Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1101 Casey Road Basom, NY 14013-9730 716/948 5445 [email protected] Iroquois

Federal Relay Service National Wildlife for the deaf and hard-of-hearing 1 800/877 8339 Refuge U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1 800/344 WILD http://www.fws.gov Mammals

February 2001

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White tailed buck © Douglas H. Domedian Introduction Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 10,818 acres of swamp woodland, marsh, wet meadows, for- ests and cultivated fields. While the primary purpose of the refuge is to serve as a resting, feeding, This goose, designed by staging and nesting area for water- J.N. “Ding” Darling, has become the symbol fowl and other migratory birds, the of the National Wildlife varied habitats provide homes to a Refuge System. variety of mammals.

The following list, representing 42 species, has been recorded on the ref- uge or are known to have existed here. Order of listing and scientific names follow Miller and Kellog, List of North American Recent Mammals. Common names are given in Burt and Grossenheider, A Field Guide to the Mammals. © Douglas H. Domedion Eastern chipmunk.

Red fox kit. © Douglas H. Domedion Marsupials Marsupials are primitive mammals Bats The only mammals that are capable that bear their young prematurely of true flight. Their “wing” is a then shelter them in the mother’s membrane of skin extending between pouch (the marsupium) until they the hand bones to the forearm, side are fully developed. of body and hind leg.

Virginia opossum Little Brown Myotis (Didelphis marsupialis) (Myotis lucifugus) The only marsupial found in North Often referred to as the Little Brown America. The size of a house cat, the Bat. Most often seen flying over opossum is found in upland habitats water on summer evenings, in search and eats carrion (dead animals) but of insect food. Colonial. it also eats frogs, birds, other mammals, insects, snakes and fruit. Big Brown Bat The opossum “invaded” the New (Eptesicus fuscus) York area in the 1950s. Dark brown. One of the most common and widely distributed of the bats. Common in buildings in winter, Moles and Shrews Moles live most of their lives below however, some do migrate south. the surface of the ground. Evidence of a mole are low ridges in the Red Bat ground, caused when they tunnel (Lasiurus borealis) through the earth. Shrews are small A brick-red to rusty-red bat with mouse-like animals. Insects and hairs tipped with white. Usually worms are favorite foods but shrews feeds in pairs after deep dusk. Have will also kill mice that are twice been seen on the refuge during its their size. migration south.

Masked Shrew Based on their range the following (Sorex cinereus) species are also believed to be on Found in moist habitats, heavily Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. vegetated areas, under woodpiles, and in hollow stumps. Keen Myotis (Myotis keeni) Shorttail Shrew (Blarina brevicauda) Small-footed Myotis “Blarina” is the most common shrew (Myotis subulatus) in the area. Silver-Haired Bat Hairytail Mole (Lasionycteris noctivagans) (Parascalops breweri) Found in drier, sandy knolls Eastern Pipistrelle scattered throughout the refuge. (Pipistrellus subflavus)

Starnose Mole Hoary Bat (Condylura cristata) (Lasiurus cinereus) So named because fleshy projections around the nose resemble a star. Tunnels in damp areas. Hares and Eastern Cottontail Woodchuck Rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) (Marmota monax) Found principally in brushy areas, “Groundhog.” Found in fields or weedy fields and woodland margins. lawns on the refuge. During the day Eats leaves and flowers in summer it is often seen near its burrow either and twigs and bark in winter. feeding on succulent plants or sitting up surveying the landscape for danger. Hibernates during winter. Once abandoned, its burrows become refuges or homes for other mammals.

Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensus) Found in mixed hardwood-conifer forests. Builds conspicuous leaf nests in trees. Feeds on a variety of fungi, seeds, fruits, and nuts. Stores nuts and acorns in the ground, many of which are never recovered and sprout to grow into trees.

Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) This little tree squirrel is found in all forested areas with the greatest concentration in conifer plantations. Its noisy chattering betrays its

© Douglas H. Domedion presence. Usually has a favorite Cottontail rabbit. feeding stump or log where shucks from pine cones or nuts may Snowshoe Hare accumulate in piles. (Lepus americanus) Also called the Varying Hare and Southern Flying Squirrel Snowshoe Rabbit. It is white in (Glaucomys volans) winter and dark brown in summer. Strictly nocturnal, flying squirrels It was probably a former resident are seldom seen. Woodlots and of the Oak Orchard Swamp area. forests are home. Eats nuts, seeds, Restocked in 1950’s. Rarely insects and bird eggs. Makes nest seen today. in an old woodpecker hole, attics, nesting boxes or builds one of leaves, Rodents Small to medium-sized mammals twigs and bark. Flying squirrels do with two gnawing teeth above and not fly, they glide. two below. Northern Flying Squirrel Eastern Chipmunk (Glaucomys sabrinus) (Tamias striatus) Larger than the Southern Flying Active during the day in open woods, Squirrel with whom it may share its brushy areas and around buildings. habitat although its habits are not It hibernates during the winter. well known. Feeds on seeds, bulbs, fruits, nuts, insects, meat, and eggs. Stores its food underground. Beaver Norway Rat (Castor canadensis) (Rattus norvegicus) The largest rodent in North America. Also known as brown rat or house Being shy and nocturnal, they are rat. Summers spent in fields and seldom seen, but can build massive even cattail marshes. Winters bring log and mud dams and lodges. Also them into buildings. Burrows along look for felled trees and stumps foundations or under rubbish piles. showing fresh tooth marks. Water Feeds on anything edible. areas created by beaver dams provide resting and feeding areas for water House Mouse fowl and marsh birds. (Mus musculus) A small grayish-brown mouse with Deer Mouse gray or buff belly. Found near or in (Peromyscus manicultatus) buildings, and occasionally in fields. Found in woods near fields, along hedgerows and outbuildings. Feeds Meadow Jumping Mouse on seeds, nuts, acorns, and insects. (Zapus hudsonius) Lives in openings in drier, grassy White-footed Mouse areas. Nocturnal, but if seen can be (Peromyscus leucopus) mistaken for a frog. Almost indistinguishable from the deer mouse. Lives in brushy and Woodland Jumping Mouse woody areas. Nests in old bird or (Napaeozapus insignis) squirrel nests, stumps, logs or Specimens of this beautiful little buildings. animal have been observed in the swampy woodlands of the refuge. Meadow Vole Nocturnal. (Microtus pennsylvanicus) This small mammal prefers grasslands Porcupine where it makes narrow runways (Erethizon dorsatum) through matted grass. During winter This quill-laden, tree-eating rodent it often girdles shrubs and small trees was undoubtedly a former resident of below the snowline. In wet areas, it the Oak Orchard Swamp area. Now will readily take to water and even uncommon on the refuge. One was dive to avoid capture. seen in 1994.

Muskrat Carnivores Members of this order are classified (Ondatra zibethicus) (meat eaters) as predators (animals that eat other May be seen swimming in marshes, animals) but will eat nuts, berries, especially at dawn or dusk or on cloudy days. Home is a mound of insects and fruits. cattail, grasses and mud. Waterfowl and wading birds use open areas Coyote created during construction. Some (Canus latrans) birds nest on abandoned houses or Looks like a medium-sized dog. It is feeding stations. gray or reddish-gray with rusty legs, feet and ears and a whitish throat and belly. Tail is held down between the legs when running. It is a true scavenger, but mostly feeds on small rodents and rabbits. Red Fox (Vulpes fulva) About the size of a small dog. Carries its tail straight out behind it. Found in woods and sandy knolls on the refuge and, in winter, hunting on ice covered impoundments or marshes. Most often seen at dawn or dusk.

Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) Salt-and-pepper coat and long bushy tail. Nocturnal, and formerly rare, the gray fox is more common today, but seldom seen.

Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Common, but being nocturnal, is © Douglas H. Domedion rarely seen. Found throughout Raccoon with full moon. marshes, woods and along streams.

Shorttail weasel and sunrise. Feeds on mice, eggs, (Mustela erminea) insects, grubs, berries and carrion. This small brown weasel may dwell in Does not hibernate. Makes its den all upland habitats but is seldom seen. in the ground, under buildings, In winter, when its coat turns white boulders, wood and rock piles. with black tipped tail it is known as an ermine. Mainly nocturnal. River Otter (Lutra canadensis) Longtail weasel Large weasel-like mammal formerly (Mustela frenata) found along Oak Orchard Creek. Also found in upland habitats. Believed to have been extirpated, the Looks very similar to the shorttail last recorded sighting was in 1988. weasel except it is larger and does not have white stripe down the inside Bobcat of hind leg. (Lynx rufus) Once found in Oak Orchard Swamp Mink area. Except for scattered reports (Mustela vison) of animals passing through the area, Dark brown and larger than weasel. they are not believed to inhabit Occasionaly seen traveling along the refuge. stream banks or dashing across roads or trails. Mostly nocturnal. Feeds on Hoofed animals Whitetail Deer small mammals, birds, eggs, frogs, (Odocoileus virginianus) crayfish, and fish. Largest mammal on the refuge. Commonly seen on the refuge in Striped Skunk spring and fall along roadside or (Mephitis mephitis) darting in front of cars. Inhabits Found throughout the upland areas of swamps, forests and open brushy the refuge. Nocturnal and frequently areas browsing on twigs, fungi, seen along roadsides between sunset shrubs, acorns, grasses and herbs.