4
(r)
NC
4(r)
R
40)
R
L
c
L
?
L
c
L
c
o?
c
L
L
?
I
?
?
?
7
dec.?
?
?
?
?
?
?
Scrurus vulgans
Castor fiber
Mu
scardinus
avellanaiu
s
Eliomys
quercinus
Dryomys
nitedula
Myoxus
(Glis)
glis
Sicista betulina
Mus
musculus
Apodemus
agnius
Apodemus
flavicollis
\podemus
sylvaticus
liaomys
minutus
Rattus norvegicus
Raftus ratfus
Cleth ionomys glareolus
Aruicola
ferrestns
Microtus
arualis
Microtus
oeconomus
Microtus
agreslrs
Microtus
levis???
Ondatra
zibethica
-
NC
dec.
L
h
Lepus
europaeus
-
C
Leous
trmldus
3
(R)
NC
c
c
c
?
L
L
L
c
c
c
L
c
c
L
c
L
c
L
?
sl.
Inc.
st.
?
?
?
2
st.
?
st.
?
4
(t)
3
(R)
3
(R)
4
(l)
c
VC
NC
st
SI
R
R
VC
c
c
R
NC
VC
R
VC
NC
VC
R
c
sl
st.
inc.
dec.?
st.
dec.?
st.
inc.?
C
st.?
C
Species
IUCN
Abundance
Population
Distribution
Direct
Canis
lupus
Vulpes
vulpes
N
y
cte
rc u te
s
p
rocy
on
oid e
s
Ursus
arcfos
Maftes
maftes
Mades
foina
Mustela
erminea
Mustela
nivalis
Mustela
lutreola
Mustela
vison
Meles
meles
Lutra
lutra
Phoca
hispida
Phoca
vitulina
Literature
cited:
Baranauskas
K.,
Mickevicius
E.,
Macdonald
S. M.
and
Mason
C. F
in
Lithuania.
Oryx.
28
(2):
128_130.
Fauna
of
Lithuania.
Mammals.
(1988).
Vilnius.
295
pp.
(ln
Lithuanian
with
Engtish
summary).
Juskaitis
R
(1994)
Distribution,
abundance
and
conservation
status
of dormice
(Myoxidae)
in
Lithuania.
Hystrix,
(n.s.),
6(1-2):
181_184,
Pauza
D.H.,
Pauziene
N.
Bats
of Lithuania:
Distribution,
Status
and
protection.
Ekologrja (in
press).
Red
Dala
Book
of Lithuania. (1992).
Virnius.
364
pp.
(rn
Lithuanian
with
Engrish
summary).
Ulevicius
A.,
Balciauskas
L.
(1996).
otter
population
density
in
Lithuania.
seminar
on the
conservation
of
the European
otter
(Lufra
/urra),
Leeuwarden.
p.
g4-86.
L.
Balciauskas
A.
Ulevicius
R.
Juskaitis
Institute
of Ecology
Akademijos
2
2600
Vilnius
Lilhuania
(1
994).
Otter
distribution
h,d
h,d
h
h
i
h
c
c
c
o
c
L?
c
c
c
NC
inc.
VC
st.
C
st.
SI
C
sl.
NC
st.?
NC?
C
st.
C
inc.?
h,d
h,d
h
h
h
h
h
SI
sl
c
c
R
R
c
NC
R
R
dec.?
inc.
st.
st.
dec.?
dec.
st.
st.
Sus
scrofa
Cervus
elaphus
Ceruus
dama
Ceruus
nippon
Capreolus
capreolus
A/ces
a/ces
Eison
Donasus
Ovis
ammon
musimon
Categories
of
endangering
Abundance:
Population
tendency:
Distribution:
Direct
human
press:
0
(Ex)
-
extinct
I
(E)
-
endangered
3
(R)
-
rare
4
(t)
-
indeterminate
5
(Rs)
-
restored
VC
-verycommon
C
-common
C(W)
-
common
on wintering
NC
-
not
common
R
-
rare
Sl
-
single
instances
Inc.
-
increasing
dec.
-
decreasing
C
-
continuous
O
-
occasionaly
observed
h
-
hunting;
d
-
prosecuting
for
the damage
c
c
L
L
c
c
L
L
st.
-
stable
?
-
not known
L
-
local