Interest in animals extends across most sectors of society. Case in point, hardly a day passes without a mention of a favorite sport’s team and its animal mascot. Add in discussions of family pets and culinary discussions and it seems as if animals slip into discussions morning, noon and night.
Two types of animal talk dominate practical conversations. Practical home discussions commonly deal with critter management questions such as how to deal with unwanted rodents (rats, mice, raccoons, squirrels) the critter category, such as rodents, raccoons and the like. Outdoor recreation and travel topics organize the second kind of animals conversations.
Scientists organize their thinking and research about mammals by further dividing them into orders, or groups, that share additional physical characteristics. Depending on the source used, anywhere from twenty six to twenty nine orders of mammals live on earth constituting approximately 5,500 species. Some mammal orders are better known that others. Cross cultural perspectives often produce different lists of favored and unfavored mammals.
With the exception of one or two families, most people, for example, easily recognized the carnivores, especially the larger ocean and land families such as bears, cats, seals and sealions.
Rodentia or rodents (approximately 2,200 species) and Chiorptera or bats (approximately 1,100 species) rank as the two largest mammal orders, constituting around sixty percent of all mammal species. Proboscidea or elephants (3 species) and Sirenia or manatees (5 species) are the two smallest mammal orders.
Bears
American bear culture mirrors the general animal culture. We celebrate the strength of bears by naming sports teams after them. We continue to fear bears, evidenced by popularity of media stories about bear attacks.
Bear identification made simple boils down to the types of bears in North America, specifically the three native bear species, the American Black Bear, Brown Bear and Polar Bear. The all belong to the genus Ursus and a brief review of some fun bear facts follows.
Wild Dogs
Depending on the cultural and historical context, dogs either rule as man’s best friend, or they get classified as both pests and menu items.
The animals known around the world as Canis lupus familiaris are the domesticated versions, bred over the course of thousands of years to either help humans in a work task or to keep them company.
Wild dogs, the undomesticated canidae species, call all the continents of the world (except Antarctica) home. North America hosts coyote, wolf and fox species in four genera: Alopex, Canis, Urocyon and Vulpes.
Four fox species inhabit different areas of the United States:
- The Red Fox
- Gray Fox
- Arctic Fox
- Kit Fox
The picture shows a Kit Fox. It’s a Southwest resident with some additional Western spillover.
They are the smallest of the wild dogs
Nothing says fox like a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) pictured at the top of the page. In fact, one might say it’s a fox so nice they named it twice, and it holds the record as the widest ranging of not only all the Canids, but all of the Carnivores. Highly adaptable, it occupies a variety of North American ecosystems from the Arctic Circle, south to the Florida peninsula.
While they are known to live around residential areas, they are normally wary of human presence. Within their territory, often they can be viewed from a distance on a sunny day taking in some rays and scouting their territory.
Contrary to the name, the Red Fox comes in a variety of colors, including Red, White, Silver (or black) and Cross (Red with a black stripe).
Gray Fox are not quite as wide ranging as the Red Fox, however they can be found in most areas of the United States with the exception of the Pacific Northwest and Upper Rocky Mountains.
The white coat of hair is the easy way to identify the Arctic fox. Actually their coat changes color according to the season to help with camouflage. During the summer season the coast changes to brown. They can be found along the coastal areas of Alaska.
In addition to fox, coyote and wolves constitute the remainder of North American wild dogs. Nothing quite says home on the range like the howl of the Coyote (Canis latrans) or a wolf at night.
Coyotes are native North American wild dog with roots from Alaska to Florida. Unlike their larger relatives, the wolves, coyotes live in small family units rather than large intra-family packs. Occasionally young transients will encroach on an established territory and temporarily join a family pack.
Average coyote size similar to a medium sized domestic dog. Males can weigh in at the forty pound mark, with females often weighing up to twenty five pounds. Like dogs, they easily adapt to human surroundings. Despite their similarities with domesticated dogs, conflating coyote behavior and pet dog behavior can be problematic. In some urban and suburban areas, for example, pet owners receive alerts to keep an eye out for coyote attacks, less their pets become coyote meals. Also unlike dogs, after centuries of hunting, coyotes are wary of human presence, and they often make their appearance in residential neighborhoods during night time hours.
Perhaps the title of most controversial Canid species gets reserved for the Gray Wolf (canis lupis).
Once it ranged extensively through the Northern Hemisphere. Hunted close to extinction, in 1973 they received protection under the terms of the Endangered Species Act. Their subsequent reintroduction to areas of the Pacific Northwest, Upper Mid-west and Southwest continues to spark controversy.
Gray wolf biology, fairly well known, tells the story of carnivores mammals that live and hunt in packs. Depending on the season or territory, packs can consist of a family of adults and young or an intra-family non-competitive or non-breeding individuals.
Group work allows packs to prey on large game in their territory such as deer, elk, moose, caribou, and of course domestic livestock where available.
Wild Cats
Using more relaxed criteria such as cat videos on the internet and sports mascots as popularity measures reminds us that American fondness for cats continues unabated. The story of the world of wild cats, a diverse family (Felidae), begins by noting they inhabit a variety of grassland and forest habitats throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. According to the 2015 International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) taxonomy, formally speaking, the world’s thirty seven species fit into fourteen genera:
To the average North American ear, some of the formal Latin names and common names, especially the big cats such as lions, tigers and leopards, sound more familiar than others. No doubt, the media attention provided for big cat conservation efforts explains the familiarity.
Tigers, the biggest of the big cats, also rank among the most endangered big cats. The IUCN estimates that approximately 5,000 – 7,000 tigers now live in the wild, down from approximately 100,000 at the beginning of the twentieth century. Five or six different tiger subspecies populations are now being monitored.
Regardless of familiarity, most of the North American audience recognizes the physical traits all wild cats share such as keen eyesight, round heads, whiskers, and retractable claws.
Like the domestic house cat, with the exception of lions, most, if not all of the other wild cats lead solitary lifestyles. Unlike the domestic house cat, wild cat populations continue to be stressed by habitat encroachment, and in some instances hunting.
Wild cat enthusiasts have a variety of outdoor travel and recreation opportunities associated with their hobby. Six wild cat species, covering four different genera, call North America home Their range extends through much of the west, making it prime wild cat spotting territory.
- Jaguar (Panthera onca): North America’s only native big cat, sometime inhabits areas of the Southwestern United States. Its full range extends south to Argentina, suggesting it is adaptable to a variety of habitats. Limited range nationally decreases the probability of any regular tourist citings of them in the wild.
- Canada Lynx and Bobcat (Lynx): Along with long legs and short tails, tufts of hair on the top of the ears represents the most unique characteristic of the genus. Many recreation areas throughout the west claim to support bobcat populations. A few northern recreation areas claim to support lynx populations. Local citings are recorded for interested visitors.
- Margays and Ocelots (Leopardus): Seven species of New World Cats (Leopardus), prowl the fields and forests of South, Central and North America, with two species the ocelot and margay, currently living along North America’s southern border. A trip to a local National Wildlife Refuge might be the only way to potentially see either a wild margay or ocelot.
- Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)
Another iconic sports animal, the mountain lion, counts fans across the country. Depending on the team, the North American mountain lion (Puma concolor), goes by different names, including cougars and pumas and Florida Panther.
Designated as North America’s largest breeding wild cat makes it not the king of the jungle, but king of the country. Males can grow up to eight feet in length and can weigh over one hundred pounds. Their coat is typically a uniform color of brown, tan or burnt orange.
Mountain once roamed the entire continental United States. Their East Coast and Midwest populations were decimated in the nineteenth century to make room for western human expansion.
West Coast populations finally stabilized during the 1960s, due primarily to the creation of wilderness areas in the Western United States.
In January 2007, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service adopted a Mark Twain approach to the eastern mountain lion, by assuming they might have been prematurely declared extinct. They announced a status review which promised to bring clarity to the status of the big cat in the east. Upon completion of the review, on March 2, 2011 the USFWS declared the eastern mountain lion extinct, saying,
Although the eastern cougar has been on the endangered species list since 1973, its existence has long been questioned. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) conducted a formal review of the available information and, in a report issued today, concludes the eastern cougar is extinct and recommends the subspecies be removed from the endangered species list.”
Lion fans need not fear a USFWS review that confirms the absence of a breeding population of eastern mountain lions.
Consider the research of the Cougar Network. They state
Western cougar populations have been increasing since the 1960s, largely due to increased legal protection for the cats and to the growth and expansion of prey populations.
The network also continues to document current mountain lion expansion into the Midwest. With a little determination, mountain lions will eventually find their way back east. Go Lions.
Around the Home Critters
Squirrels (Sciuridae), the largest rodent family in terms of the total number of species, blend easily into every type of landscape, from residential areas to forests, fields and deserts, and they divide between three general categories: ground squirrels; tree squirrels and flying squirrels.
Ground Squirrels, including, chipmunks, marmots and prairie dogs, account for the vast majority of native squirrel species (56 of 66 documented species). Their practice of nesting in ground burrows explains their category name.
Most ground squirrels species spend their days foraging for food along the ground, however, some species are known to climb trees.
Golden-mantled ground squirrels), small ground squirrels found in forested areas throughout the Western United States, can easily be confused with chipmunks. The top picture compares the Golden-mantled ground squirrel (in the front) with a striped faced chipmunk in the background. Chipmunks also show stripes on their bodies.
Rock Squirrels
Mexican Ground Squirrel
Estimates vary, however, North America hosts approximately ten different tree squirrel species.
Tree squirrels generally grow to a medium size, allowing them to nest in tree cavities or limbs.
Gray Squirrels and Fox Squirrels rank among the most common tree squirrels found in residential areas across the United States. They are active year round, often visiting backyard bird feeders.
The picture shows a Fox Squirrel.
Chipmunks, a genus of mammals in the squirrel family easily recognized by their facial stripes.
Their practice of building underground dens puts them in the same subfamily as ground squirrels and prairie dogs.
With over twenty native chipmunk species, the Western United States represents ground central for the world’s chipmunk population.
Small, cute and almost constantly in motion, it’s no wonder that Alvin and his pals would find their way south, to Hollywood stardom.
The large number of native chipmunk species makes it difficult to identify any one species in areas that host multiple species.
The Townsend’s Chipmunk, in the picture inhabits coniferous forests in the Pacific Northwest.
Animal enthusiasts exist in all families. When it comes to dealing with the types of animals that share space in residential areas, family members may agree or disagree on what constitutes a problem animal, or what are often called critters or pests, in the home or garden.
This guide to your basic homes and garden critters begins with rabbits. The Leporidae family consists of approximately fifty different types of rabbit and hare species. Cottontail rabbits account for most of the responsibility for gardeners considering rabbits as garden nuisances.
Raccoons get recognized as the neighborhood garbage bandits.
Families bothered by neighborhood raccoons are therefore often encouraged to keep strong lids on top of the garbage cans.
Less well known is that fact that raccoons also display a mean streak when it comes to pets, especially cats.
Controlling skunks around the home and preventing family members, including pets, from getting sprayed by skunks can be as easy as following a few skunk preventative steps.
Step one is know your skunk’s food and shelter preferences. While all skunks are classified as carnivores, omnivore might better describe their dietary habits. Homeowners living in prime skunk habitat should be aware of removing pet food, garbage and other potential food sources from the yard.
All skunk species are known for their use of discharging an unpleasant chemical as a defense mechanism. Whenever a discussion of skunks arises, so too does the age old issue regarding removal of skunk gunk, the odor created when the skunk sprays its chemical defense. One of the most highly recommended organic remedies goes as follows: In a large, open container:
- mix 1 quart fresh hydrogen peroxide
- with 1/4 cup baking soda
- with 1 teaspoon of liquid laundry soap or dish washing detergent
Use the mixture immediately on the affected area, dog, person, clothes etc., al.
Rinse and repeat if necessary.
The hydrogen peroxide and baking soda combine to break down the oily substances in the skunk spray.
Despite their state wide range, opossums normally don’t pose too great of a problem for people living in residential areas.
First, they tend to be wanderers and don’t dig burrows or nests in order to create a permanent home in the yard. Second, their diet consists of many potential back yard pests such as insects, rodents and garbage. Finally, they are nocturnal animals not known to be aggressive to humans or pets as with raccoons.
The nine-banded armadillo, a non-native species, once crossed the border into the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. In a short one hundred and fifty year period the Armadillo’s range has extended north, east and west.
Walking was, and is, their preferred mode of transportation. When necessary, they climb. When all else failed, they also swim. Interestingly enough, an armadillo possesses the ability to holds its breath and walk along the bottom of a shallow waterway, or it can swallow a substantial amount of air, inflate its stomach and float.
As a novelty animal, armadillos were exported to other states for exhibit. Additional releases and continued northern migration has resulted in their current range now extending from Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.
Monkeys
For all the traditional reasons, including the human link, monkeys ranks as some of the most popular animals going, in spite of the fact that they are not native North American animals. This introductory discussion of the different types of monkeys that share the earth with humans needs to be tempered with the fact that primate taxonomy changes over time. For example, according to the IUCN/SCC Primate Specialist group, seventy five new primate species have been documented since the year 2000.
While, the word monkey and primate often get used interchangeably, formally the term primate refers to an order of mammals that includes monkeys, great apes, lesser apes and lemurs. Fortunately simplicity reigns in formal primate language, and as a basic rule of thumb, two types of primates inhabit the fields and forests of Africa, Asia and Central and South America, based primarily on the physical characteristic of brain size to body size ratio.
- Haplorrhini: the tarsiers, great apes and monkeys
- Strepsirrhini: non-tarsier prosimians
A quick review of some basic facts covering both groups follows.
Despite some large formal numbers, it’s fairly easy to remember the Strepsirrhini group as lemurs. It consists of approximately one hundred and twenty species in seven separate families. Most, not all, Strepsirrhini species are lemurs, and most, not all Strepsirrhini species are indigenous to Madagascar. Species from two Strepsirrhini families, Galagidae and Lorisida, inhabit Africa and Asia.
Lemur populations continue to come under extraordinary stress.According to a June 2014 press release by the IUCN
The IUCN Red List update confirms reports that 94% of lemurs are threatened with extinction. Of the 101 surviving lemur species, 22 are Critically Endangered, including the largest of the living lemurs, the Large-bodied Indri (Indri indri). A total of 48 are Endangered, such as the world’s smallest primate, Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur (Microcebus berthae), and 20 are Vulnerable. This makes them one of the most threatened groups of vertebrates on Earth.
Ring-tailed Lemurs like the ones pictured, and a few other lemur species, are common residents at zoos and other animal parks throughout North America.
Think old world and new world when thinking monkeys. Old world monkeys refers to the approximately one hundred and twenty five species indigenous to Africa and Asia. New world monkeys refers to the approximately one hundred and thirty five species of Central and South America.
Ungulates
We know them as our favorite farm animals, cows, horses, pigs, sheep and goats. Formally they are called ungulates, a general term given to both the domestic and wild hoofed animals.
With the exceptions of Australia and New Zealand, wild ungulate populations inhabit most of the world’s grasslands and some forest areas. Outdoor travel and recreation that includes visiting local ungulate populations is the stuff of American song. Deer, antelope and more ungulates graze the fields from coast to coast. Here are some representative species, starting with the iconic buffalo, whose story runs deep in the country’s culture and history.
At one time, tens of millions of wild bison roamed American grasslands. Western expansion and the wholesale bison hunts that came with it, ultimately reduced the population counted in hundreds. Many of the remaining bison were bred with cattle, leaving a small pure bred population to survive in Yellowstone National Park and a few other areas. The Yellowstone bison population, first protected at the turn of the nineteenth century, now fluctuates from 2300 to 4500 animals, and the park remains a popular buffalo tourist destination.
Native Americans called them Wapiti, meaning elk (Cercus elaphus). Historically, six elk subspecies roamed the grasslands of North America. Hunting and human settlement drove two subspecies, the Eastern elk (Cercus elaphus Canadensis) and the Merriam elk (Cevus elaphus marriami) to extinction.
Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti), one of the remaining subspecies, live in the coast forests of the Pacific Northwest and California.
The species is known not only for its size, second only to moose in the deer family (Cervidae), but also for its white rump patch. Males, like the one in the top picture, can weigh up to one thousand pounds. Their annual antler growth makes them a formidable foe against all natural predators in their territory, save humans.
In 1938 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation creating the Olympic National Park, on the coastal area of Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, intending it to be an elk sanctuary. Seventy years later, the park is home to a thriving elk herd.
Without a doubt, the White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) receives the title of the most wide spread of all North American ungulates. They can be found inhabiting grasslands and woodlands from Canada, south through Mexico, and even into northern South America.
Their wide range translates into close to forty different documented subspecies, with most sharing some basic physical traits. Generally white-tailed deer are medium sized animals, about three and one-half feet tall, weighing about 250 pounds. Males grow antlers from March-August and shed them on an annual basis.
Other than breeding season, White-tailed deer often live in gender differentiated social groups.
Mustelids
The family Mustelidae, also known as Mustelids, constitute the largest family of carnivores in terms of number of species. With few exceptions, they also rank among the smallest family of carnivores in terms of physical size. Like the pictured badger, mustelids tend to be short, thin, fur bearing mammals.
Eleven mustelid species inhabit North America. The sea otter and black-footed ferret are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Finding any mustelid species in the wild can be easy. All local, state and national park information web sites provide information on local wildlife viewing opportunities. The large number of mustelid species means at least one species can be spotted in most wild areas from coast to coast.
The Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata), ranks as both the largest and widest ranging of the three North American weasels, making a spotting of one in the wild more probable than not.
Most open space with rocks or abandoned burrows that offer adequate food and water sources serve as suitable habitat.
Mature males grow up to two feet long, including the black tipped tail.
While often nocturnal, the picture shows they make the occasional day appearance to investigate visitors in their territory.