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Home , Big cat, Canada lynx, Felinae, Ocelot, Subspecies of brown bear

North America’s Largest Land

American Bison Bison bison, king of North America’s mammals, is a magnificent bovine, or wild cow, which is widely called the “buffalo,” although true buffalo belong to a different restricted to the . American bison, which famously nearly went extinct in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but have gradually recovered through devoted conservation efforts, come in two : the wood bison of northern and and the plains bison, which once roamed the Great Plains in the millions. While both types are titans, the wood bison -- reintroduced to historic United States range in Alaska in 2015 -- is the bigger of the two, and also the heftiest land in the : Bulls may exceed 2,000 pounds in weight. Wood bison also have a more forward-pointing hump, whereas the plains bison’s peaks directly over the front legs. Moose Alces alces has a number of subspecies of moose, the biggest member of the deer , inhabit the ’s vast Northern Hemisphere range, which stretches from to . The United States and Canada claim the very largest moose: the Alaska- subspecies, the bulls of which may weigh in excess of 726 kilograms (1,600 pounds). Besides its sheer bulk, the moose impresses with its lofty stature -- it may stand 1.8 meters (6 feet) at the shoulder -- and its striking appearance, which includes a bulbous nose, a shoulder hump, and in bulls, a magnificent rack of palmate antlers. Alaska can lay claim to the two biggest land in the world: the POLAR ( maritimus) and the (Ursus arctos middendorffi), a subspecies of restricted to the Kodiak Archipelago of southeastern Alaska. Polar bears may weigh 800 kilograms (1,760 pounds), the largest wild specimen on record being a 1,002-kilogram (2,210-pound) male killed in Alaska’s Kotzebue Sound. Kodiaks may weigh at least 680 kilograms (1,500 pounds), though some have allegedly tipped the scales at better than 1,134 kilograms (2,500 pounds). Mainland North American BROWN BEARS (Ursus arctos), or grizzlies, tend to be somewhat smaller, although grizzlies in particularly rich habitats -- such as coastal Alaska and and, historically, -- can certainly weigh more than half a ton. The more numerous and widespread (Ursus americanus), while substantially smaller than the biggest polar and brown bears, is no slouch in the size department: A boar, or male, killed in North Carolina in 1998 weighed 400 kilograms (880 pounds), and even bigger bears are known in captivity. Roosevelt Elk Cervus elaphus roosevelti, the wapiti is often called elk, which confusingly, may also refer to the Eurasian moose. It is the second-largest deer in the world, and historically ranged from East Asia through much of North America. The closely related and smaller red deer -- sometimes taxonomically lumped together with the wapiti -- is widespread from central Asia westward through . North America harbors the biggest wapiti subspecies in the world: the Roosevelt elk, named for U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt established Mount Olympus National Monument -- now -- on ’s Olympic Peninsula mainly to preserve these dark-coated, shaggy-maned giants. Roosevelt elk, which inhabit the rugged temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, may attain 590 kilograms (1,300 pounds). Despite their greater mass, Roosevelt elk support proportionately smaller and narrower antlers than other North American wapiti -- perhaps because broader racks would ob- struct them in the heavy timber forests they favor. The family has 34 living , with four of those species commonly known as . Wolves tend to be pack , living and in groups. In most of their range, they are classified as a top predator. Several species of , because of hunting and habitat loss, are considered endangered and are protected by law.

Gray Wolf lupus once ranged throughout the Northern Hemisphere but today ranges only in few places in the northern U.S., Canada, , Europe and Asia. It is the largest of all wolf species, growing to 51 inches in length and up to 176 lbs. Worldwide, a number of subspecies of gray wolf can be found such as the Arctic wolf, Italian wolf, Indian wolf and the Russian wolf. The domestic is also a subspecies of the gray wolf, as is the Australian dingo.

Red Wolf Canus rufus is one of the most endangered wolf species. At one time it lived throughout the southeastern U.S., but is now only found, in the wild, in a small range in North Carolina. It is similar to the gray wolf, but much smaller. It is also similar in length, but is more slender weighing around 88 lbs. Its legs and ears are longer than those of the gray wolf. It has reddish brown fur that is shorter than its gray cousins. Wild There are six species of wild cats native to North America: the , (also known as the mountain or ), Canada , , and . Cats are in the family , which is part of the order . Other families in Carnivora include the dog family Canidae and the bear family Ursidae. All members of Carnivora share a common ancestor, which is thought to be a small, -like species that lived around 55 million years ago. Cats are skillful ambush hunters that approach their prey stealthily before pouncing. Cats have retractable claws and are excellent climbers and jumpers. They often lead nocturnal, solitary lifestyles. Of the six species of wild cats found in North America, only the jaguar is of genus , and therefore considered to be a ‘big ’. Although the puma (also known as the mountain lion or cougar) is the world’s fourth-largest cat species (and larger, on average, than the , a ‘true’ ), it is considered to be a ‘small cat’ as it a member of the small cat subfamily, . Of the six North American cats listed below, only the bobcat, puma, and are found in significant numbers in the United States and Canada Lynx rufus live across North America from northern Mexico to Canada. They can be found living in forests, swamp- lands, deserts, scrublands and human in- habited areas. Bobcats are stealthy, noctur- nal creatures, so humans rarely see them. All bobcats have black spots, but the number of spots changes. Some have spots only on their legs and tummy while others are covered in them. Male and female bobcats typically only interact when they are breeding. The territories of males can cover an area of 25 to 30 square miles (40 to 48 square kilometers) and overlap with other female and male bobcats, but smaller females territories of 5 square miles (8 square kilometers) don't tend to merge. Like house cats, bobcats can make hissing, purring, snarling, calling and growling noises. Puma

Puma concolor is the second-largest cat in the Americas after the jaguar. This supple and muscular hunter has an enormous range -- from the Yukon to Patagonia -- which may partly explain why there are so many common or local names. Few large mammals enjoy so many common names as the puma. In popular usage, “cougar” and “mountain lion” are the most widespread alternate monikers for the cat, but many others exist.

Although they’re closely related to and share many physical traits with small cats, pumas are more similar to the big cats -- species in the genus Panthera -- in size and ecology. Large males may weigh up to 113 kilograms (250 pounds) or more. Long, muscular hindlegs give pumas superb jumping ability: They've been documented making horizontal leaps of 14 meters (45 feet), and one cat was seen springing 3.6 meters (12 feet) into a tree while hoisting a deer carcass. They're at home in a staggering variety of settings, from desert scrub to tropical rainforest to rugged subalpine forest. They favor as prey medium- to large-sized mammals, such as deer, elk and guanacos, but across their range pumas have a very broad diet: They’ll also eat , hares, birds, snakes and other small creatures. Canada lynx Lynx canadensis a lankier, taller, grayer, bigger-pawed cousin of the bobcat, and it also once roamed the northeastern U.S. with southern New England forming the southeastern limit of its historic range. Large males may weigh up to 17 kilograms (37.5 pounds) or more. Primarily an inhabitant of boreal and northern hardwood forest in the region, Canada lynx prey heavily on a single species: the hare, which particularly in winter, often composes the bulk of the cat’s fare. Snow covers the ground for much of the year in the cold boreal forests of Alaska and Canada in which the Canada lynx is found. The species has a number of adaptions for living in this harsh environment. These include long legs and broad paws for walking across snow. More dependent on forest than the bobcat and more retiring in the face of human development, the lynx was apparently already rare in southern New England by the mid-19th century. Ocelot pardalis, primarily from Mexico through northern , with very few specimens in southernmost and . The ocelot has short, tawny or reddish-brown fur with black spots and rosette-shaped markings. Their faces have two black stripes down each side (running from the muzzle and eyes back toward the neck) and their tails have black bands. The ocelot is sometimes called the “Painted Leopard” or "Dwarf Leopard". They can often be found in trees, stalking their prey, and unlike most other cats, don’t mind the water and can swim very well. While most cats strip their prey of feathers and fur as they eat it, ocelots refuse to eat even a bite until they've plucked off every last feather and bit of fur. They are primarily nocturnal, solitary animals. Jaguarundi Herpailurus yagouaroundi, look more like than the rest of their feline family, with slender bodies, short legs and sleek coats. Their coloring ranges from black or brownish-grey to red, and a litter can contain any combination of the colors (though the darker colors usually occur in the rain forest and the lighter colors in more arid environments). Their ranges from Mexico through Central and South America. are solitary cats, though they occasionally travel in pairs, and unlike most other cats, they are generally most active during the day. Allegedly, they were once used to control rodent populations in , though this is no longer the case.

Jaguar Panthera onca, the largest cat found in the Americas, and the third largest in the world (only the and lion are larger). The species is the only big cat (i.e. member of genus Panthera) found in the Americas. Although most are found in South America – in particular in the rainforests of the – this big cat is also found in North America. Its range extends northwards through Central America and even into the southwestern United States; jaguar sightings are occasionally reported in Arizona, and Texas. This North American wild cat is tremendously powerful, and has the third most powerful bite force of all cats (after the tiger and lion). Its jaws are capable of piercing the shell of a turtle. Backyard Animal Tracking Challenge

What kinds and how many different kinds of animals are in your backyard?

Many of us are not fortunate enough to live in a place where North America’s largest mammals live, hopefully we can see them in their natural habitat once in our lives. However, we ALL have animals living in the areas right outside our homes. Gather the supplies, don’t forget your deerstalker hat (the style Sherlock Holmes wears), and take to the great outdoors! Supplies Needed:

 Animal Tracks-Explorer I.D. Cards - pintables attached

 The Tracker’s Evidence Sheet - pintables attached

 Something to photograph, or draw your clues

 Plastic shopping bag, or recycled box to put your discovered animal signs

 A magnifying glass (optional)

 Paper and pencil/pen

 DIY: Animal tracker (optional) - plans on next page

Step-by-step:

1. If you've made an animal tracker, check to see what footprints are left behind. See if you can identify them using our handy Animal Tracks-Explorer I.D. Cards. 2. With an adult's permission or company, go for a slow walk and look for clues. You could start in your own garden, or try a path through a wild place. Pay particular attention to snowy, muddy, and sandy spots where animals might leave their footprints. 3. Walk slowly, and look around very carefully. Can you find feathers, egg shells, animal tracks, hairs caught on fences? Nibbled seeds or nuts? Maybe even some animal poo (don’t pick it up though) will be a clue. 4. Try to work out what’s been going on – maybe a squeezed under a fence and left some trapped hairs, or a deer walked across the path and left its tracks. Can you follow where it went next? 5. If you'd like to take a closer look, a sturdy magnifying glass is a good addition to your kit and will let you see the hidden details in your evidence. 6. Remember to wash your hands if you’ve been handling some of those messy clues. 7. Don't forget to tell us when you have completed the activity by tagging your local ARNG-CYSS Program, and #ARNGCYS DIY: Animal Tracker

Supplies Needed:

 Baking tray  Small plank or long ruler  Fine, damp sand  Small, shallow dish  Dog or cat food, or food scraps (nothing too processed, please!)

1. Fill the baking tray with sand and smooth the surface (do not pack down) with the edge of the plank or ruler.

2. Put a little food in the dish and stick it in the middle of the tray

3. Leave your tracker out overnight and check it the next day to see if anything has left its footprints there. **Compost or throw the pet food away in the morning, before it goes bad.

To find out more about these mammals and more, as well as additional info about tracking check these out:  https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/north-american-mammals  https://www.activewild.com/wild-cats-of-north-america/  https://sciencing.com/  https://explorationamerica.com/  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lists/top-50-things-activities-for-trackers  https://www.activewild.com/wild-cats-of-north-america/  https://www.rspb.org.uk/

Animal photographs courtesy of https://pixabay.com/ The Tracker’s Evidence Sheet Write down the signs and clues that will help you work out what has happened. Use a photo or drawing to show what you have seen.

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