Mario Lawrence from Coastal Carolina University studied native small mammal populations in reference to habitat quality and management practices on Spring Island in 2007. The cotton mouse was the most abundant small mammal and found in a diversity of habitats. The cotton rat and marsh rice rat had higher habitat specificity and preferred managed fields and pine forests. The rodents travelled greater distances in undisturbed fields vs. those that were disked, suggesting a preference for flatter or more even topography.

Studies such as this contribute to the Spring Island Trust’s understanding of how management practices affect species which are not traditionally assessed by land managers. Small mammals represent an important link in the food chain for raptors and reptiles, which contributes to greater biodiversity on a small scale.