Emammal Animal Identification Guide
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The TXNDD Report
December, 2014 The Texas Natural Diversity Database Wildlife Diversity Program, Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. The TXNDD Report Data Highlight: Mason Mountain WMA By Michael Warriner, Nongame and Rare Species Program Supervisor This past May, staff from the Wildlife Diversity Program District Species Epithet Common Name and all four Wildlife Division Regions assembled at Ma- son Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA) to dis- 1, 4, 7-8 Anthus spragueii Sprague’s Pipit cuss species pending federal listing and develop State 7-8 Calidris canutus Red Knot Wildlife Grant (SWG) priorities for those species. Several 8 Crotaphytus reticulatus Reticulate Collared Lizard dozen species are currently pending review under the U.S. 3-7 Deirochelys reticularia miaria Western Chicken Turtle Endangered Species Act in Texas. A key component of 3 Dipodomys elator Texas Kangaroo Rat federal review is current information on the distribution and status of proposed species. Many of the species cur- 4 Eurycea latitans Cascade Caverns Salamander rently in the federal queue have been little studied in the 4 Eurycea neotenes Texas Salamander state so not much is known regarding how many of these 4 Eurycea robusta Blanco Blind Salamander species are faring. The basic need for most species is 4 Eurycea tridentifera Comal Blind Salamander simply status surveys to assess presence/absence to better 4 Haideoporus texanus Edwards Aquifer Diving Beetle define current distributions. 1, 3-4 Holbrookia lacerata Spot-tailed Earless Lizard 4 Lirceolus smithii Texas Troglobitic Water Slater The aim of the Mason Mountain meeting was to whittle down the list of 50+ species pending federal action to a 8 Notophthalmus meridionalis Black-spotted Newt subset of species that actions could be taken on over Fiscal 4 Phreatodrobia imitata Mimic Cavesnail Year 2015. -
Contemporary Land-Use Change Structures Carnivore Communities in Remaining Tallgrass Prairie
Contemporary land-use change structures carnivore communities in remaining tallgrass prairie by Kyle Ross Wait B.S., Kansas State University, 2014 A THESIS submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources College of Agriculture KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2017 Approved by: Major Professor Dr. Adam A. Ahlers Copyright © Kyle Ross Wait 2017. Abstract The Flint Hills ecoregion in Kansas, USA, represents the largest remaining tract of native tallgrass prairie in North America. Anthropogenic landscape change (e.g., urbanization, agricultural production) is affecting native biodiversity in this threatened ecosystem. Our understanding of how landscape change affects spatial distributions of carnivores (i.e., species included in the Order ‘Carnivora’) in this ecosystem is limited. I investigated the influence of landscape structure and composition on site occupancy dynamics of 3 native carnivores (coyote [Canis latrans]; bobcat [Lynx rufus]; and striped skunk [Mephitis mephitis]) and 1 nonnative carnivore (domestic cat, [Felis catus]) across an urbanization gradient in the Flint Hills during 2016-2017. I also examined how the relative influence of various landscape factors affected native carnivore species richness and diversity. I positioned 74 camera traps across 8 urban-rural transects in the 2 largest cities in the Flint Hills (Manhattan, pop. > 55,000; Junction City, pop. > 31,000) to assess presence/absence of carnivores. Cameras were activated for 28 days in each of 3 seasons (Summer 2016, Fall 2016, Winter 2017) and I used multisession occupancy models and an information-theoretic approach to assess the importance of various landscape factors on carnivore site occupancy dynamics. -
Striped Skunk Mephitis Mephitis
Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis Other common names None Introduction Striped skunks are highly recognizable for their distinctive coloring and their ability to spray an extremely foul smelling substance when they feel threatened. Some folks may also recognize them as the inspiration for the Looney Tunes character Pepé le Pew. There are 11 different species in the skunk family, with 5 species residing throughout the United States, but only the striped skunk can be found in New York. Physical Description and Anatomy Striped skunks are about the size of an average domestic cat. Adults can Pepé le Pew weigh anywhere between 2 – 12 lbs (0.9 – 5.4 kg), and are 18 – 32 inches (45.7 – 81.3 cm) long, with the tail making up 7 – 11 inches (17.8 – 27.9 cm) of that length. They have a stout body, short legs, and a long, bushy tail. Each foot is equipped with five strong claws that are used for digging. The bold striping pattern of the glossy black and white fur is highly variable. This coloration is designed to serve as a warning to other species not to bother it, or they will suffer the consequences. Generally, the top of the head is white, which splits into two stripes of white down the back, divided by a stripe of black. The lower parts are black as well. Variations may result in individuals that are all white above and all black below, some other combination of stripes and patches, or almost solid white or black. Skunks have such bold coloration because they Picture showing variation in color patterns of striped skunk. -
Eastern Spotted Skunk Spilogale Putorius
Wyoming Species Account Eastern Spotted Skunk Spilogale putorius REGULATORY STATUS USFWS: Petitioned for Listing USFS R2: No special status USFS R4: No special status Wyoming BLM: No special status State of Wyoming: Predatory Animal CONSERVATION RANKS USFWS: No special status WGFD: NSS3 (Bb), Tier II WYNDD: G4, S3S4 Wyoming Contribution: LOW IUCN: Least Concern STATUS AND RANK COMMENTS The plains subspecies of Eastern Spotted Skunk (Spilogale putorius interrupta) is petitioned for listing under the United States Endangered Species Act (ESA). The species as a whole is assigned a range of state conservation ranks by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD) due to uncertainty concerning the proportion of its Wyoming range that is occupied, the resulting impact of this on state abundance estimates, and, to a lesser extent, due to uncertainty about extrinsic stressors and population trends in the state. NATURAL HISTORY Taxonomy: There are currently two species of spotted skunk commonly recognized in the United States: the Eastern Spotted Skunk (S. putorius) and the Western Spotted Skunk (S. gracilis) 1-3. The distinction between the eastern and western species has been questioned over the years, with some authors suggesting that the two are synonymous 4, while others maintain that they are distinct based on morphologic characteristics, differences in breeding strategy, and molecular data 5-7. There are 3 subspecies of S. putorius recognized by most authorities 3, but only S. p. interrupta (Plains Spotted Skunk) occurs in Wyoming, while the other two are restricted to portions of the southeastern United States 1. Description: Spotted skunks are the smallest skunks in North America and are easily distinguished by their distinct pelage consisting of many white patches on a black background, compared to the large, white stripes of the more widespread and common striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis). -
The Red and Gray Fox
The Red and Gray Fox There are five species of foxes found in North America but only two, the red (Vulpes vulpes), And the gray (Urocyon cinereoargentus) live in towns or cities. Fox are canids and close relatives of coyotes, wolves and domestic dogs. Foxes are not large animals, The red fox is the larger of the two typically weighing 7 to 5 pounds, and reaching as much as 3 feet in length (not including the tail, which can be as long as 1 to 1 and a half feet in length). Gray foxes rarely exceed 11 or 12 pounds and are often much smaller. Coloration among fox greatly varies, and it is not always a sure bet that a red colored fox is indeed a “red fox” and a gray colored fox is indeed a “gray fox. The one sure way to tell them apart is the white tip of a red fox’s tail. Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargentus) Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Regardless of which fox both prefer diverse habitats, including fields, woods, shrubby cover, farmland or other. Both species readily adapt to urban and suburban areas. Foxes are primarily nocturnal in urban areas but this is more an accommodation in avoiding other wildlife and humans. Just because you may see it during the day doesn’t necessarily mean it’s sick. Sometimes red fox will exhibit a brazenness that is so overt as to be disarming. A homeowner hanging laundry may watch a fox walk through the yard, going about its business, seemingly oblivious to the human nearby. -
2021 Fur Harvester Digest 3 SEASON DATES and BAG LIMITS
2021 Michigan Fur Harvester Digest RAP (Report All Poaching): Call or Text (800) 292-7800 Michigan.gov/Trapping Table of Contents Furbearer Management ...................................................................3 Season Dates and Bag Limits ..........................................................4 License Types and Fees ....................................................................6 License Types and Fees by Age .......................................................6 Purchasing a License .......................................................................6 Apprentice & Youth Hunting .............................................................9 Fur Harvester License .....................................................................10 Kill Tags, Registration, and Incidental Catch .................................11 When and Where to Hunt/Trap ...................................................... 14 Hunting Hours and Zone Boundaries .............................................14 Hunting and Trapping on Public Land ............................................18 Safety Zones, Right-of-Ways, Waterways .......................................20 Hunting and Trapping on Private Land ...........................................20 Equipment and Fur Harvester Rules ............................................. 21 Use of Bait When Hunting and Trapping ........................................21 Hunting with Dogs ...........................................................................21 Equipment Regulations ...................................................................22 -
Educator's Guide
Educator’s Guide the jill and lewis bernard family Hall of north american mammals inside: • Suggestions to Help You come prepared • essential questions for Student Inquiry • Strategies for teaching in the exhibition • map of the Exhibition • online resources for the Classroom • Correlations to science framework • glossary amnh.org/namammals Essential QUESTIONS Who are — and who were — the North as tundra, winters are cold, long, and dark, the growing season American Mammals? is extremely short, and precipitation is low. In contrast, the abundant precipitation and year-round warmth of tropical All mammals on Earth share a common ancestor and and subtropical forests provide optimal growing conditions represent many millions of years of evolution. Most of those that support the greatest diversity of species worldwide. in this hall arose as distinct species in the relatively recent Florida and Mexico contain some subtropical forest. In the past. Their ancestors reached North America at different boreal forest that covers a huge expanse of the continent’s times. Some entered from the north along the Bering land northern latitudes, winters are dry and severe, summers moist bridge, which was intermittently exposed by low sea levels and short, and temperatures between the two range widely. during the Pleistocene (2,588,000 to 11,700 years ago). Desert and scrublands are dry and generally warm through- These migrants included relatives of New World cats (e.g. out the year, with temperatures that may exceed 100°F and dip sabertooth, jaguar), certain rodents, musk ox, at least two by 30 degrees at night. kinds of elephants (e.g. -
Symposium on the Gray Squirrel
SYMPOSIUM ON THE GRAY SQUIRREL INTRODUCTION This symposium is an innovation in the regional meetings of professional game and fish personnel. When I was asked to serve as chairman of the Technical Game Sessions of the 13th Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Game and Fish Commissioners this seemed to be an excellent opportunity to collect most of the people who have done some research on the gray squirrel to exchange information and ideas and to summarize some of this work for the benefit of game managers and other biologists. Many of these people were not from the southeast and surprisingly not one of the panel mem bers is presenting a general resume of one aspect of squirrel biology with which he is most familiar. The gray squirrel is also important in Great Britain but because it causes extensive damage to forests. Much work has been done over there by Monica Shorten (Mrs. Vizoso) and a symposium on the gray squirrel would not be complete without her presence. A grant from the National Science Foundation through the American Institute of Biological Sciences made it possible to bring Mrs. Vizoso here. It is hoped that this symposium will set a precedent for other symposia at future wildlife conferences. VAGN FLYGER. THE RELATIONSHIPS OF THE GRAY SQUIRREL, SCIURUS CAROLINENSIS, TO ITS NEAREST RELATIVES By DR. ]. C. MOORE INTRODUCTION It seems at least slightly more probable at this point in our knowledge of the living Sciuridae, that the northeastern American gray squirrel's oldest known ancestors came from the Old \Vorld rather than evolved in the New. -
Small Predator Impacts on Deer
IMPACTS OF SMALL PREDATORS ON DEER TERRY BLANKENSHIP, Assistant Director, Welder Wildlife Foundation, P.O. Box 1400, Sinton, Tx 78387. Abstract: Predator size influences the type of prey taken. Generally, smaller predators rely on rabbits, rodents, birds, fruits, or insects. Food habit studies of several small predators indicate the presence of deer in the diet. Percentages of deer in the diet were larger in the north and northeast where variety of prey was lower. Studies conducted in the south and southeast generally found lower percentages of deer in the diets. Studies in the south indicate fawns were the age class of choice. Although food habit studies indicate the presence of deer in the diet, this does not show these predators have an impact on deer populations. The bobcat (Lynx rufus), gray fox diet of the smaller predators listed above (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), red fox(Vulpes and the impact they may have on a deer vulpes), and golden eagle (Aquila population or a particular age class of deer. chrysaetos) are several of the smaller predators that have the potential to take deer BOBCAT (Odocoileus spp.) or a certain age class of deer. Much of the research conducted on A compilation of bobcat food habit the impacts of small predators on deer relate studies indicate rabbits (Lepus spp., to the presence or amount found in the diet. Sylvilagus spp.) were the primary prey taken Research has identified major prey items for throughout their range. Deer were an each of these predators in different regions important prey item in the northeast and of the United States. -
Mink: Wildlife Notebook Series
Mink The American mink (Neovison vison) and other fur bearing animals attracted trappers, traders, and settlers to Alaska from around the world. Some of the most valuable furbearers belong to the Mustelidae or weasel family, which includes the American mink. Other members of this family in Alaska include weasels, martens, wolverines, river otters, and sea otters. Mink are found in every part of the state with the exceptions of Kodiak Island, Aleutian Islands, the offshore islands of the Bering Sea, and most of the Arctic Slope. General description: A mink's fur is in prime condition when guard hairs are thickest. Mink are then a chocolate brown with some irregular white patches on the chin, throat, and belly. White patches are usually larger on females and often occur on the abdomen in the area of the mammary glands. Several albino mink have been reported from Alaska. Underfur is usually thick and wavy, not longer than an inch. It is dark gray to light brown in color with some suggestion of light and dark bands. The tail is one third to one fourth of the body length with slightly longer guard hairs than the body. As an adaptation to their aquatic lifestyle, their feet have semiwebbed toes and oily guard hairs tend to waterproof the animal. Adult males range in total length from 19 to 29 inches (48-74 cm). They may weigh from three to almost five pounds (1.4-2.3 kg). Females are somewhat smaller than males. Their movements are rapid and erratic as if they are always ready to either flee or pounce on an unwary victim. -
2015 Disease Summary
SUMMARY OF DISEASES AFFECTING MICHIGAN WILDLIFE 2015 ABSCESS Abdominal Eastern Fox Squirrel, Trumpeter Swan, Wild Turkey Airsac Canada Goose Articular White-tailed Deer Cranial White-tailed Deer Dermal White-tailed Deer Hepatic White-tailed Deer, Red-tailed Hawk, Wild Turkey Intramuscular White-tailed Deer Muscular Moose, White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey Ocular White-tailed Deer Pulmonary Granulomatous Focal White-tailed Deer Unspecified White-tailed Deer, Raccoon, Canada Goose Skeletal Mourning Dove Subcutaneous White-tailed Deer, Raccoon, Eastern Fox Squirrel, Mute Swan Thoracic White-tailed Deer Unspecified White-tailed Deer ADHESION Pleural White-tailed Deer 1 AIRSACCULITIS Egg Yolk Canada Goose Fibrinous Chronic Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Canada Goose, Mallard, Wild Turkey Mycotic Trumpeter Swan, Canada Goose Necrotic Caseous Chronic Bald Eagle Unspecified Chronic Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Mute Swan, Redhead, Wild Turkey, Mallard, Mourning Dove Unspecified Snowy Owl, Common Raven, Rock Dove Unspecified Snowy Owl, Merlin, Wild Turkey, American Crow Urate Red-tailed Hawk ANOMALY Congenital White-tailed Deer ARTHROSIS Inflammatory Cooper's Hawk ASCITES Hemorrhagic White-tailed Deer, Red Fox, Beaver ASPERGILLOSIS Airsac American Robin Cranial American Robin Pulmonary Trumpeter Swan, Blue Jay 2 ASPERGILLOSIS (CONTINUED ) Splenic American Robin Unspecified Red-tailed Hawk, Snowy Owl, Trumpeter Swan, Canada Goose, Common Loon, Ring- billed Gull, American Crow, Blue Jay, European Starling BLINDNESS White-tailed Deer BOTULISM Type C Mallard -
Eastern Gray Squirrel Survival in a Seasonally-Flooded Hunted Bottomland Forest Ecosystem
Squirrel Survival in a Flooded Ecosystem. Wilson et al. Eastern Gray Squirrel Survival in a Seasonally-Flooded Hunted Bottomland Forest Ecosystem Sarah B. Wilson, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, 602 Duncan Dr. Auburn University, AL 36849 Stephen S. Ditchkoff, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, 602 Duncan Dr. Auburn University, AL 36849 Robert A. Gitzen, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, 602 Duncan Dr. Auburn University, AL 36849 Todd D. Steury, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, 602 Duncan Dr. Auburn University, AL 36849 Abstract: Though the eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is an important game species throughout its range in North America, little is known about environmental factors that may affect survival. We investigated survival and predation of a hunted population of eastern gray squirrels on Lown- des Wildlife Management Area in central Alabama from July 2015–April 2017. This area experiences annual flooding conditions from November through the following September. Our Kaplan-Meier survival estimate at 365 days for all squirrels was 0.25 (0.14–0.44, 95% CL) which is within the range for previously studied eastern gray squirrel populations (0.20–0.58). There was no difference between male (0.13; 0.05–0.36, 95% CL) and female survival (0.37; 0.18–0.75, 95% CL, P = 0.16). Survival was greatest in summer (1.00) and fall (0.65; 0.29–1.0, 95% CL) and lowest during winter (0.23; 0.11–0.50, 95% CL). We found squirrels were more likely to die during the flooded winter season and mortality risk increased as flood extent through- out the study area increased.