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Common Indiana Mammals Purdue extension FNR-413 Common Indiana Mammals Missouri Department of Conservation Authors: Robert N. Chapman and Rod N. Williams Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Purdue University www.purdue.edu/nature Purdue extension FNR-413 Common Indiana Mammals Species Covered 1. Virginia Opossum Authors: Robert N. Chapman and Rod N. Williams, 2. Northern Short-tailed Shrew Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Purdue University 3. Eastern Mole 4. Little Brown Bat Mammals play an integral role in many natural habitats. Knowing more about these intriguing 5. Eastern Pipestrelle animals can help us enjoy and appreciate the diversity of wildlife around us. 6. Big Brown Bat 7. Red Bat Teachers and their students can use these natural history cards to identify different 8. Eastern Cottontail mammalian species and research their habitat, diet, distribution, reproduction, and ecology. 9. Eastern Chipmunk 10. Woodchuck/Groundhog The information on these cards can help students master the following Indiana science standards: 11. Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel 12. Gray Squirrel Targeted Grade-Level Indiana Science Standards 13. Fox Squirrel 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2.1, 1.4.3 14. Red Squirrel 15. Southern Flying Squirrel 2.2.5, 2.4.1, 2.4.2, 2.4.3, 2.4.4 16. Plains Pocket Gopher 3.2.1, 3.4.1, 3.4.2, 3.4.3, 3.4.5 17. American Beaver 4.2.1, 4.4.3, 4.4.6 18. Western Harvest Mouse 19. White-footed Mouse 5.2.1, 5.2.2, 5.4.7, 5.5.8, 5.5.10, 5.6.2, 5.6.3 20. Allegheny Woodrat Acknowledgments 21. Meadow Vole The authors thank Dr. Robert Swihart, Brian MacGowan, and Marne Titchenell for reviewing 22. Muskrat 23. Southern Bog Lemming earlier drafts of this publication. Their comments and suggestions greatly improved the final 24. Meadow Jumping Mouse product. We sincerely thank the Missouri Department of Conservation and Ohio Department 25. Coyote of Natural Resources for providing photos of adult mammals and animal tracks, respectively. 26. Red Fox Mammal skull photos were taken by Robert N. Chapman. 27. Gray Fox 28. Raccoon 29. River Otter 30. Least Weasel 31. American Mink 32. Striped Skunk 33. Bobcat www.purdue.edu/nature 34. White-tailed Deer Glossary of Terms Sources of Information Arboreal­ — inhabiting or frequenting trees References Cache — a hiding place for food Bekoff, M. 1977. Canis latrans. Mammalian Lariviere, S. and M. Pasitschniak-Arts. 1996. Carrion — dead and decaying flesh Species No. 79. American Society of Vulpes vulpes. Mammalian Species No. 537. Mammalogists. 9 pp. American Society of Mammalogists. 11 pp. Crepuscular­— active mostly at dawn or dusk Burt, W. H., R. P. Grossenheider. 1980. A Field Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, Diurnal — active during the daylight hours Guide to the Mammals. Third Edition. Peterson G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2006. Gestation­— carrying of young in the uterus Field Guides No. 5. Houghton Mifflin Company, The Animal Diversity Web (online). New York. 289 pp. (range maps). http://animaldiversity.org. Herbaceous — having little or no woody tissue Castleberry, S. B., W. M. Ford, P. B. Wood, Stone, K. D., G. A. Heidt, P. T. Caster, and M. L. Herbivore — feeding on plants N. L. Castleberry, and M. T. Mengak. 2001. Kennedy. 1997. Using geographic information Hibernation — becoming inactive during the Movements of Allegheny woodrats in relation systems to determine home range of the winter months to timber harvesting. Journal of Wildlife southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans). Management 65(1): 148-156. American Midland Naturalist 137: 106-111. Home­range­— the area in which an animal confines its daily activities Hall, E. R. 1981. Mammals of North America. Taulman, James F., Smith, Kimberly G. 2004. Second edition. John Wiley and Sons, New Home Range, Habitat Selection, and Population Insectivore — feeding on insects York. 234 pp. (Neotoma magister range map) Dynamics of Southern Flying Squirrels in Man- Latrine — a location for use as a toilet Kurta, Allen. 1995. Mammals of the Great Lakes aged Forests in Arkansas. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-74. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of — a mammal that must rear young Region. University of Michigan Press. 376 pp. Marsupial Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research with the aid of a pouch Lariviere, S. 1999. Mustela vison. Mammalian Station. pp. 71-75. Nocturnal — active during the nighttime hours Species No. 608. American Society of Mammalogists. 9 pp. Whitaker, J. O. and W. J. Hamilton. 1998. Omnivore — feeding on both plants and animals Mammals of the Eastern United States. Cornell Lariviere, S. and L. R. Walton. 1997. Lynx rufus. University Press. 583 pp. Scatter­hoarder — hiding food items in many Mammalian Species No. 563. American Society different locations of Mammalogists. 8 pp. Tooth­formula — a numerical expression describing the number of teeth Wean — to prevent young from nursing Web Sites American Society of Mammalogists — http://www.mammalsociety.org/publications/index.html How to Interpret a Tooth Formula Animal Diversity Web — http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html I 5/4 C 1/1 P 3/3 M 4/4 = 50 Ohio Department of Natural Resources — http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/ Incisors are abbreviated I, canines C, premolars P, and molars M. To arrive at the total number of teeth, sum the numbers 05/10 (5+4+1+1+3+3+4+4 = 25) and multiply by two (25 x 2 = 50). It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service that all persons have equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, services, activities, and facilities without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, disability or status as a veteran. Purdue University is an Affirmative Action institution. This material may be available in alternative formats. Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana SKULL TRACK Ohio Department of Natural Resources Bob Gress 1 Purdue extension Virginia Opossum Order: Didelphimorphia Department of Forestry & Natural Resources Didelphis virginiana Family: Didelphidae General Description: Virginia opossums are the only marsupials very early stage in development. Only the hands and mouth are in North America. They are about the size of house cats and have developed and enable the young to climb up and into the mother’s coarse, grayish-white fur. The black ears and tails are hairless pouch where they remain for two months. Two to three litters are and leathery in appearance. They have very long heads with produced each year. pointed snouts. The Virginia opossum has a clawless and opposable hind toe, called the “hallux,” which acts much like a Ecology and Behavior: Virginia opossums are shy, secretive, human thumb. and nocturnal animals that are active throughout the year. They spend most of their time on the ground wandering around in Weight: 2.0-5.5 kg (4.4-12 lbs) search of food, but they are accomplished climbers. They can hang from limbs with the help of their tails. Virginia opossums are Total Length: 650-850 mm (26-33 in) most famous for their theatrical behavior of “playing possum.” An opossum may feign death for up to six hours if confronted with a Tooth Formula: I 5/4 C 1/1 P 3/3 M 4/4 = 50, more teeth than any other threatening situation. mammal in North America Conservation Status: Virginia opossums are common Life Span: 2 years in the wild, 4 years in captivity throughout Indiana. Habitat: Virginia opossums are very adaptable marsupials and occur in a wide range of habitats. They prefer forested regions but will inhabit agricultural areas, brushy rural areas, and both suburban and urban areas. Home Range: 5-120 ha (12-264 acres) Food Habits: Virginia opossums are opportunistic omnivores. Common food items include earthworms, insects, bird eggs, small mammals, amphibians, fruits, seeds, and mushrooms. In many urban and suburban areas, they will supplement the diet with dog and cat food and garbage, if available. Reproduction: Mating occurs in mid- to late winter. Gestation Adapted from Burt and Grossenheider (1980) averages only 13 days. Eighteen or more young are born at a Northern Short-tailed Shrew Blarina brevicauda SKULL NO TRACK AVAILABLE Missouri Department of Conservation TRACK 2 Purdue extension Northern Short-tailed Shrew Order: Soricomorpha : Soricidae Department of Forestry & Natural Resources Blarina brevicauda Family General Description: Northern short-tailed shrews have short tails, Reproduction: Mating occurs from March to September. Gestation long pointed snouts, and small eyes. The ears are small and hidden averages 21-22 days. Litters can range from one to nine. Females under their fur. They are mouse-sized with dark brownish-black fur may produce up to four litters per year. on the back and silvery gray fur on the belly. As with all New World shrews, they have reddish-brown or chestnut-tipped teeth. Ecology and Behavior: Northern short-tailed shrews are solitary and primarily nocturnal, but can be active during the day as well. Weight: 11-26 g (0.39-0.92 oz) They have voracious appetites, consuming as much as three times their weight in food every day to support their high metabolisms. Total Length: 108-140 mm (4.4-5.5 in) The constant foraging is interspersed with frequent naps. The northern short-tailed shrew is one of only two mammals that Tooth Formula: I 3/1 C 1/1 P 3/1 M 3/3 = 32 produce a toxic secretion in the salivary glands. This toxin is able to kill small mammals by inducing respiratory failure. The toxin Life Span: Less than 1 year in the wild, 2 years in captivity only causes swelling and irritation in humans and is not fatal.
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