1. GRAY SQUIRREL hairy tail, reddish brown, five If you don’t see chipmunks, Sciurus carolinensis dark stripes, alternating with you may hear them. Their (Fields, forests, where people gather) two light, buff colored stripes. vocal repertoire includes a loud chip (hence their name) The eastern gray squirrel is fluffy tail. As herbivores (plant Chipmunks feed on fruits repeated at short intervals, as perhaps the most common eaters), squirrels feed on an (berries), nuts, new buds of well as a startled, trilling sound (non-human) mammal. It is abundance of acorns, seeds and plants and leftover crumbs used to warn their neighbors of also among the most new leafy growth, but they from human snacks. They your presence. entertaining to observe: often become scavengers, store food in cheek pouches. scurrying up and down trees enjoying the remains of human with the help of its claws, food. Their large, leafy nests jumping from branch to are unmistakable high in the 4. MUSKRAT branch, and balancing on park trees. (How many can you Odontra zibethicus trash cans assisted by a long, find?) 1 (Near water) Often mistaken for a beaver, flattened on the sides. Its total this semi-aquatic rodent body length (body and tail) is 2. FLYING SQUIRREL is most active at night, between 16-25 inches. The tail Glaucomys volans but it is not is a useful rudder for (Forest, near water) uncommon to see navigating slow-moving water This small tree squirrel is Hickory nuts and one during the day. in the park’s lakes, ponds, roughly the size of a large acorns are a staple food The muskrat has marshy areas, and the River mouse. It is not commonly source. Nuts with dense, shiny, dark Des Peres. You won’t see the known because of its nocturnal smoothly-gnawed round brown (usually opening to a muskrat burrow. habits. If seen, it is easy to or elliptical openings lighter on the sides) It is 6-12 inches below the identify by its relatively large, are a sign of a flying 4 waterproof fur, and water level. round eyes, the loose fold of squirrel’s night work. large, webbed hind skin extending along the sides Seeds, berries feet like those of Muskrats feed on the bulbs, from the wrist of the front leg and mushrooms are also the beaver. roots, stems, and leaves of to the ankle of the hind leg, included in the fare. In winter 2 The tail is plants growing in or near the and a long, flattened, furry tail. and early spring the squirrel unique— water. Occasionally, they Contrary to its name, the may also eat tree buds. long, include the park’s crayfish or flying squirrel does not fly, but blackish, frogs in their diet. rather glides, slanting Look closely at some of the downward, to another tree or older trees. Holes, as small as the ground. By extending its one inch, may open into a 5. WOODCHUCK legs out to the sides, this flying squirrel den. Cavities Marmota monax squirrel is able to form a created by woodpeckers are (Open fields, forest edge) planing surface. choice den sites. 5 Less gray coat. Feet and tail are common, but certainly usually darker than the rest of 3. EASTERN CHIPMUNK present, is the woodchuck, also the body. They are most Tamias striatus known as a groundhog. In observable when they come (Near structures, masonry walls, rocks) open fields they are out to graze on grasses, clovers Scurrying along rock walls, so look carefully. Chipmunks unmistakable given their large and wildflowers. Sometimes sidewalks, or abandoned disappear into burrows that body size (16-25 inches). They they stand on their hind legs to concrete structures, the eastern they build along these rock have small, rounded ears, a reach a tasty leaf or to look chipmunk or “chippie” will walls. A chipmunk is a really 3 stubby, furry tail, and a around. appear and depart quickly... small ground squirrel: flattened grizzled dark brown, yellowish- 6. MOUSE AND RAT 13. OPOSSUM (Field, forest, near water) Didelphis virginiana (Forest, field, near water) It’s unlikely you will see them, The Norway rat, Rattus 9 but rats and mice norvegicus, has been introduced Drive carefully along the park’s playing dead when frightened. (e.g. Peromyscus sp.) are to habitats throughout the roads at dusk and at night. The Since most predators prefer common in the park. They world and Forest Park is a rich opossum, North America’s fresh meat, the adaptation seek shelter beneath leaves, habitat for this creature. only marsupial, is most active helps protect the opposum by grasses or other ground cover. then. This nocturnal animal is fooling predators. It is little If you are very lucky, you may Another group of rodents, scavenging for its nightly meal, defense against oncoming cars, see them darting about known as voles (Microtus sp.), selecting from “picnic however, that frequently beneath leaf litter searching for are also found in the park. leftovers,” carrion, fresh berries frighten the opossums. small seeds and berries. While people often confuse growing in the park, or Unfortunately playing dead them with a type of mouse, they anything that is available. We does not deter an oncoming have a more rounded body know opossums for their car, and opossums are shape and shorter tail. adaptation of involuntarily commonly killed in roadways. 10. RED AND 11. GRAY FOX Vulpes vulpes and Urocyon cinereoargenteus 6 (Forest, field, near water) 13 Because these animals are is also slightly smaller. Foxes solitary and secretive, they are have been sighted in or near seldom seen. Both are dog-like forests and thickets, and in appearance with elongated, trotting across open fields. pointed muzzles. Tails are They are usually sighted in heavily furred. Approximate early morning or late evening, body lengths are 25-35 inches. when their prey is most active. The red fox has an Foxes are primarily unmistakable reddish-yellow carnivorous, feeding upon coat. The gray fox is rabbits, mice and rats and an 14. HUMAN 7. EASTERN COTTONTAIL RABBIT distinguished from the red fox occasional bird (and occasional Homo sapien (Throughout the park) Sylvilagus floridanus by a gray, coarse coat and Zoo ducks or poultry)! (Fields, near edge of shrub, forest) black-tipped tail. The gray fox The most noticeable park Humans have no wings but mammal, the human, is occasionally ride into the air in While they are commonly seen brown with a wash of gray, primarily a daytime visitor. It giant balloons. During winter, in the morning or early offers fine camouflage and the stands upright on two legs and they may slide down the hill by evening feeding upon grasses, white, cotton-ball tail readily lacks fur over most of its body the Art Museum on pieces of clover and broadleaf weeds in identifies a cottontail rabbit. 10 except the head. Humans are molded plastic. They build big the park’s manicured lawns, Their nests, lined with fine social mammals, but are seen fires to keep warm. Many visit the eastern cottontail rabbit grasses and plucked rabbit fur, both alone and in groups. buildings in the park. prefers the safe cover of brush are little more than shallow They are easily observed along Ironically, they often visit the and trees. They are often seen excavations usually near the the park’s paved areas in large, Zoo to view wildlife from near the edge of forest and base of trees or shrubs. four-wheeled vehicles. Loud, around the world, while they thicket. The coat of reddish rhythmic sounds often remain remain unaware of the emanate from these painted abundant wildlife in the park’s 7 steel beasts. They are also natural areas. sighted on narrower pavement, riding two-wheeled vehicles or gliding along with wheels attached to their feet. 14