Rare New Species Discovered at Burns Bog: News Release
A new and probably very rare shrew has been identified living in Burns Bog. See attached copy of the recent edition of Mammalian Biology, published in Elsevier, Switzerland, 2007 that reports the discovery.
The light brown 98 mm long Sorex rohweri was orginally identifies as Sorex cinereus or the Masked Shrew. In June 2006, a team of University of Washington researchers confirmed that rohweri is a separate species. The Sorex rohweri has been found in only 13 locations in Northwest Washington. Burns Bog is the only known Canadian habitat for the shrew.
This is another addition to the already growing list of rare and endangered species found in Burns Bog so that its discovery is not a complete surprise.
The discovery comes at a very important time, as the Provincial government is considering putting the South Fraser Perimeter Road through bogland surrounding the 5000 acres that was purchased for protection in 2004.
The South Fraser Perimeter Road is part of an overall transportation plan that includes expansion of the Port of Vancouver at Robert's Bank and the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge. See the red line on the map below.
Eliza Olson, President
Sorex rohweri was previously thought to be a Masked Shrew
© Copyright The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals,
edited by Don E. Wilson & Sue Ruff, 1999. All rights reserved.
Sorex cinereus -- Masked Shrew.
Map credit: Western Canada Wilderness Committee 2007.
