Clatsop County Mammals:Eight small prey items for larger creatures…
Broadway Middle SchoolLife Science 2009-2010
Trowbridge’s ShrewSorex trowbridgii
Order Insectivora, Family Soricidae For more information about Soricidae: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Insectivora.html
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/sotr.html
www.ucpress.edu/books/ pages/5776/5776.ch04.html
Identification: two-colored tail.
Range, Habitat and Diet
Habitat:• Open areas• Woodlands• Forests
Diet: • Insects
Most individuals live no longer than 18 months. http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/sotr.html
Townsend’s ChipmunkTamias townsendii
Order Rodentia, Family SciuridaeFor more information about Sciuridae:http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Sciuridae.html
Identification: Chipmunks have stripes on their face; ground squirrels do not.
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/tato.html
Range, Habitat and Diet, etc.
Habitat:• Coniferous forests• BrushDiet: • Seeds, flowers & fruitsHabits, breeding:• Hibernates• One litter per year,
2-6 younghttp://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/tato.html
Douglas Squirrel,Tamiasciurus douglasii
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/tado.html
Identification:• Dark gray on top• Orange underneath• Black stripe from elbow
to knee• Pale eye-ring
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/tado.html
Habitat:• Coniferous forestsDiet: • Seeds of conifers(from the cones)Habits, breeding:• Does not hibernate• 1 to 2 litters per year,
4-6 young
Range, Habitat and Diet, etc.
Northern Flying Squirrel,Glaucomys sabrinus
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/glsa.html
http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpecies_LI.asp?imageID=18791
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site//resources/phil_myers/classic/sabrinus1.jpg/view.html (upper right)
Identification: Large eyes, membrane from elbows to knees for gliding
Range, Habitat and Diet, etc.
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/glsa.html
Habitat:• Coniferous forests• Mixed forestsDiet: • Lichens• Fungus (important: Flying Squirrels disperse fungal spores and bacteria in their
scat that help fix nitrogen; clearcutting breaks that cycle and makes it difficult for the forest to regenerate)
Habits, breeding:• Nocturnal• Glides from trees• One litter per year, 2-5 young
Creeping Vole, Microtus oregoni
http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpecies_LI.asp?imageID=18756
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/mior.html
Identification: Short, bi-colored tail
Range, Habitat and Diet, etc.Habitat:• Grasslands• ForestDiet: • Herbivore (plants)Habits, breeding:• Burrows underground• 4-5 litters per year,
3-4 younghttp://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/mior.html
Townsend’s Vole,Microtus townsendii
Identification:Dark brown above, gray below; feet dusky; large ears.
Total length: 15-25 cmtail: 5-8 cmmass: 40-100 g http://share3.esd105.wednet.edu/rsandelin/NWnature/2005.htm
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/collections/mammalogy/mamwash/rodentia.php#
Range, Habitat and Diet, etc.• Habitat:• Marshes, streams, and wet meadows
• Diet: • Herbivore (plants)
• Habits, breeding:• Burrows underground, can swim• Breeds from early spring through late summer or early
fall; several litters of 1–9 young each; gestation 21–24 days
Red-backed Vole Clethrionomys gapperi
http://www.hubbardbrook.org/image_library/view.php?id=430
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/collections/mammalogy/mamwash/rodentia.php#
Identification:Short tail; red back. Total length: 12-16 cmtail: 3-5 cmmass: 16-42 g.
Range, Habitat and Diet, etc.• Habitat: Forest or meadows in
mountains, damp areas• Diet: Herbivore
• Habits, Reproduction:• Sexually mature at 2–4 months; breeds late
winter to late fall; several litters per year of 2–8 young, with larger litters at higher elevations and latitudes; gestation 17–19 days.
• Red-backed voles can live in the wild to be 20 months. However, most voles only live as long as 12 to 18 months
Deer Mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/pema.html
Identification:• Adults brown on top, white
below• Juveniles gray on top• Bi-colored tail• Large ears
Notes:• Most species tested are positive
for the Hantavirus.• Some Hantavirus strains can kill
humans but not all virus strains are harmful to humans.
More information on Hantavirus from the Centers for Disease Control:http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/
Range, Habitat and Diet, etc.
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/pema.html
Habitat:• Ubiquitous (present in all habitats…everywhere, all the time)
Diet: • Granivore, omnivore, caprophagy
Habits, breeding:• Burrows underground• Many litters per year, 1-11 young
(average is 4-6 young)