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Creator: Hines, Bob
Coypu,
Nutria, Mycastor
coypus
 Nutria |
Nutria is an invasive species brought to the U.S. from south
America by trappers who thought to capitalize on the sale
of their fur. The species has taken over rivers and lakes
causing lots of trouble and habitat damage. US Fish and Wildlife
Service biologists want to keep track of nutria and work hard
to study its behavior and population size without harming
them.
The next photo was taken in conjunction with USFWS and Pangolin
Film's effort to create awareness surrounding the dangers
of the spreading non-native nutria populations in the northwest
region. |
This area is home to many nutria in Tigard, Oregon.
Photo: Tess McBride |
The coypu (from the Mapudungun, koypu), Myocastor
coypus, also known as the river rat, and nutria, is a
large, herbivorous,
semiaquatic rodent and the only member of the family Myocastoridae.
Originally native to subtropical and temperate South
America, it has since been introduced to North America, Europe,
Asia, and Africa, primarily by fur ranchers.Although it is
still
valued for its fur in some regions, its destructive feeding
and burrowing behaviors make this invasive species a pest
throughout
most of its range.
There are two commonly-used names in the English language
for Myocastor coypus. The name nutria (or local derivatives
such as "nutria- or nutra- rat") is generally used
in North America and Asia; however, in Spanish-speaking countries,
the word nutria
refers to the otter. To avoid this ambiguity, the name coypu
(derived from the Mapudungun language) is used in Latin America
and Europe. In France, the coypu is known as a ragondin. In
Dutch it is known as beverrat (beaver rat). In Italy, instead,
the
popular name is, as in North America and Asia, nutria, but
it is also called castorino (little beaver), by which its
fur is known in Italy.
Coypus live in burrows alongside stretches of water. They
feed on river plants, and waste close to 90% of the plant
material
while feeding on the stems. |
Nutria
in water,
Mycastor coypus
Photo: Hillebrand
Steve |
The coypu somewhat resembles a very large
rat, or a beaver with a small tail. Adults are typically 5–9
kg in weight, and 40–60 cm
in body length, with a 30–45 cm tail. They have a coarse,
darkish brown outer fur with a soft under-fur. Two distinguishing
marks
are the presence of a white patch on the muzzle, and webbed
hind feet. They can also be identified by their bright orange-yellow
incisor teeth (unlike rats, which have brownish yellow incisors).
The nipples of female coypu are high on her flanks. This allows
their young to feed while the female is in the water. |
|
Text
about the Nutria: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coypu
|
Black-Footed Ferret, Mustela nigripes
Black-Footed
Ferret, Mustela nigripes
Photo: Hagerty, Ryan |
This photo was taken at the Black-Footed Ferret Recovery
Program in Colorado. The black-footed ferret is considered
to
be the rarest mammal in North America. In 1988, the U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service developed the "Black-footed
Ferret
Recovery Plan" which emphasized species preservation
through natural breeding, development of assisted reproductive
technology, and establishment of multiple reintroduction
sites. The objective of the captive breeding program was
to maintain
240 ferrets (90 males, 150 females) of prime breeding age
(1-3 years old) in captivity, and subdivide the captive
populaton
into different locations in order to avoid catastrophic
loss at a single facility.
Ferrets were released back into the wild in Wyoming in 1991,
in South Dakota and Montana in 1994, and in Arizona in 1998.
The Colorado reintroduction started in 2001. Since then
a total of 170 ferrets have been released in the state;
20 more will
be released in October.
For more information about black-footed
ferrets and program visit http://www.blackfootedferret.org/.
For more listing information and the status visit http://ecos.fws.gov/species_profile/servlet/gov.doi.species_profile.servlets.SpeciesProfile?spcode=A004 |
Black-Footed
Ferret, Mustela nigripes
Photo: Hagerty, Ryan |
The Black-footed Ferret, Mustela nigripes, also known
as the American polecat or Prairie Dog Hunter, is a species
of Mustelid
native to central North America. It is listed as endangered
by the IUCN, because of its very small and restricted populations.
First discovered by Audubon and Bachman in 1851, the species
declined throughout the 20th century, primarily as a result
of
decreases in prairie dog populations and sylvatic plague. It
was declared extinct in 1979 until Lucille Hogg's dog brought
a dead
black-footed ferret to her door in Meeteetse, Wyoming in 1981.
That remnant population of a few dozen ferrets lasted there
until
the animals were considered extinct in the wild in 1987.
The black-footed ferret is roughly the size of a mink, and differs
from the European polecat by the greater contrast between its
dark limbs and pale body and the shorter length of its black
tail-tip. In contrast, differences between the black-footed
ferret and
the steppe polecat of Asia are slight, to the point where the
two species were once thought to be conspecific.The only noticeable
differences between the black-footed ferret and the steppe polecat
are the former's much shorter and coarser fur, larger ears,
and longer postmolar extension of the palate.
It is largely nocturnal and solitary, except when breeding or
raising litters. Up to 91% of its diet is composed of prairie
dogs.
|
Black-Footed
Ferret, Mustela nigripes
Photo: Black, Tami S. |
Males measure 50–53 cm in body length and 11 –13
cm in tail length, thus constituting 22–25% of its body
length. Females are
typically 10% smaller than males. It weighs 650–1,400 grams.
Captive-bred ferrets used for the reintroduction projects were
found to be smaller than their wild counterparts, though these
animals rapidly attained historical body sizes once released.
The black-footed ferret is solitary, except when breeding or
raising litters. It is nocturnal and primarily hunts for sleeping
prairie
dogs in their burrows. It is most active above ground from dusk
to midnight and 4 a.m. to mid-morning. Aboveground activity
is
greatest during late summer and early autumn when juveniles
become independent. Climate generally does not limit black-footed
ferret activity, but it may remain inactive inside burrows for
up to 6 days at a time during winter. |
|
Text
about the Black-footed_ferret:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-footed_ferret
|
Black-tailed
prairie dog,
Cynomys ludovicianus
Black-Tailed
prairie dog eating on Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma
Photo:
Smith, Elise |
The black-tailed prairie dog, Cynomys ludovicianus, is
a rodent of the family Sciuridae found in the Great Plains
of North America
Great
Plains near Lincoln, Nebraska
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Great_Plains_Nebraska_USA1.jpg
|
from about the USA-Canada border to the USA-Mexico border. Unlike
some other prairie dogs, these animals do not truly
hibernate. The black-tailed prairie dog can be seen above ground
in midwinter. A black-tailed prairie dog town in Texas was
reported to cover 64,000 km2and included 400,000,000 individuals.
Prior to habitat destruction, this species was probably the
most abundant prairie dog in central North America.
Black-tailed prairie dogs are generally tan in color, with lighter-colored
bellies. Their tails have black tips, from which their name
is derived. Adults can weigh from 0.7 to 1.4 kg, males are typically
heavier than females. Body length is normally from 36 to 43
cm, with a 7.6 to 10 cm tail. |
Black-tailed
prairie dog, Cynomys ludovicianus
Photo: Stolz, Gary M. |
|
Black-tailed prairie dogs are diurnal. Aboveground activity
is reduced when rain or snow is falling and during days when
the
temperature exceeds 38°C. They do not hibernate, but may
become dormant for short periods.
Black-tailed prairie dogs are native to grassland habitats
in North America. They inhabit shortgrass prairie, mixed-grass
prairie,
sagebrush steppe, and desert grassland.
Eagle
hunting black-tailed prairie dogs
Video:
Mike Birkhead Associates
Audio The Hollywood Edge & Films@59
www.arkive.org
|
Habitat preferences for the black-tailed prairie dog are influenced
by vegetative cover type, slope, soil type, and amount of
rainfall. Their foraging and burrowing activities influence
environmental heterogeneity, hydrology, nutrient cycling,
biodiversity,
landscape architecture, and plant succession in grassland
habitats.
|
Prairie
Dog
Photo:
Dobert, Claire |
Black-tailed prairie dogs are selective opportunists,
preferring certain phenological stages or types of vegetation
according to
their needs. When forage is stressed by grazing, drought, or
herbicides, they change their diets quickly. Grasses are preferred
over forbs, and may comprise more than 75% of their diets, especially
during summer. Western wheatgrass, buffalo grass, blue
grama and sedges, Carex spp. are preferred during spring
and summer. Scarlet globemallow, Sphaeralcea coccinea
and
Russian thistle, Salsola kali are preferred during late summer
and fall, but are sought out during every season.During winter,
plains
prickly pear , Opuntia polyacantha, Russian thistle,
and underground roots are preferred. Shrubs such as rabbitbrush
Chrysothamnus spp., winterfat, Krascheninnikovia lanata,
saltbush, Atriplex spp., and sagebrush, Artemisia
spp. are also
commonly eaten.Water, which is generally not available on the
short-grass prairie, is obtained from vegetation such as plains
prickly pear. Cutworms, grasshoppers, and old or fresh American
bison scat are occasionally eaten. |
|
Text
about the Black-tailed
Prairie Dog: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-tailed_prairie_dog
|
San
Joaquin kit fox, Vulpes macrotis mutica
San
Joaquin kit fox, Vulpes macrotis mutica
Photo:
Peterson, B. "Moose" |
The kit fox, Vulpes macrotis is a fox
species of North America. Its range is primarily in the southwestern
United States and
northern and central Mexico.
The Kit fox has no recognized subspecies, although some populations
have been proposed as subspecies.
The San Joaquin kit fox, Vulpes macrotis mutica,
was formerly common in the San Joaquin Valley of California.
Its 1990
population was estimated to be 7,000, and it is now considered
endangered. On September 26, 2007, Wildlands Inc. announced
the designation of the 2.77 km2 Deadman Creek Conservation Bank,
which is intended specifically to protect habitat of the
San Joaquin Kit fox.Causes of population declines include heavy
competition with the red fox and habitat loss.
The desert kit fox, Vulpes macrotis arsipus, lives
in the Mojave Desert.
The Southern California kit fox, Vulpes macrotis macrotis,
was a population of kit foxes native to desert regions of
Southern California which became extinct in 1903.
So much from Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit_fox |
San
Joaquin kit fox, Vulpes macrotis mutica
Photo:
Peterson, B. "Moose" |
| The San Joachin kit fox inhabits the chaparral,
grasslands, and scrublands of the San Joaquin Valley of California,
USA. Kit foxes live in dens. They also live in man made structures
such as irrigation pipes, drainage culverts, spaces under buildings
and storm drains.
The San Joaquin kit fox is the largest of the 8 subspecies
of kit foxes. An adult kit fox stands 22-30 cm at the shoulder
and
averages about 50 cm in body length. Its tail adds another
30 cm. Fully grown, the kit fox weighs about 2.3 kg.
A pair of San Joachin kit foxes stay together year round,
but may not share a den. They can have as many as 24 different
dens.
They reach sexual maturity at 22 months and mate from December
to March. The female is pregnant for 48 to 52 days.
There can be 3-5 pups born at a time in a litter. They dig
special pupping dens with several rooms. While the female
is nursing
the pups, the male hunts for both of them. After 1 month the
pups are weaned and leave the den. After 4-5 months the pups
can find their own food and leave the family.
|
San
Joaquin kit foxes, Vulpes macrotis mutica
Photo:
Peterson, B. "Moose" |
San Joachin kit foxes eat ground squirrels, gophers, birds,
and lizards and nocturnal rodents. They also eat kangaroo rats,
mice,
black-tailed hares, antelope squirrels, cottontails, ground
nesting birds, insects, vegetation, and grasses. As they eat
both animals
and vegetation, they are omnivores.
The San Joachin kit fox's predators are coyotes and red foxes.
Man is also a predator because he sometimes shoots or
poisons the San Joachim kit fox.
The kit fox is also threatened by man through hunting, electrocution,
traffic, trapping and poisoning. The farmer might do this
because the kit fox is bothering his chickens and other farm
animals. Much of the San Joaquin Valley has been turned into
farmland and developments. Grazing animals have destroyed
the chaparral that protected the kit fox's prey. The Fish
and
Wildlife Service of California has put the San Joachim kit
fox on the threatened wildlife list.
|
California's
San Joaquin Valley and Central Valley.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:California%27s_Central_Valley.JPG
|
|
Text
about the San
Joaquin Fox: Vaughn R. 2002
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/san_joachim_kit_fox.htm
|
Bighorn
Sheep, Ovis canadensis
Bighorn
Sheep at Point of Rocksn Nevada
Ash Meadows
National Wildlife Refuge, USFWS |
The bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis is
a species of sheep in North America named for its large
horns. These horns can weigh up
to 14 kg, while the sheep themselves weigh up to 140 kg.
Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct
subspecies
of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis
canadensis sierrae.
Bighorn
sheep - overview
BBC
Natural History Unit & Master Tracks
www.arkive.org
|
Bighorn sheep are named for the large, curved horns borne
by the rams (males). Ewes (females) also have horns, but
they are
shorter with less curvature. They range in color from light
brown to grayish or dark, chocolate brown, with a white
rump and
lining on the back of all four legs. Males typically weigh
58–143 kg, are 90–100 cm tall at the shoulder,
and 180–200cm) long
from the nose to the tail. Females are typically 34–85
kg, 76–91 cm tall and 140–170 cm long. Male bighorn
sheep have large
horn cores, enlarged cornual and frontal sinuses and internal
bony septa. These adaptations serve to protect the brain
by
absorbing the impact of clashes. Bighorn sheep have pre-orbital
glands on the anterior corner of each eye, inguinal glands
in the groin and pedal glands on each foot. Secretions from
these glands may support dominance behaviors.
Owens
Valley, California, and the eastern escarpment of
the Sierra Nevada mountains
Photo:
G. Thomas, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SierraEscarpmentCA.jpg |
Bighorns from the Rocky Mountains are relatively large,
with males that occasionally exceed 230 kg and females that
exceed
90 kg. In contrast, Sierra Nevada Bighorn males weigh up
to only 90 kg and females to 60 kg. Males' horns can weigh
up to
14 kg, as much as the rest of the bones in the male's body. |
Close
view of male bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis, laying in wildflowers
Photo: Hagerty,
Ryan; , USFWS |
The Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada Bighorn occupy the cooler
mountainous regions of Canada and the United States.
In contrast, the desert bighorn sheep subspecies are indigenous
to the hot desert ecosystems of the Southwestern United States.
Bighorn sheep generally inhabit alpine meadows, grassy mountain
slopes and foothill country near rugged, rocky cliffs and bluffs.
Since bighorn sheep cannot move though deep snow, they prefer
drier slopes where the annual snowfall is less than about 1.5
a year. A bighorn's winter range usually lies 800-1.500m in
elevation, while its summer range is tends to be 1.600-2.500m. |
|
Text
about the Bighorn
Sheep: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bighorn_sheep
|
Bobcat,
Lynx rufus
Bobcat
at Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge |
The bobcat, Lynx rufus, is a North American
mammal of the cat family Felidae.
With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada
to northern Mexico, including most of the continental
United States. The bobcat is an adaptable predator that inhabits
wooded areas, as well as semi-desert, urban edge, forest edges,
and swampland environments. It persists in much of its original
range and populations are healthy.
With a gray to brown coat, whiskered face, and black-tufted
ears, the bobcat resembles the other species of the mid-sized
Lynx genus. It is smaller on average than the Canada
lynx, with which it shares parts of its range, but is about
twice as large as
the domestic cat. It has distinctive black bars on its forelegs
and a black-tipped, stubby tail, from which it derives its name. |
Bobcat in snow |
Though the bobcat prefers rabbits and
hares, it will hunt anything from insects and small rodents
to deer. Prey selection depends
on location and habitat, season, and abundance. Like most cats,
the bobcat is territorial and largely solitary, although there
is
some overlap in home ranges. It uses several methods to mark
its territorial boundaries, including claw marks and deposits
of
urine or feces. The bobcat breeds from winter into spring and
has a gestation period of about two months.
The adult bobcat is 47.5 to 125 cm long from the head to the
base of the tail, averaging 82 cm; the stubby tail adds 9 to
20 cm
and, due to its "bobbed" appearance, it gives the
species its name. An adult stands about 30 to 60 cm at the shoulders.
Adult
males can range in weight from 6.4 to 18.3 kg, with an average
of 9.6 kg; females at 4.1 to 15.3 kg, with an average of 6.8
kg.
The largest bobcat accurately measured on record weighed 22.2
kg, although there are unverified reports of them reaching 27
kg. |
Bobcat
sitting in a tree
Photo: Kramer,
Gary |
The bobcat is crepuscular. It keeps on the move
from three hours before sunset until about midnight, and then
again from before
dawn until three hours after sunrise. Each night it will move
from 3 to 11 km along its habitual route. This behavior may
vary
seasonally, as bobcats become more diurnal during fall and winter.
This is a response to the activity of their prey, which are
more
active during the day in colder months.
Bobcat
at deer carcass, grooms
BBC
Natural History Unit
www.arkive.org
|
The bobcat is able to go for long periods without food, but
will eat heavily when prey is abundant. During lean periods,
it will
often prey on larger animals that it can kill and return to
feed on later. The bobcat hunts by stalking its prey and then
ambushing
it with a short chase or pounce. Its preference is for mammals
about 0.7 to 5.7 kg. Its main prey varies by region. In the
eastern
United States it is the eastern cottontail species, and in the
north it is the snowshoe hare. When these prey species
exist together,
as in New England, they are the primary food sources of the
bobcat. In the far south, the rabbits and hare
are sometimes
replaced by cotton rats as the primary food source. The bobcat
is an opportunistic predator that, unlike the more specialized
Canadian lynx, will readily vary its prey selection. |
|
Text
about the Bobcat: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobcat
|
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That brings
us to the end of page 5 of this North American Wildlife tour.
As per February 21st, 2012, the next pages are not yet ready,
- will they ever be?
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