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Mammals of Ohio Field Guide DIVISION of WILDLIFE This Booklet Is Produced by the ODNR Division of Wildlife As a Free Publication

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Mammals of Ohio Field Guide DIVISION of WILDLIFE This Booklet Is Produced by the ODNR Division of Wildlife As a Free Publication Mammals of Ohio field guide DIVISION OF WILDLIFE This booklet is produced by the ODNR Division of Wildlife as a free publication. This booklet is not for resale. Any un- INTRODUCTION authorized reproduction is prohibited. All images within this booklet are copyrighted by the Division of Wildlife and it’s contributing artists and photographers. For additional information, please call 1-800-WILDLIFE. Text and contributions by: Heather Bokman, Jamey Emmert, Jen Dennison, Jim McCormac, Jennifer Norris, Kate Parsons, and Abby Rhodedeck HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE Scientific Name Common Name Status Wild mammals stir high interest among human observers. A white-tailed deer, black bear, or river otter is sure to draw Diet the eyes of all who see it. Even mice, Secondary shrews, weasels and other small furbear- Photo ers rarely fail to garner a reaction. This may be because we share a close kinship Activity with mammals. After all, everyone read- ing this IS a mammal – Homo sapiens, to be specific. Our evolutionary roots Family Name are much more closely intertwined with other mammals than birds, reptiles, fish Range: Page or other types of frequently encoun- Hot Spot Map Number tered fauna. Tracks MAMMALS OF OHIO TABLE OF CONTENTS 02 Introduction 08 Species Accounts 69 Mammals and People 76 Mammal Scat 04 Mammals of Ohio 64 Extirpated Mammals 70 Mammal Ecology 78 Glossary 05 About This Book 66 Occasional Occurrence 72 Mammal Ups and Downs 79 Publication Funding 06 Mammal Classification 68 Extinct Mammals 74 Mammal Diseases SPECIES ACCOUNTS DIDELPHIMORPHIA LAGOMORPHA CARNIVORA Family: DIDELPHIDAE Family: LEPORIDAE Family: FELIDAE 8 Virginia Opossum 30 Eastern Cottontail 50 Bobcat 31 Snowshoe Hare RODENTIA Family: CANIDAE Family: SCIURIDAE INSECTIVORA 51 Coyote 52 Red Fox 9 Eastern Chipmunk Family: SORICIDAE 53 Gray Fox 10 Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel 32 Masked Shrew 11 Eastern Gray Squirrel 33 North American Least Shrew Family: URSIDAE 12 Eastern Fox Squirrel 34 Smoky Shrew 54 American Black Bear 13 Red Squirrel 35 American Pygmy Shrew Family: MUSTELIDAE 14 Southern Flying Squirrel 36 Northern Short-tailed Shrew 15 Woodchuck 55 Northern River Otter Family: TALPIDAE 56 Ermine Family: CASTORIDAE 37 Eastern Mole 57 Long-tailed Weasel 16 American Beaver 38 Hairy-tailed Mole 58 Least Weasel 39 Star-nosed Mole Family: CRICETIDAE 59 American Mink 60 American Badger 17 Eastern Harvest Mouse CHIROPTERA 18 North American Deermouse Family: VESPERTILIONIDAE Family: MEPHITIDAE 19 White-footed Deermouse 61 Striped Skunk 40 Little Brown Bat 20 Allegheny Woodrat 41 Northern Long-eared Bat Family: PROCYONIDAE 21 Meadow Vole 42 Indiana Bat 62 Raccoon 22 Woodland Vole 43 Eastern Small-footed Bat 23 Prairie Vole 44 Tri-colored Bat ARTIODACTYLA 24 Southern Bog Lemming 45 Big Brown Bat Family: CERVIDAE 25 Common Muskrat 46 Evening Bat 63 White-tailed Deer Family: MURIDAE 47 Eastern Red Bat 48 Hoary Bat 26 Brown Rat 49 Silver-haired Bat 27 House Mouse Family: DIPODIDAE 28 Woodland Jumping Mouse ON THE COVER PHOTO BY MENNO SCHAEFER 29 Meadow Jumping Mouse RED FOX I MAMMALS OF OHIO Mammals belong to the phylum Chordata, and all species in mammals today are the monotremes: the duck-billed platypus this group possess a notochord, among other commonalities. and four species of echidna (spiny anteaters), all of which occur in “Mamma” is the Latin word for “breast”, and all mammals nurse Australia and New Guinea. The monotremes’ primitive ancestry their offspring with milk. Mammals also possess hair, have three – dating back about 200 million years – is revealed by their egg- inner ear bones, and a specialized brain structure known as laying reproduction. They are the only modern mammals to the neocortex. The latter constitutes the largest section of the retain this reproductive strategy. cerebral cortex, and provides for higher functioning such as motor Today, nearly 5,500 species of mammals occur worldwide. commands, reasoning and conscious thought, and language. They can be found in nearly every situation: deep in caves, high The evolutionary pathways to current mammalian diversity in trees, far out at sea, under the soil, and even flying through began near the end of the Carboniferous Period, about 300 the air. Mammal diversity is extraordinary, ranging from blue million years ago. The earliest representatives were mammal- whales that are almost 100 feet in length and weigh 200 tons like reptiles that diverged from a group of creatures known as to pygmy shrews that barely exceed two inches in length and synapsids. By the Jurassic Period, the ancient synapsids begin weigh only two grams (less than a penny). Ohio is – or was - to diverge into modern lineages of mammals. Following the home to 65 native mammal species. Unfortunately, 12 species no extinction of dinosaurs about 65 million years ago, mammalian longer occur, leaving a current mammal fauna of 53 species. Two diversity exploded, as dinosaurs had dominated most ecological nonnative introductions, the brown rat and house mouse, occur niches. Some dinosaur species were effective and voracious widely, and commonly in some areas. Several species of highly predators, further preventing mammals from flourishing. Before mobile bats have turned up on a few occasions; they could be the disappearance of the dinosaurs, most mammals were considered vagrants. small, secretive, and largely nocturnal. The most primitive living Fossils of a Synapsid Photo by Ken Schulze ABOUT THIS BOOK Below are symbols and information for quick comparisons and identification. They are located in the same place for each species throughout this publication. Definitions for the scientific terms used in this publication can be found at the end in the glossary. ORDER AND FAMILY DIET TRACKS Mammal species appear in taxonomic order. Both Carnivore – Feeds primarily on meat Many mammals can be elusive leaving only a “order” and “family” classifications are provided Herbivore – Feeds primarily on plants trail of clues that they were present. Careful for each species. Species are classified based on observation is required to detect their pres- Insectivore – Feeds primarily on insects their evolutionary relationship to one another. ence. A significant sign that a mammal resides Omnivore – Feeds on both plants and meat or has passed through an area are the tracks ACTIVITY they leave behind. This guide illustrates the STATUS Diurnal – Most active during the day tracks of the relevant species to help identify Endangered – species is in imminent danger them in the field. Nocturnal – Most active at night of extinction throughout all or a significant Crepuscular – Most active at dawn and dusk portion of its range RANGE A word about diurnal and nocturnal classifi- Threatened – species that are likely to be- The map represents where the species is cations. In nature, it is virtually impossible to come endangered in the foreseeable future found in Ohio. The warmer the color (red) apply hard and fast categories. There can be a Special Interest – species occurs periodical- the more likely a species resides in that area, large amount of overlap among species, and ly and is under minimal management efforts; the cooler the color (blue) the less likely it is for individuals within species, in terms of daily Ohio is often at the edge of its range found in that area. and/or seasonal behavior habits. The activity Concern – species that might become threat- designated for each species represents the ened, under continued or increased stress most common activity. It is possible for the activity patterns of mammals to change due Uncommon – localized; infrequent more likely less likely to variations in weather, food availability or Common – widespread and frequent human disturbances. The designation of diur- Game – a species that can be legally harvested nal or nocturnal represent the most common activity patterns of each species. 5 MAMMAL CLASSIFICATION In this guide, the mammal orders appear in taxonomic order, meaning they are listed according to how they evolved in relation to each other. In other words, the more “primitive” groups are listed first and the “advanced” mammals are last. The Virginia opossum, a marsupial, has five fingers and toes, which is a character- istic that is considered to be very primitive among mammals. White-tailed deer, on the other hand, have a divided or split hoof considered to be more advanced in evolution. Fewer toes with hooves allow ungulates to take longer strides and run faster than flat-footed mammals with five toes. DIDELPHIMORPHIA LAGOMORPHA Marsupials are a fascinating group because their mode of reproduction The order Lagomorpha includes rabbits, hares, and pikas. Rabbits and is unique among mammals. A chief characteristic of marsupials is the hares are stout-bodied animals that resemble large rodents with short presence of a marsupium, or pouch, on the abdomen of the females. tails and long ears. Their big feet and strong hind legs are specialized Unlike most mammals, marsupials, such as opossums, are not fully de- for running and quickly escaping danger. Pikas are found in the west- veloped when born. The premature young are equipped with tiny front ern U.S. Like rodents, rabbits and hares have two large incisors (front legs so that they can crawl to the female’s pouch immediately after teeth) that continually grow and must be kept short by gnawing, or else birth, where they will continue to grow and develop. they could grow too long and prevent eating. All species in the rabbit family are herbivores that feed on grasses and other plants. RODENTIA Rodents are the most numerous mammals, with over 2,000 species in INSECTIVORA the world today. All rodents have incisors that grow continuously and As indicated by the order’s name, Insectivora, these animals feed primar- must be kept short by gnawing. Many rodents, such as mice and voles, ily on insects. The insectivore group includes shrews and moles; small are important food sources for predators, making them a vital part of mammals that are rodent-like in appearance.
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