U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Mammals Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge As you walk slowly along the trails, Chincoteague National listen carefully and watch patiently. Remember that the refuge was established for the benefit of wildlife, Wildlife Refuge and that you are visitors in their homes. Please stay on the designated provides homes for over trails and enjoy the animals from 30 species of mammals. a distance. Keep the Wild in Wildlife! These animals are Please do not feed the animals. Virginia Opossum found in all of the (Didelphis virginiana), Common. The opossum is easily recognized by its pale face and scantily haired tail. refuge’s various This creature is the only marsupial found in North America. Commonly habitats, but it takes a found in wooded areas, the opossum cautious observer to feeds on carrion, fruits, and berries. notice many of them.

Virginia opossum. Photo: USFWS.

Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus), Common. The little brown bat roosts in hollow trees and is seen generally at dusk and dawn feeding on insects.

Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), Common. The best known rabbit in North America, the Eastern cottontail prefers shrub and forested areas. Cover: Eastern cottontail rabbit. Photo: Irene Hinke Sacilotto Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel Red fox

Muskrat Raccoon Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel o (Sciurus niger cenerus), Uncommon. An endangered species, the Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel was introduced to the refuge in 1968. The fox squirrel is larger than the gray squirrel with a bushier tail. These squirrels live in wooded areas and generally stay close to the ground.

Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), Common. This semiaquatic mammal can be found in both freshwater and brackish impoundments. The muskrat’s rabbit-sized body is River otter. Photo: Irene Hinke Sacilotto. laterally compressed and has a sparsely haired tail. G River Otter Meadow Jumping Mouse (Lutra canadensis), Uncommon. A (Zapus hudsonius), Common. The large, elongate member of the weasel meadow jumping mouse can use its family, this critter has webbed toes large hind feet to jump away from and a thick tail. River otters may be predators (over two feet high and seen in the freshwater impoundments ten feet forward!) and is found and occasionally on the beach. around freshwater impoundments. They eat fish, crabs, and other This mouse feeds on seeds, fruit, aquatic invertebrates. fungi and insects. A White-Tailed Deer Red Fox (Odocoileus virginianus), Common. V (Vulpes vulpes), Common. The The only native deer present in the red fox frequents edges between mid-Atlantic, the white-tailed deer different types of cover and usually prefers wooded areas and grazing digs dens in open areas such as meadows. Its tail is white on the sand dunes. The red fox is a major underside and springs upward predator, eating anything it can find when alarmed. including rabbits, birds, and insects.

Raccoon (Procyon lotor), Common. This resourceful predator can be found in all habitats, but is most common in marsh edges, woods, and thickets. Raccoons also venture out to the Inset photos: shore to feast on duck and quail Delmarva Peninsuala eggs as well as various items fox squirrel, Photo: washed ashore. W.H. Julian, USFWS; Red fox. Photo: USFWS; Muskrat, Photo: Irene Hinke Sacilotto; Raccoon, Photo: J. Kent White-tailed deer buck. Photo: Robert Wilson, Minichiello. USFWS. Other Mammals of Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

Least Shrew (Cryptotis parva), Uncommon.

Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), Common.

Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis), Common.

White-footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), Common. Sika elk. Photo: Robert Wilson, USFWS. House Mouse Sika Elk (Mus musculus), Common. (Cervus nippon), Common. The sika is an Asian elk which was released on Meadow Vole Assateague Island in the 1920s. They (Microtus pennsylvanicus), are smaller than white-tailed deer Common. and have a distinct all-white rump. Sika can also be distinguished by Rice Rat their white spots, which they retain (Oryzomys palustris), Common. all year. Norway Rat Bottlenose Dolphin (Rattus norvegicus), Uncommon. (Tursiops truncatus), Common. Often seen frolicking in the surf Wild Pony along the shore during the summer, (Equus caballus), Common. this dolphin’s coloration is a blend of brown to charcoal with a lighter Harbor Seal belly. The curiosity of the bottlenose (Phoca vitulina), Rare. dolphin often brings it into close contact with humans. Hooded Seal (Cystophora cristata), Rare. Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), Rare. Pony mare with foal. Gray Seal Its Latin name, meaning large fin Photo: Irene Hinke (Halichoerus gryphus), Rare. or wing, is an accurate description Sacilotto. of the long flippers of the humpback True’s Beaked Whale whale. They are not especially fast (Mesoplodon mirus), Rare. swimmers, but they are the most animated and acrobatic large Large fin of a whale species. humpback whale. Photo: ©Photodisc. Goosebeak Whale U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Ziphius cavirostris), Rare. Chincoteague is one of over 500 refuges in the National Wildlife Pygmy Sperm Whale Refuge System administered by (Kogia breviceps), Rare. the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge Sperm Whale System is a network of lands and (Physeter macrocephalus), Rare. waters managed specifically for the protection of wildlife and wildlife Spotted Dolphin habitat and represents the most (Stenella plagiodon), Rare. comprehensive wildlife resource management program in the Rough-toothed Dolphin world. Units of the system stretch (Steno bredanensis), Rare. across the United States from northern Alaska to the Florida Common Dolphin Keys and include small islands in (Delphinis delphis), Common. the Caribbean and South Pacific. The habitat of refuges is as diverse Atlantic White-sided Dolphin as the nation itself. (Lagenorhynchus acutus), Uncommon. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service also manages National Fish Hatcheries, Melon-headed Whale and provides federal leadership in (Peponocephala electra), Rare. habitat protection, fish and wildlife research, technical assistance and Common dolphin. Atlantic Harbor Porpoise the conservation and protection of Photo: ©Photodisc. (Phocoena phocoena), Rare. migratory birds, certain marine mammals and threatened and Risso’s Dolphin endangered species. (Grampus griseus), Rare. Equal opportunity to participate in, Long-finned Pilot Whale and benefit from, the programs and (Globicephala melaena), Rare. activities of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is available to all individuals, Fin Whale regardless of age, race, religion, color, (Balaenoptera physalus), Rare. sex, national origin, or disability. Contact: U.S. Department of the Sei Whale Interior, Office of Equal Employment (Balaenoptera borealis), Rare. Opportunity, 1849 C Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240. Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), Rare.

Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Rare.

Black Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis), Rare. For further information, contact: Refuge Manager U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 62 Chincoteague Island, Virginia 23336-0062

Telephone: 757/336 6122 Fax: 757/336 5273 E-mail: [email protected]

December 1999