1987 SCHNOES AND HUMPHREY: TERRESTRIAL COMMUNITIES IN FLORIDA 99

 LARGE MAMMALS

 Observations of large mammals and their signs recorded throughout
the study are presented in Table 12. Thirteen species were found, but
no relative abundance values could be attached to the presence/absence
data. The most ubiquitous of the species was the bobcat (Lynx rufus),
which was found in 14 sites-in all 8 treatments. Other species were
nearly as widespread, including raccoons (Procyon lotor, 13 sites), arma-
dillos (Dasypus novemcinctus, 11 sites), and opossums (Didelphis virgi-
niana, 10 sites). River otters (Lutra canadensis) were observed in all age
classes of unreclaimed pits and spoil piles where lakes were present. In
addition, otters were commonly seen in ditches, pools, and active clay
settling ponds in the area. Gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) were
confined to both categories of old unreclaimed pits where oaks were
abundant. No sign of white-tailed deer was noted, however, and their
absence from the mined region was confirmed by mining company em-
ployees.
 The highest mean numbers of species (Table 12) occurred in the 5-15
and 15-30 year classes of unreclaimed pits, with 6.3 and 6.0 species
respectively. The high figures probably resulted from two factors: the
habitats had developed sufficiently to allow many species to use the sites,
and most of the sites had little human disturbance because they were
partially closed to the public. The sites in the >30 year old pits-with-
lakes category were generally more accessible to the public and were
heavily used for fishing, picnicking, and other activities that may have
reduced the mean number of large mammals (3.7) using those sites. Old
sites without lakes had a mean of 5.3 species per site, and these sites
were seldom used by the public.
 Reclaimed sites showed consistently low numbers of species, although
some of the wide-ranging animals such as bobcats, raccoons, and red
foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were found to either use or travel through some of
the sites.
 The most conspicuous large mammal on the grazed treatment was
domestic cattle. Data provided by the landowner, International Minerals
and Chemical Corporation, showed the sites to be stocked at an average
of 0.90 head per ha (0.68 on 6-D, 1.25 on Marina East, and 0.77 on H-
4). With biomass approximated as 205 kg per head, an average of 184 kg
of cattle biomass per ha is indicated. Higher stocking rates may be pos-
sible, but company policy of assuring that grassland cover is maintained
on reclaimed pastures is implemented by lease agreements that prohibit
overglazing.