Mustelids
Bat
Beaver
Bobcat
Coyote
Deer & Elk
Gophers
Hares & Rabbits
Mustelids
Porcupine
Raccoon
Rats & Mice
Shrews
Squirrels
|
|
|
|
Species: Taxidea taxus |
|
|
Description: Short, flat body with short legs. Shaggy, grizzled fur that is gray to brown. Short, bushy tail. Face is dark brown or black with white cheeks and a white stripe from the nose to the neck. It has a pointed nose. The feet are large and have big claws. |
|
|
Habitat:
Open plains and prairie, farmland and the dge of wooded areas.
|
Food: Ground squirrels, rats, gophers, and mice make up most of the badger's diet. It digs its prey out of the ground with its strong, sharp claws. The badger will sometimes dig into the burrow of an animal and wait for it to return. Coyotes often will stand by while badgers are burrowing and catch animals that come out of a tunnel trying to escape the badger. Badgers also eat snakes, birds and reptiles. It will sometimes bury extra food to eat later. The badger subsists on a diet of small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Unlike many carnivores that stalk their prey in open country, the badger catches most of its food by digging. It can tunnel after ground dwelling rodents with amazing speed.
|
|
Range: In the United States, the American badger is found from the west coast to Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. It is also found in southern Canada in British Columbia, Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Found across the state of Washington, except in the extreme eastern part: may be extending its range eastward in response to changing land-use patterns.
|
Reproduction: The reproduction of this species is quite interesting. Although mating occurs in early autumn, embryos are arrested early in development. Embryos are held in a sort of suspended animation until until December- February, when they implant into the uterine wall and resume their development. Thus, althought a female is technically pregant for 7 months, the embryos develop for a mere 6 weeks. Litters of 1-5 offspring are born in early spring. Females are able to mate when they are 4 months old, but males do not mate until the autumn of their second year. |
|
Other: |
More information: |
|
|
|
|
Species: Mustela vison |
|
|
Description: Sleek-bodied, with lustrous chocolate brown to black fur white spotting on chin and throat. The tail is long, and somewhat bushy. Males are larger than females. |
|
|
Habitat: In dens along rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, and marshes. |
Food: Hunts in ponds and streams. It eats muskrats, rabbits, mice, chipmunks, fish, snakes, frogs, and birds. |
|
Range: Most of the United States and Canada except Arizona, southern California, south and central Utah, southren New Mexico, and west Texas. |
Reproduction:Males mate with several females, but only live with one. Litters of 1-10 young are born in April or May. The young are blind and furless at birth. They are weaned within 5-6 weeks. |
|
Other: |
More information: |
|
|
|
|
Species: Mustela frenata |
|
|
Description: Weasels are 12-18 inches long and weigh as much as 9 ounces. Females are a little smaller than males. Most weasels are brown on the back and sides with white, yellowish or tan underneath. Some change to white in the winter. |
|
|
Habitat: They make dens in rock piles, under stumps, and in empty burrows. |
Food: Weasels are carnivores. They eat mice, squirrels, insects, earthworms, frogs, rabbits, shrews, snakes and birds.. |
|
Range: Western United States |
Reproduction: Females give birth to 4-8 young at a time. |
|
Other: Weasels are active at night. When they are frightened they spray musk, a really bad smelling liquid. |
More information : Weasels (Think Quest Virtual Zoo)
|
|
|
|
|
Species: Mephitis mephitis |
|
|
Description: Adult skunks are about 2 feet long, tails are 7-10 inches long. They weigh 3-12 pounds, depending on age, sex, and physical conditions. Males are 15% larger than females. They are mostly black with a white occurring stripe in the middle of the back and forehead. |
|
|
Habitat:Skunks favor mixed wooded areas and brushlands. They also lived is rolling weedy fields, fencecrows, wooded ravines and rocky outocrops near agriculture areas. |
Food: They eat fresh fruit in the fall and winter such as mild grapes, cherries. They also eat mammals like moles, mice, voles, and shrews,grasses leaves and buds. |
|
Range: Commonly found in 48 states, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. |
Reproduction: Males and females get together during Febuary and March. Males fight with each other. Males breed with as many females as possible. A mated female drives off males shortly after the 3 day estrus period. After 60 days she has 2-10 young. At birth skunks weigh less than a ounce. They are blind and do not have fur at birth. |
|
Other: Skunks don't hibernate. |
More information: |
