Mammals from Southeastern Alaska

The volume presents a detailed survey of the mammals inhabiting the rugged coastal region of southeastern Alaska. Drawing on a substantial collection gathered during the summer of 1951, the authors combine fresh field observations with comparative material from national museum holdings. Their careful notes trace where each specimen was captured—from the mist‑shrouded slopes near Anchorage to the remote timbered outpost of Sullivan Island—offering listeners a vivid sense of place.

The study reveals subtle patterns of variation among several species. For example, the dusky shrew shows a gradual change in skull size along the coast, while the water shrew’s range is pushed farther northwest than previously recorded. Additional chapters discuss the distinctive coloration of little brown bats, the nuanced differences between red squirrel subspecies, and the intergrading traits of the local deer mouse. Together, these findings paint a nuanced portrait of Alaska’s mammalian fauna, inviting listeners to explore the hidden details of a largely untouched ecosystem.