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Home , Virginia opossum

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At least 59 species of babies, and depositing mostly plants. They ob- tail turns food with mammals live in Iowa. waste. If you see a hole on tain moisture from rain its nose to find the clean- Perhaps you will see some the trail that is about two and dew, rather than est part to begin its meal. of these small ones along inches in diameter, and drinking. They are one Cottontails rarely feed on the trail today. has little to no dirt around of few true hibernating windy days, because wind it, you’re probably look- mammals. interferes with their hear- ing at a chipmunk hole. ing, their primary defense They spend late fall to mechanism. early spring in semi- hibernation. With its naked ears, long scaly Red foxes eat carrion, Michael Schwenker by Photo tail, and silver- fruit, vegetables, game, may enter burrows to es- tipped fur, opos- and poultry… but mostly cape bad weather. Their sums appear eat mostly in- mice, which they can hear burrows are often dug on rat-like; but they sects, snails, , ber- squeaking at 300 feet. hillsides or ravines, steep are related to kan- ries, over-ripe fruit, grass- They are often together banks of water bodies, garoos, being the es, leaves, and carrion. in pairs or small fam- ditches, and neglected only ily groups. Outside the human environments. Photo by Therese Cummiskey Therese by Photo (pouched female) COTTONTAIL RABBIT breeding season, most in the U.S. The fe- here don’t dig red foxes favor living in Fairfield loop trail EASTERN CHIPMUNK male nurses her holes. They make “forms” the open, in densely veg- 1 Eastern chipmunks are young in her marsupium — shallow depres- etated areas, though they small, ground-dwelling The groundhog, or up to 3 months, then car- sions, usually under a 34 squirrels. Their cheek woodchuck, is the largest ries them on her back 1 to dense thicket — and Burlington Avenue pouches extend down ground squirrel in Iowa. It 2 months. line them with fur 1 their necks and hold as measures up to 26 inch- The opossum is the only and soft grass. much as two tablespoon- es long and 15 pounds. American with Cottontails eat a va- 34 fuls of nuts, seeds, insects, are diggers, four fingers and an op- riety of plants includ- berries, fruit, buds, fungi, with powerful limbs and posable on its hind ing herbs, tree bark, YOU ARE small frogs, worms, and thick claws. Burrows can feet. This thumb helps and vegetables. The HERE bird eggs. be 50 feet long and five grasp limbs but not small cottontail eats on all Their tunnel systems feet deep. Other small things such as seeds. The fours, and uses only reach 30 feet in length, mammals use woodchuck opossum’s scaled tail grips its nose to move and with several chambers burrows for dens and like a monkey’s tail for adjust the position of for storing food, raising refuge. Woodchucks eat climbing and carrying. its food. The cotton-

Trail Facts are funded by grants from The Rotary Foundation and the Rotary Club of Fairfield.