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[1] Version 1.0 16 December 2016

Wildlife Fact Sheets There are many animal and bird species found in North America. Depending on the hunter education program in

your state/province you may be tested on identification of game species. If you choose to go hunting, you must

learn how to identify the animals and birds. The information on the following pages contains common game species

found in North America. We encourage you to study those species found in your state or province.

By studying the extra information section, you should be able to:

1. Identify common terminology used for wildlife

2. Identify common game animals

3. Identify common game birds

4. Identify rare and endangered species

This section is broken into: game animals, game birds, waterfowl, exotics and protected and endangered species.

Common game animals

Deer family (Cervidae): deer (blacktailed, mule, white-tail), moose, elk, caribou

Cat family (Felidae): cougar, lynx, bobcat

Dog family (Canidae): wolf, coyote, fox,

Bear family (Ursidae): black, grizzly, polar

Cattle family (Bovidae): sheep, goats, bison

Squirrel (Sciuridae): ground squirrel (woodchuck) tree squirrels (fox squirrel, gray squirrel, red

squirrel)

Hares and rabbit family (Laporidae): snowshoe hare, jackrabbits, cottontail

Porcupine

Beaver

Raccoon

Muskrat

Opossum

Weasel family: wolverine, badger, fisher, marten, mink, shortail weasel, long-tailed weasel, least

weasel, river otter, sea otter

Common game birds

Upland game birds: ptarmigan, spruce grouse, blue grouse, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, ring-

necked pheasant, gray partridge, chukar, bobwhite quail, California quail, mountain quail, scaled quail, wild

turkey

Upland migratory gamebirds: mourning dove, white-winged dove, band-tailed pigeon, rock dove

Waterfowl

(note – to learn more about Waterfowl identification, you can get "Ducks at a Distance" FREE from

www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/tools/duckdist/duckdist.htm This colorful guide is full of tips and illustrations to

help identify ducks and geese on the wing. Every duck hunter should have it!)

Swans: tundra swan, mute swan

Geese: Canada goose, snow goose, Ross' goose, white-fronted goose, black brant

Dabbling ducks: mallard, pintail, American wigeon, northern shoveler, gadwall, wood duck, green-

winged teal, blue-winged teal, cinnamon teal

http://www.papabearent.com/

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/tools/duckdist/duckdist.htm



Diving Ducks: canvasback, redhead, bufflehead, greater scaup, lesser scaup, ring-necked duck, ruddy

duck, common goldeneye, Barrow's goldeneye

Mergansers: common merganser, red-breasted merganser, hooded merganser

Sea Ducks: harlequin, common eider, king eider, old squaw, white-winged scoter, surf scoter

Shorebirds and Wading Birds: common snipe, American woodcock, purple gallinule, common

moorhen, rails, American coot, sandhill crane

Exotics

Protected, Rare and Endangered Species




Deer Family (Cervidae)

The deer family are hoofed mammals that include deer, elk, moose and caribou. In

North America you can find white-tailed deer and mule deer. Black-tailed deer are

found in in the pacific northwest, and are a sub-species of the mule deer.

Predators of deer include cougar, domestic dogs, wolves, coyotes, lynx, bobcat and

bear, probably in that order of importance, Fawns are particularly vulnerable,

although predation is an important natural process that serves to weed out sick and

weak animals from the prey population. Larger predators scatter herds on wintering

ranges to some extent, thereby achieving wider utilization of browse.

Deer may be in competition for food with cattle, sheep, elk and moose.

It is usually only in the spring that deer feed on grass and at this period they are in competition with cattle and other

grazers.

While deer and moose eat many of the same foods, at the critical winter period deer and moose are separated to

some extent by the deer's inability to move easily in snow deeper than about 1 1/2 feet (.5 m).

Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus)

Other similar species: Columbia black-tailed deer; Sitka black-tailed deer

Size:

3 ft. (90 cm) tall at shoulder.

Bucks (males) weigh up to 405 lb. (205 kg); does (females) up

to160 lb. (70 kg).

Distribution in North America:

Tracks

front: 2 1/2" x 3"

hind: 2 1/4" x 2 3/4"

Habitat:

Lives in a wide variety of habitats such as coniferous forests, desert shrub land, grassland with

shrubs and the mixed boreal forests of the north.

Favors openings in these areas, browsing on shrubs and twigs (and grass and herbs at times).

In summer they tend to migrate to higher elevations and move to lower elevations with less snowfall

in the winter.

Winter range is often shared with elk, white-tailed deer and domestic cattle.

Mule deer and the two black-tailed

deer species are subspecies of the

same species, Odocoileus hemionus.

They are mainly separated by

geography, size, to some extent color

and behavior.




Notes:

Largest of the three native deer species (mule, black-tailed, white-tailed).

Antlers grow in forked pairs (unlike white-tailed deer antler which has one main beam with

unbranched tines).

White rump patch with narrow, black-tipped tail.

Very large ears (where it gets its name).

Light face and muzzle with dark forehead.

When startled, will run with high, stiff-legged bounce.

May stop to look back when running for cover.

Be sure to check local regulations for hunting or trapping information on this species.

More Information: Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus)

Mule deer are more curious than white-tailed deer and are often seen in open areas. When running for cover, they

often pause to look back, giving the hunter a good opportunity for a standing shot. When startled, they bounce high

and stiff-legged as if on springs ("stotting"); because of the great distance covered with each bound the mule deer

appears to spend most of its time in the air. If not as alarmed, they also will walk, trot or gallop. The fawns and

does, though seldom heard, make a bleat; bucks have a guttural grunt, especially during the rut; both sexes snort

when alarmed.

The rut usually occurs in November/December and bucks compete by threatening, pushing, fighting and bush-

thrashing. Twin fawns are born after 6 to 7 months. Mule and black-tailed deer do not have strong social bonding

and will be found either alone or in small groups. Mule deer are sometimes seen in larger groups.

The antlers of the male mule deer grow in forked pairs. Each antler has two main beams, and each of these split

again as the animal matures. (This is in contrast to the white-tailed deer antler, which has one main beam with

unbranched tines coming off it; see figure.) Mule deer may also have a single "brow tine" near the base of the antler,

which is often quite small. A mule deer's rack (both antlers together) curves out to the side, then up (in contrast to

the whitetail whose rack wraps forwards; see diagram). Antlers are used for fighting during the rut and then are shed

between January and March. The older bucks shed their antlers first. Antlers are regrown between April and August.

Black-tailed Deer There are two sub-species of black-tailed deer: Columbia black-tailed deer

(Odocoileus hemionus columbianus); Sitka black-tailed deer (Odocoileus

hemionus sitkensis)

Size:

Black-tailed deer are smaller than either mule deer or white-tailed

deer.

Mature Columbia black-tailed bucks (males) weigh from 105 to

200 lb. (48 to 90 kg) and does (females) weigh between 90 to 140 lb. (40

to 65 kg).

Sitka blacktails are even smaller.





Found in the Pacific Northwest, especially in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.

Tracks

front: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"

hind: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"

Habitat:

Old-growth forests are important for coastal blacktails, as the habitat provides shelter and forage,

and also stops buildups of deep, heavy snow.

In the southern parts of their range, old growth is less important due to abundant open areas and

milder climate. Blacktails are browsers in winter and early spring and then mix in grasses and a wide variety

of herbs, as well as browse, in summer and fall.

Winter ranges are often shared with Roosevelt elk.

Notes:

Smallest of the three native deer species (mule, black-tailed, white-tailed).

Sitka blacktail is smaller than Columbia blacktail.

Antlers in forked pairs, like mule deer.

Both subspecies have smaller ears than mule deer.

Almost no rump patch with wide, black-surfaced tail.

Light face and muzzle but forehead not dark.

When startled, will run with high, stiff-legged bounce, like mule deer.


More Information: Black-tailed Deer Many of the comments for mule deer apply to the two blacktail subspecies as well. They are very good swimmers.

When running, a black-tailed deer bounces like a mule deer but usually holds its tail straight out.

The antlers of the male black-tailed deer grow in forked pairs like a mule deer but lack the number of possible tines

that can grow on mule deer.

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Size:

About 3 ft. (90 cm) high at the shoulder.

Weighs 150 to 225 lb. (68 to 102 kg).

Generally smaller than mule deer and bigger than black-tailed

deer.





Found across most of North America, except in northern Canada and far west United States.

Tracks

front: 2" x 3 1/2"

hind: 2" x 3"

Habitat:

Forests, swamps and the open brushy areas nearby.

Prefers valley bottoms and farmland. Often found along streams and rivers.

Notes:

Whitetail does (females) are about the same size as mule deer does.

Mature bucks (males) stand about the same height as mule deer (but typically weigh less).

Antlers have a main beam with unbranched tines coming off (unlike mule deer which have antlers

that grow in forked pairs).

Wide brown tail covers white rump until startled; then animal runs with tail, which is white

underneath, held high and waving from side to side (called "flagging") and white rump patch exposed.

Small ears, unlike mule deer.

Very wary and secretive. When startled, will gallop with undulating leaps.


More Information: White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

White-tailed deer are most often seen in early morning or late

afternoon when they move out on the edge of open areas to feed.

At other times they stay in thick brush. Whitetails are much more

wary than mule deer and they run in undulating leaps with broad

white tails "flagging" (held erect and waving from side to side).

Their voice is rarely heard; it is a low bleat by fawns, guttural grunts

by old bucks in rut; and both sexes give a loud, sharp, whistling

snort when alarmed. They are excellent swimmers.

In spring and summer, the basic group is a doe and her fawns.

Bucks live alone or in small groups until the November rut when they search out the does and fight each other for

dominance. Gestation is about 7 months and twins are most common. They sometimes form groups of up to 25 in

winter, especially when the snow gets deep.




Moose (Alces alces)

Size:

5 to 6-1/2 ft. (150 to 195 cm) high at the shoulder.

Males weigh 990 to 1,180 lb. (450 to 535 kg).

Females weigh 700 to 925 lb.


Tracks

front: 5" x 7"

hind: 5" x 7"

Habitat:

Forests with lakes and swamps.

In mountainous regions, they usually move to higher elevations in summer and return to the valley

bottoms in winter.

In winter, particularly in years of deep snow, moose tend to concentrate in the willows and shrubs

along river valleys, wetlands, burns and clear cuts.

Notes:

Largest member of the deer family.

A bell or dewlap of loose skin under the throat.

Antlers are massive and shovel-like (palmate).

Distinctive shoulder hump and overhanging upper lip.

Often solitary (live alone).


More Information: Moose (Alces alces)

Moose generally live singly or in small groups, although during the rut the groups may get as large as eight or 10

animals. Because moose normally have a small home range, without protection local populations may be quickly

reduced if there is easy access for hunters.

The rut occurs from late September to November. During the rut, bulls will grunt and bellow, lock horns and push

each other for dominance. The dewlap is used for communication, both by sight and smell. During the rut a bull

will rub the cow with his chin ("chinning") and the dewlap transfers this bull's scent to the female. The size and

shape of the dewlap may also be an indicator of dominance to other bulls, just as the size of antlers is. Gestation is

about 8 months and usually a single calf is born in late May or June.

Long legs are an adaptation to the habitat and climate the moose lives in. Moose have little difficulty moving around

in snow up to 27 in. (70 cm) deep, stepping over fallen trees, walking through muskeg and pushing through bush.




Their hair is of two kinds: long guard hairs and a fine, dense undercoat, which allows them to live in the most severe

winter conditions.

Antlers: The male's antlers have massive, shovel-like (palmate) plates with small prongs (tines) projecting forward

from the borders. Their antlers begin to develop in late April, the velvet is usually shed by September and antlers are

shed between mid-November and late March. As moose grow older, a lower (brow) palm develops, which protects

the face during fights. Young bulls generally have two or three points but no palm. Antlers of older moose vary

greatly in size and number of points but can spread 66 in. (168 cm) tip to tip. As with other deer, antlers are used

during the rut for fighting to establish dominance.

Elk (Cervus elaphus)

Other common names: Wapiti

Size:

4 to 5 ft. (120 to 150 cm) tall at the shoulder.

Males weigh 580 to 1,000 lb. (265 to 450 kg).

Females are smaller at 420 to 600 lb. (190 to 270 kg).


Tracks

front: 3 1/2" x 4 1/2"

hind: 3 3/4" x 4"

Habitat:

Mountainous areas with habitat as varied as dense coastal forest to semi-open interior forest.

In spring and summer, they prefer higher elevations. Although elk may share winter ranges with

deer, bighorn sheep, moose or caribou, each species targets different food. Cattle can be serious

competition, however.

Notes:

Larger than deer and caribou, smaller than moose.

Reddish brown with dark brown head, legs, neck (opposite of caribou).

Large, distinctive cream-colored rump.

Antlers are a long, backward-sweeping main beam with unbranched, upward-sweeping tines.

Hold head high as they move (opposite of caribou).

Usually found in groups.

Bulls have distinctive "bugling" call during rut.





More Information: Elk (Cervus elaphus)

Elk are the only members of the deer family, other than caribou, that

form large social groups. Twenty-five or more cows, calves and yearlings

will stay together until the fall rut, which starts in September.

Bulls form smaller, separate groups or live singly until just before the rut.

During the rut, bulls bugle, wallow, spray urine, thrash vegetation with

their antlers and fight, both with antlers and front hooves. Bull elk, unlike

other deer, will form harems of cows that they will protect from other

bulls. Most females are bred in September but the rut may continue into

November. Gestation is 8 months and a single calf is born.

Elk have a characteristic "alertness" of appearance that comes from

holding their head high as they move. This is in contrast to caribou,

which move with their heads down. The calf has a high-pitched squeal

when in danger; the cow has a similar squeal, also a sharp bark when

traveling with a herd; males have a high-pitched bugling call that starts

with a low note and ends with a few low-toned grunts and is generally

heard during rutting season, especially at night.

The antlers of mature bulls consist of a long, round beam that sweeps up

and back from the skull with tines that are unbranched. The normal

number of tines on a mature bull is six; the tip of the antler points down from the main beam and the other five

tines are located forward and point up. Generally, two of the tines are above the forehead. Antlers usually start

growing in early May, are complete by late August and are shed between late February and early April. As with

others in the deer family, antlers are used to compete for dominance during the rut.

Caribou (Rangifer tarandus)

Other common names: reindeer (caribou are wild reindeer)

Size:

3 1/2 to 4 ft. (105 to 120 cm) tall at the shoulder.

400 to 600 lb. (180 to 270 kg).

Males are about twice the weight of females.


Tracks

front: 3 1/2" x 4 1/2"

hind: 3 3/4" x 4"




Habitat:

Boreal (northern coniferous) and subalpine forest, mature spruce and other coniferous forests or

remote alpine meadows.

May move only a few miles from summer range of alpine tundra to winter range in timber lower on

a mountainside.

In more level areas of the boreal forests, they may graze and browse limited areas of bogs, low-lying

grassy areas or lichen-rich glades, and move perhaps only a short distance to a wintering area where tree and

ground lichens are available.

Notes:

Larger than deer, smaller than moose or elk.

Chocolate brown with white neck, belly, rump and lower legs (opposite of elk).

Both sexes may be antlered but bulls have a distinctive brow tine or "shovel."

Hold head low as they move (opposite of elk).

Large hoof to be able to walk on soft snow or muskeg; print often shows dewclaws.


More Information: Caribou (Rangifer tarandus)

Caribou are wild reindeer similar to the wild and domesticated reindeer of

Eurasia. They have large, concave hooves that splay widely to support the

animal in snow or muskeg, and are efficient scoops to paw through snow

sometimes a meter deep to uncover lichens. The hoof print usually shows

the dewclaws, which provide extra support on soft surfaces.

They are primarily grazers through spring and early fall but, as they live in

areas with long, cold winters, winter food is extremely important for

survival. Lichens, both tree (arboreal) and ground (terrestrial), are of great importance to their diets. As lichens are

very slow-growing, the best sources are in old lodgepole pine and black spruce forests. In winter they will choose

wind-swept alpine areas where it is easy to get at terrestrial lichens or move to mature forests where snow depth

allows them to reach arboreal lichens.

Caribou are the only ungulate of which both the male and female commonly carry antlers. Caribou bull antlers

differ from other deer in that one or two flattened, heavy tines called "shovels" extend out over the forehead. The

main stem of the antler extends back, up and out to the side and the tips of the antlers are branched. Caribou antlers

are flatter and wider than those of the mule and white-tailed deer. Cow caribou have smaller antlers than the bulls

and some may be antlerless.

The animal most closely resembling the caribou is the elk, but even at a distance the caribou's distinctive brow tine,

large feet, light mane and habit of holding its head low when moving are unmistakable features.

They do not form large herds in the forested areas of their distribution, but they are sociable and are often in small

groups. In areas where their habitat is more open herds can consist of several hundred animals during the rut;

however, it is not uncommon to encounter caribou of either sex traveling alone. The rut is much shorter for caribou

than other deer and occurs in mid-October. Gestation is 7 to 8 months and a single calf is born in late May or early

June.




Wolves are the main predator of caribou. In the north, before logging and mining provided new growth and access

for moose, caribou were relatively separated from wolves. But with the movement of moose into overlapping

habitats and increased access from roads, the wolves followed and predation on caribou increased. A similar

situation was created in the south with cougars following the expansion of elk and deer into caribou habitat.

Snowmobiles can also force them to leave critical winter habitat leading to higher death rates.

Cat Family (Felidae)

Except for color and size, all cats look alike. They have short faces and

small rounded ears. They have five toes on each front foot, and five on

the back feet. They have retractable claws.

Try this for fun: Guess what kind of cats are in this picture.

If you guessed bobcats, you were right!

To be skilled at wildlife identification, you must learn to spot

distinguishing characteristics even when you only get a glance at an

animal.

What characteristics did you see in the last picture? There are

definitely some spots on their fur and they have almost rounded

ears.

The cats were too small and "cat-like" to be mountain lions.

Mountain lions are large, with very long tails.

Lynx have tufts on their ears.

Bobcats have spots on their fur and cat-like ears.

Although we may only have gotten a glimpse of these animals,

knowing some major characteristics to look for helped us get a

pretty reliable identification. If you are hunting, however, you must

be certain of your target and all game laws!




Cougar (Felis concolor)

Other common names: mountain lion, puma

Size:

26 to 30 in. (65 to 75 cm) height at shoulder.

About 6 to 7 ft. (180 - 210 cm) long (including 3 ft. [1 m] tail).

Weighs 100 to 200 lb. (45 to 90 kg). Females are smaller.


Tracks

front: 4" x 4"

hind: 4" x 4"

Habitat:

Prefers mature and second-growth forests in rocky and mountainous terrain

May also be found along the seashore, on estuaries and occasionally near human habitation.

Notes:

Rarely seen because they are very secretive and usually live alone.

They can be active at any time of the day but are usually nocturnal.

Although not very vocal, cougars yowl like an ordinary tomcat, but much magnified.


More Information: Cougar (Felis concolor)

Details: The upper parts of the body, including the tail and head, are

tawny, grayish or reddish. The belly and rump are white and often

overlain with buff. The chin, throat and whiskers are white. The backs of

the ears are black and there is a black patch at the base of the whiskers

and the tip of the tail. Kittens have blackish spots on a buff-colored body

and the tail has dark rings; these markings disappear entirely within a few

months. It can be important to be able to tell a male from a female when

hunting and this can be difficult unless the animal is treed. The female

has darker hair around the vulva and the male has a penile sheath but

these can be obscured unless the cat is above you.

Cougars prey mainly on deer, but also on elk, moose and mountain sheep. Beavers, mice, squirrels, porcupines,

snowshoe hares and birds also form part of their diet. They are not capable of long chases so will either stalk an

animal or lie in ambush, often in a tree or on a rocky outcropping. Cougars can kill prey up to four times their size

by jumping on the prey's back, severing the spine with strong teeth and ripping open the throat with its claws.




Cougars generally have naked footpads, which can show up clearly in the footprint. Other than the toes, the feet are

well-haired to aid in the silent stalking of prey. The tail, which is roughly the diameter of a person's arm, is held out

and used for balance when in motion and is often held down when at rest.

Lynx (Lynx canadensis)

Size:

18 to 24 in. (45 to 60 cm) tall at the shoulder.

32 to 36 in. (80 to 90 cm) long including 4 in. (10 cm) tail.

Weighs up to 40 lb. (18 kg).


Tracks

front: 3" x 3"

hind: 3" x 3"

Habitat:

Mixed deciduous and coniferous boreal forests.

Prefers to be in or near cover on burned areas and natural forest clearings.

Notes:

Larger than the bobcat.

Distinctive long, black ear tassels and large, furred feet.

Distinctive ruff around face ending in two white "mutton chops" on each side of the chin.

Often the hind legs will appear to be longer than the front legs.

Usually nocturnal and solitary, except during mating (mid-March to May).

Not very vocal but will yowl and purr like domestic cats.


Other common names: sometimes

called "link" in the North.




More Information: Lynx (Lynx canadensis)

Food consists primarily of snowshoe hares, but rodents, birds and

the young of deer, moose and caribou are also eaten. Like cougars,

lynx will stalk and ambush their prey. The large paws are an

adaptation to life in the deep, soft snow of the boreal forests where

the lynx can use its feet like snowshoes to walk on top of the snow.

Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Size:

Up to 22 in. (55 cm) at the shoulder.

25 to 30 in. (65 to 75 cm) long.

5 in. (12 cm) tail.

Weighs 15 to 35 lb. (6 to 16 kg).


Found in Southern Canada to Northern Mexico.

No longer found in some Midwestern and mid-Atlantic states

Tracks

Habitat: front: 1 1/4" x 2" hind 1 1/4" x 2"

Prefers open brushland or semi-wooded country.

Occurs from valley bottom to timberline, though generally found in mixed cover at lower elevations.

Notes:

Can be mistaken for lynx (lynx are more streamlined and have longer legs and larger paws).

Bobcats are smaller than lynx but larger than house cats.

Rarely vocalize, but if heard at night, they often sound like a baby crying.


Dog Family These animals are dog-like in appearance. They have five toes on each front foot (the inside toe is high) and four

toes on each back foot. They have a scent gland at the top base of their tail; this is covered by black-tipped hairs.




Wolf (Canis lupus)

Size:


5 to 6 ft. (1.6 to 1.9 m) long, including a 15 to 20 in. (38 to 50

cm) tail.



Tracks

front: 4" x 5 1/2"

hind: 4" x 5 1/2"

Habitat:

Forested areas in habitat favored by members of the deer family, which is their primary prey.

Notes:

Largest member of the dog family—resembles a tall, leggy German shepherd dog.

Muscular, deep-chested body, long slender legs, a bushy tail, a long slender muzzle and large erect

ears.

Twice the size of coyotes, with a wider nose pad.

Carry their tails high while running (coyotes generally carry their tails below the level of their backs).


More information: Wolf (Canis lupus)

Wolves have an acute sense of hearing, sight and smell. They are

social animals and a pack may contain three or four to 24 animals,

although in the north country packs of over 100 have been

recorded. They usually hunt together and can kill animals as large as

deer, elk, caribou or moose. They also eat smaller animals such as

beaver, muskrats, mice and snowshoe hares and will eat carrion.

They hunt mainly by scent and usually catch their prey by a swift,

open chase.

Wolf packs have a complex social structure with a dominant male

and female (the alpha pair), sub-dominant adults and pups. Usually

only the alpha male and female breed. Mating occurs in February or March and five to seven pups are born after

about nine weeks. The whole pack helps to raise the young. Communication is complex and consists of facial

expressions and body language (curled lips, bristling fur, sticking the tongue out, "smiling", tail position and

wagging, rolling over and exposing the belly) and vocalizations (howling, whining, barking).

Common names for this species are the

gray wolf and timber wolf. The

Mexican wolf is redder in color and

found in Mexico and New Mexico.




Wolves and coyotes may be confused; however, coyotes are about half the size of a wolf, have a narrower, more

pointed face and carry their tail lower. To tell the difference between a large dog and a wolf, tracks can be an aid.

Domestic dogs have narrower hips than chests and the back footprint will be inside the front print. A wolf's front

and back tracks will tend to overlap and it tends to travel in a straight line. Wolves also have a larger head, bigger

paws and a bushier tail than dogs.

Coyote (Canis latrans)

Size:

23 to 26 in. (58 to 65 cm) at the shoulder.

39 to 55 in. (1 to 1.4 m) long, including a 12 to 18 in. (30 to 46

cm) tail.

Weighs about 20 to 50 lb. (8 to 23 kg).


Tracks

front: 3" x 3 1/2"

hind: 3" x 3 1/2"

Habitat:

Found in almost any habitat as their diet is so varied.

Most common where the habitat has open areas.

Has adapted so well to living near humans that they have become established in many urban and

suburban areas.

Notes:

Slender, narrow chest and longer legs than most dogs.

Long and narrow muzzle.

Long and pointed ears.

Tail is bushy and is usually carried low and close to the hind legs, unlike the wolf, which carries its

tail high.





More information: Coyote (Canis latrans)

Prey consists principally of hares, rodents and birds; but it appears that

anything that is edible, either vegetable or animal, can become part of their diet.

Carrion is an important source of food. Coyotes normally hunt alone, they are

very versatile and will hunt in packs to bring down larger animals, particularly in

winter. They tend to be more solitary when prey species are small.

Coyotes are very vocal and will start their howling with a series of sharp yaps. They also bark. It is very common for

a single coyote to start what becomes a chorus of many individuals, although the vocalizations of one animal can be

so diverse that it sounds like more than one. They also communicate with body language, much like wolves,

although they do not have the complex social structure that wolves do.

Mating occurs from February to March with five to seven pups born after about two months gestation. Both

parents help raise the young.

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Size:


Weigh from 7 to 15 lb. (3 to 7 kg).


Tracks

front: 1 1/4" x 2"

hind: 1 1/4" x 2"

Habitat:

Very adaptable to living in almost any environment—even close to humans.

Often inhabits the edges of parklands, lake and river shores, logged areas and farmland.

Notes:

Usually reddish with white chest and belly, black legs and a black-tipped tail; but, can also range

from silver to black.

Smallest of the dog family (7 to 15 lb.).

Large, pointed ears and long, sharp muzzle.

Bushy tail as long as the body.

Usually found alone or in family groups.





More information: Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Foxes are omnivorous, eating such varied items as small mammals like mice and voles, small birds and waterfowl,

insects, eggs, grass, carrion and fruit.

Mating occurs from late January to mid-March and a typical litter consisting of five kits is born about two months

later. Both parents raise the kits. Coyotes are major predators of foxes, as are wolves and lynx. Foxes live either

alone or in a family unit.

Foxes are vocal, although less so than coyotes and wolves. Most often heard is a sharp yapping especially during

denning. Foxes have many characteristics that are similar to the wild cats. They stalk and pounce on their prey, use

their tail for balance (like a cougar) and fluff their hair and arch their back in threat displays. If low branches are

available, foxes will climb trees to gain a vantage point.

Bear Family (Ursidae)

These are the largest living land-dwelling carnivores. They walk on the entire foot and have five toes on both the

front and back feet. They have short tails that are almost hidden by their fur. Their ears are small and rounded.

Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos)

Size:

6 to 9 ft. (1.8 to 2.7 m) tall when standing on hind legs.

3 to 3-1/2 ft. (1 m) tall at the shoulder.

Males weigh 325 to 1,000 lb. or more (150 to 450 kg). Females

are smaller.


Tracks

front: 4" x 6"

hind: 5" x 12"

Habitat:

Mountainous and wilderness areas around rockslides, talus slopes, subalpine openings and forest fire

openings where berries and rodents are common.

In the coastal regions they come to estuaries for the new vegetation in spring and salmon spawning

streams when the fish are running.

The grizzly also has a subspecies, the larger, Alaskan or coastal brown bear.

Photo by John Herron, TX




Notes:

Larger than black bear.

Usually blond or brownish with silver-tipped guard hairs, but can be almost black.

Shoulder hump, concave face, long claws.

Found alone or in family group (female and cubs).

Omnivorous, will eat any plant or animal, including carrion.

See the Montana Department of Natural Resources website (http://fwp.state.mt.us/bearid/) for a self-test on

grizzly and black bear identification in the field. It is an excellent resource and also has a training section.


More information: Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos)

Grizzlies are solitary animals, particularly the males, although

coastal grizzlies will tolerate each other's company when feeding on

salmon runs. The cubs remain with the mother for up to three

years.

They are omnivorous and eat any available animal, fish, carrion or

succulent vegetation, root or berry. Animals killed by cars,

avalanches, and winter are a very important food source when the bears emerge in spring before vegetation starts to

green up. This carrion, plus ungulate fawns, provide high-energy food at a time that food can be scarce. Grizzlies

can also become a problem by preying on domestic livestock.


http://fwp.state.mt.us/bearid/



Black Bear (Usus americanus)

Size:

5 to 6 ft. (150 to 180 cm) high when standing on its hind legs.

2 to 3-1/2 ft. (60 to 110 cm) high at the shoulder.

Weighs 200 to 475 lb. (90 to 215 kg) or more.


Tracks

front: 3" x 4"

hind: 4" x 7"

Habitat:

Can be found in all habitats from coastal beaches and estuaries to

dry grasslands, forests and sub-alpine and alpine areas.

Prefers open forests where dense thickets of timber provide cover

and seclusion, and intermittent open areas (such as those caused by forest

fires or clear cuts).

May be found in or near suburban areas.

Notes:

Usually black with brown snout but varies from black through

brown to white.

Most widely distributed bear in North America.

Smaller than grizzlies.

Straight face, short curved claws, no shoulder hump.

Found alone or in family group (female and cubs).

Omnivorous, will eat any plant or animal, including carrion.

See the Montana Department of Natural Resources website (http://fwp.state.mt.us/bearid/) for a self-test on

grizzly and black bear identification in the field. It is an excellent resource and also has a training section.


More information: Black Bear (Usus americanus)

Black bears are solitary animals, but cubs remain with the sow for a year or more. Black bears are opportunistic

omnivores, like grizzlies, but tend to eat more vegetative matter. Foods are varied and include fruit-bearing shrubs,

lush grasses, roots, clover and other succulent plants; salmon and other fish; rodents; insects and their larvae;

carrion and the young of other mammals, including livestock. On occasion, adult animals are also eaten.

Other common names: Kermode

bear, Cinnamon bear (there are

14 different color phases and

many of these have different

common names, but they are all

black bears).


http://fwp.state.mt.us/bearid/



Polar Bear Distribution in North America:

Cattle Family (Bovidae)

Bovids include hoofed animals that have horns, such as sheep, goats and bison. There is a difference between

antlers and horns. Antlers are bony structures that are grown each year and are shed. Horns are a solid, bony core,

which is part of the animal's skull. Horns are not shed.

Two of the five main types of wild sheep are found in North America—the thinhorn sheep of the north and the

bighorn sheep of the south.

Bighorn Sheep (Ovus canadensis)

There are three subspecies of bighorn sheep: Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep

(Ovis canadensis canadensis), Desert bighorn (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) and

California bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis california).

Size:

About 3 1/2 ft. (105 cm) at the shoulder.

Weighs around 300 to 325 lb. (135 to 145 kg).

Ewes (females) are smaller than rams (males).

California bighorns tend to be smaller than Rocky Mountain

bighorns.


Tracks

front: 2 3/4"x 2 3/4"

hind: 2 3/4"x 2 3/4"

Habitat:

Mountain slopes with sparse growths of trees and rugged "escape" terrain.

They move to lower elevations in the winter where snow is lighter and vegetation is exposed earlier

in the spring.




Notes:

Subspecies are similar in appearance.

Look like domestic sheep but larger and have a smooth coat.

Brown with white belly and white rump which can be seen from a distance.

Massive curling horns which are close to the head on the males, smaller and shorter horns on

females.

They browse and graze on a great variety of plants.


More information: Bighorn Sheep (Ovus canadensis)

Sexes usually separate in the summer after lambing and the rams

rejoin the ewes and lambs in the fall for the rutting season.

Spectacular head-butting competitions are characteristic for

bighorn rams during the rut. Bighorns are very social and are

usually found in herds, of as many as 100.

A distinctive feature of the mature male bighorn is a set of massive

brown horns that spiral backwards from the top of the head,

curling down around the small ears and then upwards above the

nose as the animal grows older. The horns continue to grow throughout the life of the animal and, because growth

slows in winter, annual rings (annuli) occur. The number of annuli shows the ram's age. An old male may have

horns that complete a full circle (full curl), although the tips are often broken or "broomed" from fighting or

rubbing on rocks. Horns can reach 50 in. (127 cm) from base to tip and up to 17 in. (43 cm) around the massive

base. The horns of the female are much smaller, being thin and erect much like the horns of female domestic goats

and only reaching 12 in. (30 cm) in length. Annuli on the ewes are closer together and it is difficult to age an animal

reliably from them. The California bighorn often has a more open horn curl than the Rocky Mountain bighorn.

Thinhorn Sheep (Ovis dalli)

There are two subspecies of thinhorn sheep:

Dall's sheep (Ovis dalli dalli)

Stone's sheep (Ovis dalli stonei)

Size:

3 to 3 1/2 ft. (.9 to 1.2 m) tall at the shoulder.

Weigh 125 to 242 lb. (57 to 110 kg).





Habitat:

Rough terrain, mountain tundra slopes, rockslides.

In winter they usually move to lower slopes where snow is lighter and where spring green-up occurs

sooner.

Notes:

Dall's sheep are white, Stone's sheep are dark.

About 1/3 smaller than bighorn sheep.

Thinner horns than bighorn sheep, and their horns spiral out from the head instead of the bighorn's

tight curl.

Look like domestic sheep but larger and have a smooth coat.

Horns on females similar to bighorn ewes, smaller than rams.


More information: Thinhorn Sheep (Ovis dalli)

Thinhorns graze on broad-leaved plants in spring and summer and grasses in the winter. They also eat tender twig

tips in winter as they are both grazers and browsers. Thinhorns are usually found in bands of six or more. In the

fall, the sexes band together and rams compete by head-butting for dominance and the right to breed with the

females. In early summer, after lambing, rams head for higher elevations, often singly or in small groups.

Horns: Both sexes have horns; however, the rams have longer, heavier horns that spiral widely. The horns of a ram

can reach 44 in. (111 cm) from base to tip but the bases are smaller than in bighorns, reaching 14 in. (35 cm) in

diameter. The ewes' horns are generally only 10 in. (25 cm) long and are similar to the bighorn ewe. The annuli can

be used to age a ram. As with bighorn ewes, the annuli on thinhorn ewe horns do not reliably reflect the animal's

age.

Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)

Size:

From 3 to almost 4 ft. (90 to 120 cm) tall.

Billies (males) weigh 155 to 260 lb. (70 to 120 kg).

Nannies (females) weigh about 120 to 165 lb. (55 to 75

kg).


Tracks

front: 2 3/4" x 2 3/4"

hind: 2 1/4" x 2 3/4"




Habitat:

Found on steep, rocky slopes and cliffs, usually at or above the timberline, although they can be

found at the tideline in rugged coastal areas.

They occur in both wet and dry habitats but the terrain is always steep.

Usually above the timberline in summer and at lower elevations in the winter.

Wintering sites often are where the snow is either shallow or gets swept away by winds.

Most seasonal migrations are up or down in elevation and not over great distances, although salt

licks are very important in summer and goats will travel some distance, even through woods, to get to them.

Notes:

Both males and females are very similar in appearance.

White all year, blocky shape, long shaggy hair, black hooves and horns.

If you see a group of animals including kids, the adults are most likely nannies.

Larger diameter horns with a uniform curve on males; smaller diameter horns that are straight with a

curved tip on females.


More information: Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)

The mountain goat is not actually a goat but is a mountain-dwelling

antelope related to the chamois of the European Alps. They are a

very versatile feeder, both grazer and browser, feeding on grasses,

lichens, herbs, bushes and deciduous and coniferous trees,

depending on what is available.

Along with Dall's sheep and polar bears, they are the only large

mammal that is completely white throughout the year for their

entire lives. Goat hair is very thick and comes in two types: long

(up to 8 in., or 20 cm), hollow outer guard hairs and a fine, dense undercoat that is 2 to 3 in. (5 to 8 cm) long. This

coat keeps the animals warm even in intense cold and high winds.

One aid to identification of sex is how they are encountered. If you see a small group of animals that includes kids,

this will be a nursery group of nannies with their kids and yearlings. Billies often live alone or in small groups of two

to four. There will be no kids with the billies. Occasionally, a dry female will be found by herself.

Both males and females have slender, erect, stiletto-like black horns up to 12 in. (30 cm) long. On both sexes the

annuli can be used to estimate age. Nannies' horns are thinner, have a slightly larger space between them on the

forehead (the space is greater than the diameter of a horn) and are straighter with a curved tip, while billies have a

more uniformly curved horn and it often looks like the horns are touching at the base on the forehead (the space is

less than the diameter of a horn). However, it can be very difficult to tell the two apart. It is often easier to identify

the sexes by looking at the group they are in.

Goat hooves are very well designed for their habitat. There is a tough pad that extends beyond the hard outer hoof

that gives them good traction on slippery rocks. Also, the toes can spread to distribute weight or can grasp (like

pliers) around rocks to add traction when moving downhill.




The rut occurs in November/December. Billies do not compete with intense head-butting like mountain sheep but

will wallow in pits in which they have urinated and threaten each other. Gestation is about six months and a single

kid is born.

Bison (Bison bison)

There are two subspecies of bison: wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) and

plains bison (Bison bison bison).

Both subspecies are very similar, although wood bison are a bit larger and

darker and have a larger shoulder hump than plains bison.

Size:

Bulls are almost 7 ft. (2 m) high at the shoulders.

Bulls weigh from 1,100 to 1,980 lb. (500 to 900 kg).

Mature bulls are about twice the size of cows.


Tracks 6"

Habitat:

Wet meadows with sedges and reedgrass, willow openings and open prairie.

Will travel through forests and use them for summer shade or winter storm shelter, but do not

usually forage there.

Notes:

Males and females very similar in appearance but mature males about twice the size of females.

Massive front quarters and shoulder hump; hind quarters much smaller; short, black, curved horns,

long tail with a tuft at the end.

If you see a group of animals including calves, the adults are most likely cows.





More information: Bison (Bison bison) The unusual shape of a bison is an adaptation to be able to push

and paw through deep snow to forage, and they also swing their

massive heads to clear away the snow from their food.

During most of the year mature cows, immature animals of both

sexes, and calves form herds of varying sizes. Bulls form bachelor

groups or live alone until the rut. In the north, the rut can occur

from July to September. Competitions among the bulls during the

rut consists mostly of threat displays and roaring, but sometimes

fights result in serious injury or death. Bulls also wallow and "tree-

horn" more at this time. Gestation is nine months and a single, red

calf is born between mid-April and early June.

Rodents (Rodentia)

Animals such as marmots (for example, woodchuck), squirrels, beaver and muskrats are typically hunted.

We'll take a look at several species:

Woodchuck (Marmota monax)

Tree squirrels:

Fox squirrel (Sciurus niger)

Gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

Red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

Hares & Rabbits

Snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus)

Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus)

Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)

Woodchuck (Marmota monax)

Other common names: groundhog, whistlepig

Size:

16 to 20 in. (40 to 51 cm) not including tail.

Weighs 5 to 10 lb. (2 to 4-1/2 kg).





Tracks

front: 1 1/2" x 1 1/4"

hind: 1 3/4" x 1 1/4"

Habitat:

Meadows and farm fields, close to wooded areas.

Open woods and brush

Notes:

Dens have multiple entrances with concealed exits.

Shrill call.

Color is brownish, with an overall frosted look and the feet are dark brown or black (unlike yellow-

bellied marmots whose feet are never black).

Like other marmots, it has a bushy tail.


Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)

Other common names: Sometimes called a

red squirrel because of its reddish color.

Fox squirrels vary in color considerably

depending on the area they live in. They

range from jet black to gray and red in

color.

Size:

10 to 15 in. (25 to 38 cm)

not including tail.

Weighs around 1 1/5 to 3 lb. (544 to 1362 g).


Tracks

front: 1 1/2" x 1 1/4"

hind: 1 3/4" x 1 1/4"




Habitat:

Pine and hardwood forests, chiefly nut trees.

Notes:

Nests in tree cavities or in nests made of twigs and leaves.

Frequently forages on ground, and may venture out into farm fields.


Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

Size:


Weighs around 1-1/4 to 1-3/4 lb. (567 to 794 g).


Tracks

front: 1" x 1 1/3"

hind: 1 1/4" x 2 1/2"

Habitat:

Pine and oak forests

Notes:

Very active in morning hours.

Nests in tree cavities or in nests made of sticks and bark


Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

Size:

7 to 8 in. (178 to 203 mm) not including tail.

Weighs around 7 to nearly 8 1/2 lb. (198 to 250 g).





Tracks

front: 1/2" x 3/4"

hind: 1" x 1 3/4"

Habitat:

Spruce and pine forests. May be found in mixed forests (pine and hardwood).

Notes:

Nests in tree cavities or in branches in nests made of twigs and leaves and found close to the tree

trunk.

Very loud and aggressive chattering.

Moves about in very fast, darting motions. Rarely stays still for long.


Hares and Rabbits Snowshoe rabbit

Jackrabbit

Cottontail

Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus)

Other common names: varying hare, jackrabbit.

Size:

13 to 18 in. (33 to 46 cm).

Weighs about 3 lb. (1-1/2 kg).


Tracks

hind: 5 1/2"

Habitat:

Wetlands, thickets, forests.




Notes:

Nocturnal.

Dark color in summer, white in winter for camouflage.

Very large hind feet.


More Information: Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus)

As its name implies, the snowshoe hare is well-suited to winter weather. Its hind feet are very large and are used as

snowshoes to keep it from breaking through the snow. This is an advantage with most predators, except the lynx,

which also has snowshoe-like feet and which is the main predator of these hares. In winter, the snowshoe hare

molts its coppery brownish summer coat for a winter coat of white, although the ear tips remain black. It is a

medium-sized hare. This hare is found in brush or woods.

Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus)

Size:

17 to 21 in. (43 to 53 cm).

Weighs about 3 to 7 lb. (1.3 to 3.1 kg).


Tracks

hind: 5 1/2"

black-tailed white-tailed

Habitat:

Open, grassy, or sparsely vegetated areas.

Notes:

Most active from evening to late morning.

There are several species of hares and jackrabbits that are very

similar. Consult your local hunting regulations to see which (if any)

you can hunt in your area. Consult a field guide to mammals for

specific differences among the species.


Black-tailed Jackrabbit

White-tailed Jackrabbit




Cottontail Rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus)

Size:

14 to 17 in. (35 to 43 cm).

Weighs about 2 to 4 lb. (0.9 to 1.8 kg).


Tracks

front: 1" x 1"

hind: 1 1/2" x 3 1/2"

Habitat:

Forests, brush, near swamps, open wooded areas.

Notes:

Most active from evening to late morning.

There are several species of cottontail rabbits that are very similar. Consult your local hunting

regulations to see which (if any) you can hunt in your area. Consult a field guide to mammals for specific

differences among the species.


Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)

Other common names: Porky

Size:

Nearly 3 ft. (1 m) long.

Weighs 10 to 29 lb. (4-1/2 to 13 kg).


Tracks

front: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" hind: 4 1/2" x 2"

Habitat:

Forests and brush.

Dens in tree hollows or rock caves.

Various calls from grunting to shrill cries.




Notes:

Chunky build with a short face and legs and long claws.

Upper body, tail and flanks are covered with thousands of long, barbed quills.

Nocturnal, slow moving.


More Information: Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)

Quills detach easily and embed themselves in any attacker. When alarmed, the porcupine raises its quills, turns its

back to the threat and lashes its tail. If a predator can flip a porcupine over, the belly is not protected and it can be

killed. The underfur is dark brown, and there are very long, yellow-tipped guard hairs interspersed with the quills.

Porcupines prefer the tender bark of twigs and branches in winter and fresh greenery in summer. They also love salt

(eating sweat-stained gloves, boots and wooden handles of tools) and plywood (for the glue), so they can be real

pests.

Beaver (Castor canadensis)

Size:


Tail length is up to 9 to 10 in. (23 to 25 cm).



Tracks

front: 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"

hind: 5 1/2" x 7"

Habitat:

Waterways with tree-lined banks.

Builds dams across waterways or cone-shaped homes at the edge of

still water. Both structures consist of branches and mud.

Notes:

Nocturnal.

Thick body, short legged, with a broad head and short neck.





More Information: Beaver (Castor canadensis)

The beaver is similar in general shape to a porcupine. However, beavers are

covered in glossy, dark brown, dense fur and have a large, wide, scaly, flattened

tail, webbed hind feet for swimming and prominent orange incisors (front

teeth). The lips can actually be closed behind the teeth so that the beaver can chew under water without getting

water or mud in its mouth. The tail is used as a rudder when swimming, slapping on the water as an alarm, helping

stabilize the animal when it is cutting trees and it is a fat reserve. These animals live in family groups in areas with

plenty of fresh water and trees so that they can build their dams, ponds and lodges, and they have enough fresh

aquatic vegetation and bark of deciduous trees and shrubs for food. Beavers build their lodges of mud, stones and

branches and they can be very large. Once the pile is complete, the beavers will chew and dig out two or more

underwater entrances and one or more chambers that are above water and dry. In areas where a stream is too large

to be dammed, beavers will build their dens in the stream banks. It is estimated that a single beaver needs more than

200 trees and that a family of five requires an acre of poplars (or other favored tree species) per year for food. In the

fall, they will cut branches for winter food and store them close to the lodge. They are a very important fur-bearing

species for trappers.

Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Other common names: coon, ringtail

Size:


Tail length is up to 12 in. (30 cm).



Tracks

front: 2 1/2" x 3"

hind: 2 1/2" x 4"

Habitat:

Along waterways near forests or rocky banks.

Notes:

Nocturnal and omnivorous.

Frequently dunks food in water before eating.

Dens in hollows of trees, logs or ground burrows and rock crevices.





More Information: Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Raccoons are mid-sized animals. They eat just about anything, from

eggs to fruit, meat, insects, amphibians, vegetation, pet food and

garbage. The raccoon's name reflects the belief that raccoons

washed everything before they ate it, but it is now believed that

water enhances the sense of touch for these animals. Raccoons live

in diverse habitats near water and are very comfortable living near

humans. They both climb and swim well and are often found in

wooded areas. Like bears, they get fat in the fall but they do not

den up and need food throughout the winter. Like bears and

humans, they walk flat on their feet. They are usually nocturnal and solitary or found in smaller family groups. They

have a distinctive "bandit" mask, gray body, short, round, furry ears and bushy, black-striped tail.

Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

Size:


Tail length is up to 10 in. (25 cm).

Weighs 2.2 lb. (1 kg).


Tracks

front: 1 1/2" x 1 1/4"

hind: 3 1/2" x 1 1/2"

Habitat:

Wetlands and streams. Prefers cattail marshes.

Notes:

Diet consists of aquatic vegetation and small aquatic animals


More Information: Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

Muskrats are much larger than lemmings or voles but are much smaller than beavers. Even though they are mainly

aquatic, they are not related to beavers but are actually voles that have adapted to water life. The muskrat has the

same general shape as a lemming or vole, with dark brown, dense, silky fur. Its tail is distinctive, naked, and

roundish but is flattened side-to-side (like a Popsicle stick on edge) to act as a swimming "oar." The hind feet are




partially webbed and have stiff hairs to help paddle along. Like beavers, muskrats are able to close their lips behind

their front teeth so that they can chew under water.

Muskrats do not build dams, as beavers do, but they do build a variety of shelters. The main shelter is the lodge,

which, unlike a beaver lodge, is constructed of tough aquatic vegetation such as cattails and bulrushes. It is smaller

than a beaver lodge but can be large enough that geese will nest on it. Once the pile is complete, the muskrat will

chew up from underneath and create one or more above-water chambers inside, much like beavers do. Muskrats

also may build bank dens like beavers do. In summer, they construct separate feeding platforms of mud and plant

material and, in winter, "push-ups" are vital to their survival. The muskrat will chew a hole through the ice and pile

underwater vegetation on top of the hole. This little "push-up" den is large enough for one animal to rest and warm

up. A few of these will be constructed about 100 ft. (33 m) from the main den to increase a muskrat's foraging

distance as they do not store food for the winter like beavers do.

Their main diet is aquatic reeds and pondweeds (they target the underwater parts in winter), although frogs, fish,

carrion and aquatic insects are also eaten.

In the summer muskrats tend to be solitary, but in winter a few may den together for heat efficiency. If you come

across tracks in the mud, it is possible to distinguish between beaver and muskrat by the size of the prints and the

tail marks. Beaver tracks are much larger and the marks from the flat tail may rub out part or all of the footprints. A

muskrat's tracks are much smaller and its tail mark will show as a line, from the bottom "keel" of the tail. You can

also see the web of the larger back feet for both animals.

Virginia Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis)

Size:

15 to 20 in. (38 to 51 cm).

Weighs about 9 to 13 lb. (4 to 5.9 kg).


Tracks

front: 1 1/4" x 1 1/2"

hind: 1 1/4" x 2 1/2"

Habitat:

Prefers farm land but also found in wooded areas or along streams.

Notes:

Active at night.

Long, naked, rat-like tail

Only marsupial in North America.

Shelters in brush piles, hollow trees and logs, old dens, beneath buildings.





More Information: Virginia Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis)

The opossum is the only species of marsupial in North America.

The opossum is about the size of a house cat but heavier bodied and with shorter legs. It looks somewhat like a

large, fat, whitish rat with its pointed face, naked feet and tail. The ears, unlike rat's ears, are naked, paper-thin and

they are black. (A rat has fur on its ears.) The tail is strong and prehensile (able to wrap around things and hold on,

like a monkey's tail). When the young emerge from the pouch, the mother often carries them on her back and they

wrap their tails around hers to hold on.

The opossum's feet are very unusual with the front foot having five widely spread toes with thin bases and a

bulbous tip. All toes look similar. The hind foot is quite different as it has the appearance of a hand, complete with

an opposable (grasping) thumb for climbing and walking along branches. Again the toe tips are bulbous and the

thumbprint will be nearly at right angles to the rest of the foot.

A strange survival technique the opossum uses is to play dead. It will first try to frighten off the threat with hisses

and screeches but, if this doesn't work, it will flop on its side, loll its tongue out and drool.

Opossums are generally nocturnal, solitary or in family groups, and their diet is extremely varied including eggs,

fruit, insects, carrion, small mammals and birds, and seeds. They live in woods and farmland.

Weasel Family The weasel family consists of the badger, wolverine, otter, fisher, marten and mink. Most of these animals are

trapped for their fur.

Wolverine

Badger

Fisher

Marten

Mink

Otter

Wolverine (Gulo gulo)

Other common name: skunk bear




Size:

16 in. (40 cm) tall at shoulder.

32 in. (80 cm) long.



Tracks

front: 1 1/4" x 1 1/2"

hind: 1 1/4" x 2 1/2"

Habitat:

Large areas of wilderness.

Notes:

Short, stout, muscular body with short bushy tail.

Large bear-like paws with heavy claws.

Broad head and short, rounded, furred ears like badger.

Larger body and longer legs than badger.

On the run, wolverines lope and badgers trot.


More Information: Wolverine (Gulo gulo)

The wolverine is the largest member of the weasel family. Except for their bushy tail, wolverines might be mistaken

for a small bear. The wolverine's body is dark brown to nearly black. Light-colored stripes run in a downward arc

from the shoulder to the flank then join at the base of the tail and run out onto the tail. There is a wide, light-

colored arc above each eye, on the forehead, which runs down onto the cheeks. Wolverines eat any meat they can

get as well as eggs, berries, larvae, carrion and trappers' supplies, if they manage to break into a cache or cabin. They

are determined predators who are not afraid to tackle large ungulates or stand up to a bear or wolf. Their claws

allow them to climb trees and their oversized paws act like snowshoes, just like a lynx's. They have a larger body and

longer legs than a badger. When seeing them on the run, another way to tell wolverines and badgers apart is that

wolverines lope and badgers trot. Wolverines are solitary and inhabit large areas of wilderness.




Badger (Taxidea taxus)

Size:

22 in. (55 cm) long.



Tracks: 2 1/4"

Habitat:

Open or broken grasslands.

Digs large burrows.

Notes:

Lives alone.

Usually nocturnal.

Smaller and shorter legs than wolverine.


More Information: Badger (Taxidea taxus)

Badgers are large members of the weasel family. They are squat and muscular, with long, strong claws for digging, a

short tail and they are covered in long, grizzled, grayish-yellow hair. The hair on the flanks is longer than elsewhere,

which makes them look even shorter legged than they already are. The badger's facial markings are distinctive: the

face is blackish with a thin white stripe running from the nose to the shoulders; a whitish horseshoe-shaped stripe

runs from the temple, down across the eye, under the chin and up to the other temple and the rounded ears are

white and heavily furred. The badger's legs and feet are dark brown or black.

Badgers live in burrows in open grasslands and feed mainly on rodents, such as ground squirrels and marmots.

Their dens are large, they live alone and they are usually nocturnal. Badgers are not as bad-tempered as their

reputations would lead you to believe but can be formidable if cornered. They are also quite vocal with a variety of

hisses, chirring sounds, snarls, screams, barks and loud snuffles.




Fisher (Martes pennanti)

Size:

Up to 25 in. (63 cm) long. Tail 13 in (33 cm) long. Male weighs 12 lb (5-1/2 kg);

females slightly smaller.


Tracks Front: 3 1/4" x 2 1/2"

Hind: 1 1/4" x 2"

Habitat:

Extensive mixed hardwood forests and cutover wilderness areas.

Notes:

Smaller than wolverine and badger. Larger than marten, mink or weasels. Long, slim body and bushy tail.


More Information: Fisher (Martes pennanti)

Like the marten, mink and the weasels, the fisher has the typical "weasel" shape, that is, long slender body,

short legs, small round ears and short, pointed muzzle, and they all live primarily on land. They are very

efficient predators, and will often tackle prey larger than they are. In fact, fishers commonly hunt porcupines

even though the "porky" can outweigh them 2 to 1. Some may occasionally eat berries.

Badgers live in burrows in open grasslands and feed mainly on rodents, such as ground squirrels and marmots. Their dens are large, they live alone, and they are usually nocturnal. Badgers are not as bad-tempered as their reputations would lead you to believe but can be formidable if cornered. They are also quite vocal with a variety of hisses, chirring sounds, snarls, screams, barks and loud snuffles.




Marten

(Martes americana)

Other common names: pine marten

Size:

16 in (41 cm) long. Tail up to 9 in (23 cm) long. Male weighs 2 ¾ lb (1248 g); female

slightly smaller.


Found in wooded Canada and Alaska; parts of Colorado and New Mexico.

Tracks Front: 3/4" x 1 1/2"

Hind: 1 1/4" x 2 1/2"

Habitat:

1. Prefers fir, spruce, hemlock forests in the West.

2. Prefers cedar swamps in the East.

3. Lives in areas remote from civilization.

Notes:

Smaller than fisher.

Larger than mink or weasels.

Lives mostly in trees, although may feed on the ground.

Like the fisher, mink and the weasels, the marten has the typical “weasel” shape, that is, long slender body,

short legs, small round ears and short, pointed muzzle. They all live primarily on land. They are very efficient

predators and will often tackle prey larger than they are.





Mink (Mustela vison)

Size:

13-17 in (33-43 cm).

Tail 7-9 in (18-23 cm).

Male weighs up to 3 lbs (1362 g); female

slightly smaller.


Tracks

Front: 1 1/2" x 1 1/2"

Hind 1 1/2" x 1 1/2"

Habitat:

Along streams, rivers, and lakes.

Notes:

Smaller than fisher and marten.

Larger than weasels.

White chin patch is distinctive.

Excellent swimmer. Always lives near water.

Mostly active at night.

Mink are one of the most valuable fur-bearing mammals. They are chiefly nocturnal and prefer to live alone.

They eat mostly small mammals (especially muskrats), frogs, eggs and fish.





Short-tailed Weasel

(Mustela erminea)

Other common names: ermine

Size:

6-9 in (15-23 cm) long. Tail up to 4 in (10 cm) long. Male weighs up to 6 oz (170 g); female

distinctly smaller.


Tracks Front: 1" x 1" Hind: 1/2" x 1 1/4"

Habitat:

Brushy or wooded areas, usually not far from water.

Dens under rocks, stumps or foundations of old buildings.

Notes:

Smaller than mink and longtail weasel.

Always has black tip on tail — least weasel has no black tip.

The shorttail weasel is an excellent mouse hunter, and eats primarily small rodents and birds. Like most members of the weasel family, it kills with a piercing bite to the base of the skull. May give out a shrill shriek when frightened or when seizing prey.




Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata)

Size:

10 in (26 cm) long. Tail 6 in (15 cm) long. Male weighs 7-12 oz (200-340 g), female

distinctly smaller.


Tracks Front: 1" x 1"

Hind: 1/2" x 1 1/2"

Habitat:

Found in most land habitats near water; even in suburban areas.

Usually dens in old burrows of other animals.

Notes:

Smaller than mink.

Yellowish-white underparts; mink has white chin patch only.

Larger than shorttail weasel, with longer tail.

Mostly nocturnal and prefers to live alone.

The longtail weasel is the most widely distributed of the weasels, and it will live in nearly any available habitat.

It will climb trees readily, but prefers to stay on the ground. It eats mostly small mammals up to rabbit size.

Like most members of the weasel family, it kills with a piercing bite to the base of the skull.





Least Weasel (Mustela rixosa)

Size:

6 in. (15 cm) long. Tail 1.5 in. (4 cm) long. Male weighs 1.5-2.25 oz. (39-63 g);

females slightly smaller.


Tracks

Habitat:

Fields, brushy areas, broken woodlands.

Notes:

Smallest living carnivore.

Similar to shorttail and longtail weasels, but no black tip on tail.

The least weasel is the smallest living carnivore. It is an efficient predator of mice, which make up the bulk of its diet. Like most members of the weasel family, it kills with a piercing bite to the base of the skull. Often takes over the burrow of mice it has killed.





River Otter (Lutra canadensis)

Size:

Up to 30 in. (76 cm) long

Tail 12-17 (30-43 cm) long.

Weighs 10-25 lb. (4-11 kg)


Tracks

Front: 2 1/2" x 3"

Hind 3" x 3"

Habitat:

Streams, rivers, and lakes.

Highly aquatic—always found in or near water.

Burrows in streambanks, usually with underwater entrances.

Notes:

Much larger than mink or weasels.

Has webbed feet.

Prefers to live in groups.

The river otter looks like a very large weasel with webbed feet. It has a long, slender body that is well adapted

for swimming. Otters are most at home in water, although they may travel long distances over land to find new

lakes and rivers.





Sea Otter (Ehydra lutris)

Size:

30-36 in (76-91 cm) long.

Tail 11-13 in (28-33 cm) long.

Weighs 30-85 lbs (13-38 kg).


Pacific coastline from

Alaska to southern

California.

Habitat:

Sea coast.

Prefers kelp beds.

Notes:

Similar to river otter, but lives in saltwater environments.

Fully webbed feet.

Likes to float and swim on its back when not disturbed.

Before there were game laws or seasons, sea otters were hunted nearly to extinction because they were prized

for their thick, rich fur. Almost entirely aquatic, sea otters rarely go ashore. They may take refuge on land

during storms. They often bring sea urchins and other prey to the surface and float on their backs while using

their chests as "tables."





Upland Game Birds: Non-Migratory Ptarmigan.

Grouse: spruce grouse, blue grouse, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse.

Pheasants: Fly for short distances; most found around farmland — ring-necked pheasant.

Partridge: gray partridge, chukar.

Quail: Small, chicken-like upland game birds; most have strong legs; short wings; flight is rapid but

only for short distances; many like to run before choosing to fly; forage on ground for seeds and insects.

Species include bobwhite quail, California quail, mountain quail, scaled quail.

Turkey: Fly for short distances; prefers to run.

Ptarmigan (Lagopus spp.)

Size:

12 1/2 to 15 in. (32 to 38 cm).



There are three kinds of ptarmigan:

willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus)

rock ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus)

white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus)

Habitat:

High alpine habitat and tundra areas.

Notes:

Calls of “ca-out-ca-out,” “kow-kow-kow,” “do-ack,” “kerr-ky-kerr” as well as soft clucks and squeals.

Nests on the ground in a scraped-out area lined with grass and leaves.





Spruce Grouse (Dendragapus canadensis)

Size:

16 in. (40 cm).

Weighs about ¾ to 1 1/2 lb. (1/3 to 3/4

kg).


The call of a spruce grouse consists of a series of peeping

clucks except during courtship when the males produce

low, guttural whining sounds. The male will perform a

distinctive fluttering flight from a tree or from the ground

while making a drumming sound with its wings. They

prefer a diet of buds and conifer needles, but will feed on

a variety of plants and insects when available.

Habitat:

Open coniferous forests.

Nests in dense undergrowth.

Notes:

Prefers a diet of buds and conifer needles, but will feed on a variety of plants and insects when available.




Blue Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus)

Other common names: blues

Size:

21 to 22 in. (53 to 56 cm).

Weighs up to 4 lb. (1-3/4 kg).


Habitat:

Nests in open woodlands at lower elevations, then migrates to higher elevations for winter where they

feed on needles and conifer buds.

While in higher forests, it can be found in large numbers close to water.

Notes:

Calls are a soft series of clucks. During the spring mating season males make a loud “hooting” sound,

amplified by their air sac.

The diet of the Blue grouse in summer consists of insects, berries, young plants and seeds.





Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)

Size:

17 in. (43 cm).

Weighs 1 to 2 lb. (1/2 to 1 kg).


The male makes his familiar drumming sound by rapidly

vibrating his wings over a hollow log, while raising his

crest and ruff. Drumming is a mating display to attract

females. Ruffed grouse stay in small family groups

during the summer, and gather into large flocks in

winter.

Habitat:

Mixed evergreen and broad-leaved forest and shrubs; most often in broad-leaved woodlands. Their diet

consists of young green shoots and leaves, insects and berries during the spring months. In winter they

feed on seeds and buds.

Notes:

Similar in size to spruce grouse and sharp-tailed grouse, but has larger, fan-shaped tail.

Named for the “ruff” of dark feathers along the sides of the neck. (Many people incorrectly call this bird

the “Rough” grouse.)

Calls with a series of squawks, peeps, and clucks.

During spring mating season, the male “drums” his wings over a fallen log, making a characteristic

“whump-whump-whump-pump-pump-pump” sound that is often heard by turkey and mushroom

hunters.

Secretive, cautious birds that flush from the ground with an explosive burst of speed when disturbed.




Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus)

Size:

17 to 20 in. (43 to 51 cm).


May be found in large flocks during

autumn near brushy cover, and sometimes

around spilled grain near harvested farm

fields. The flocks disburse in spring for

breeding season.


During spring mating season, the males will “dance” to

attract females by displaying fanned tails, open wings

and rapidly strutting and expanding purplish air sacs

along their throats. Many males will come together this

way, usually at dawn and again in late afternoon. When

disturbed, sharptails will flush from cover with an

explosive burst of speed and fly straight away,

periodically “sailing.”

Habitat:

Mostly found in sandhill areas. Their diet consists of wheat, buckwheat, oats, sunflower seeds; buds,

twigs and some green vegetation.

Notes:

Similar in size to spruce grouse and sharp-tailed grouse, but has larger, fan-shaped tail.

Named for the “ruff” of dark feathers along the sides of the neck. (Many people incorrectly call this bird

the ruff grouse.)

Calls with a series of squawks, peeps, and clucks.

During spring mating season, the male “drums” his wings over a fallen log, making a characteristic

“whump-whump-whump-pump-pump-pump” sound that is often heard by turkey and mushroom

hunters.

Secretive, cautious birds that flush from the ground with an explosive burst of speed when disturbed.




Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

Size:

Male 33 in. (84 cm); female 21 in. (53

cm).

Weighs 2 to 3 lb. (1 to 1 1/3 kg).


Habitat:

Cultivated farmland, especially grain fields and shrub growth.

They eat a variety of plants, insects, and weed and grain seeds.

Notes:

Makes a loud crowing sound that is often a double squawk. Crowing usually occurs at dawn and dusk,

but may occur at any time.

In summer, can be found in family groups, but hens band together in the fall and winter while roosters

remain mostly solitary in winter.





Gray Partridge (Hun) (Perdix perdix)

Size:

12 to 14 in. (30 to 35 cm).

Weighs 14 oz. (400 gm).


Other common names: Hungarian partridge or Hun

Habitat:

Gray partridges are found in grasslands and cultivated areas feeding on insects, waste grain, seeds and

green vegetation.

They burrow in snowdrifts in winter both for protection and to find food.

Notes:

Voice is a hoarse “kee-ah” but when alarmed the call is loud and metallic sounding. Found in groups of

six to 15 birds except during the breeding season.




Chukar (Alectoris chukar)

Size:

12 to 14 in. (30 to 35 cm).

1-1/4 lb. (1/2 kg).


The chukar is an Eurasian partridge that has been

introduced into the western United States for hunting.

Introductions into the northeastern U.S. have been

largely unsuccessful. Nests under shrubs or around

rocks. Creates a simple depression scratched in the

ground and lined with leaves and feathers.

Habitat:

Prefers dry grasslands or desert areas with shrub cover and steep slopes.

Eats green plants and insects during summer.

In winter, found around rivers and farmlands, eating seeds and berries.

Will move from higher elevations to lower ones during heavy snows.

Notes:

Calls out a loud “chukar” or a repetitive “chuk-chuk-chukar-chukar.”

Roosts on the ground beneath sagebrush or junipers, or in open rocky areas.





Bobwhite (Quail) (Colinus virginianus)

Other common names: northern bobwhite;

common bobwhite

Size:

8 1/2 to 10-1/2 in. (22-27 cm).

6 to 8 oz. (187-249 gm).


Habitat:

Farmland areas, open brushy country, roadsides and forest edge.

Prefers open forests, grasslands, pastures, meadows and shrub cover.

Tends to avoid areas of dense cover.

Notes:

Eats seeds, grains, leaves, fruits, green vegetation and insects.

Makes a distinctive, shrill “bob-white” song, frequently heard in spring and early summer.

Multiple family groups come together in autumn and winter to form a covey of 12 to 20 birds.




California Quail (Callipepla californica)

Other common names: valley quail

Size:

10 to 11 in. (25 to 28 cm).

Weighs 7 to 9 oz. (200 to 255 gm).


Habitat:

Woodland edge, coastal scrub, farms, parks and broken cover near water.

Rarely venture more than 50 feet from protective cover.

Unlike other quail, they roost in trees.

Eats insects, berries, weed and grass seeds, and green plants; in winter, eats shoots, buds, fruit and seeds.

Notes:

Similar in size to other quail, but it has short, black plume that curves forward from the crown of the

head.

Usually nests on the ground, but will also nest in low forks of trees.





Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus)

Size:

10-1/2 to 12 in. (26 to 29 cm).

Weighs 7 to 9 oz. (200 to 255 gm).


Habitat:

Grasslands, brush and open country at high altitudes.

Prefers steep slopes with moderate tree and brush cover.

Tend to move from higher elevations in spring/summer to lower elevations in fall/winter.

Eats insects, berries, seeds, and green plants; in winter, eats fruit, seeds, and buds.

Notes:

Similar to California quail, but plume on head is long and straight.

In winter, they form up in flocks up to 100 birds or more. These flocks break up in spring for breeding.

In heavy snows, dense, protective cover is necessary for their survival.

Nests on ground near stumps, logs, rocks or at the base of trees.





Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata)

Other common names: blue quail; cottontop

Size:

10-1/2 to 12 in. (26 to 29 cm)

7 to 9 oz. (200 to 255 gm)


Habitat:

Grasslands and scrub brush.

Eats insects, berries, seeds and green plants; in winter, eats seeds and buds.

Notes:

In winter, may gather in flocks of 100 birds or more, although 30-40 is more common.

Nests on ground in grass clumps.





Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Size:

37 to 46 in. (95 to 115 cm).

Weighs 17 to 28 lb. (7-3/4 to 12-3/4

kg).


Habitat:

Open forests with big trees to roost in and open feeding areas with nearby water.

Diet consists of seeds, fruit, green plants, frogs, lizards, insects and snails.

Notes:

Males are larger and blacker than females. Males raise their tail feathers in a fan display when strutting

during spring mating season.

Turkeys have a naked head. In females, the head is light bluish, while the head of the male may appear

red, white or blue.

Males have sharp, bony spurs that grow on the back side of each leg; these are rarely seen on hens.

Males have long “beards” (actually modified feathers) that hang down from the center of the chest. Hens

occasionally have beards.

Nests are ground depressions lined with leaves and grass and concealed by tall grass or brush.

Migratory Game Birds (Non-Waterfowl) Dove: mourning dove, white-winged dove

Pigeon: band-tailed dove, rock dove




Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Size:

12 in. (30 cm).

Weighs 1 1/4 lb. (1/2 kg).


Habitat:

Open lands including prairies and open forest as well as suburban areas, but they tend to avoid dense

shrubby areas.

Found close to scattered seeds which make up the majority of the diet but will also eat weeds, grass and

some insects.

Notes:

Voice is a mournful “cooo-hoo, coo, oo, oo.”

Similar to white-winged dove, but has a pointed tail and no white wing patches.

Builds shallow, poorly constructed nests on horizontal branches of trees and shrubs.




White Winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

Size:

11” (28 cm).

Weighs 8 oz (249 gm).


Habitat:

Dry and desert areas of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, including suburban areas.

Diet consists of seeds, acorns and cactus fruit.

Notes:

Similar to mourning dove, but has a rounded tail and distinctive white wing patches in flight.

Voice is a mournful “who cooks for you?”

Feeds on the ground or clings to plants.

Normally feeds at dawn and dusk near water.

Shallow nests are built on horizontal branches of trees and shrubs, toward the interior of woodlands if

available.





Band-tailed Pigeon (Columba fasciata)

Size:

14 to 15-1/2 in. (35 to 39 cm).

Weighs 1 1/4 lb. (1/2 kg).


The Band-tailed Pigeon has a distinctive white band on its

neck and a gray band across its tail feathers.

Habitat:

Can be found in forests or coastal woodlands.

Prefers evergreen trees for nesting, perching and feeding.

Shuns contact with humans and will avoid populated areas.

Eats nuts, seeds, blossoms, buds, berries, insects and grains.

Notes:

Similar to rock dove, but prefers mountainous and wooded habitats.

Voice is a hollow, owl-like “oo-hoo” or “hoo-oo-hoo,” repeated.

Builds loose nests out of twigs and pine needles on the ground, in low brush or in the fork of low tree

branches.





Rock Dove (Columba livia)

Size:

13 in. (33 cm).

Weighs 1 lb. (1/2 kg).


Other common names: Pigeon or domestic pigeon

Habitat:

In and around cities, farms, cliffs, and bridges.

At home in suburban and populated areas.

Eats nuts, seeds, blossoms, buds, berries, insects and grains.

Notes:

Similar to band-tailed pigeon, but prefers suburban habitats.

Voice is the common “coo-coo” familiar to most suburban residents.




Migratory Game Birds: Waterfowl (note – to learn more about Waterfowl identification, you can get "Ducks at a Distance" free from

www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/tools/duckdist/duckdist.htm This colorful guide is full of tips and illustrations to

help identify ducks and geese on the wing. Every duck hunter should have it!)

Swans: tundra swan, mute swan.

Geese: Canada goose, snow goose, Ross' goose, white-fronted goose, black brant.

Dabbling ducks: Surface-feeding ducks that inhabit marshes, ponds, lakes, slow rivers and

sometimes bays. Feed by tipping up or dabbling; "spring" into the air on takeoff and can walk more easily

than diver ducks because legs are closer to center of body. Most have an iridescent upper wing patch —

mallard, pintail, American wigeon, northern shoveler, gadwall, wood duck, green-winged teal, blue-winged

teal, cinnamon teal.

Diving ducks: Dive for food usually in large, deep lakes, rivers, ponds, coastal bays and inlets. Feed

primarily on fish, shellfish, aquatic plants and mollusks. Run or fly low across water to takeoff. Many have

legs toward back end of body, making walking difficult. Most have whitish-gray upper wing patches —

canvasback, redhead, bufflehead, greater scaup, lesser scaup, ring-necked duck, ruddy duck, common

goldeneye, Barrow's goldeneye.

Mergansers: common merganser, red-breasted merganser, hooded merganser.

Sea ducks: harlequin, common eider, king eider, oldsquaw, white-winged scoter, surf scoter.

Shorebirds and wading birds: common snipe, American woodcock, purple gallinule, common

moorhen, rails, American coot, sandhill crane.

Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)

Other common names: whistling swan;

Bewick’s swan

Size:

53 in. (133 cm).

Weighs 20 lbs (9 kg).


Habitat:




Will flock together on shallow freshwater ponds, lakes and estuaries; occasionally on salt water bays.

Prefers wetlands, shallow ponds or slow-moving rivers near grassy areas.

Eats mostly plant matter such as wild celery and arrowhead tubers. Will occasionally eat farm crops.

During winter will also eat mussels, crawfish and snails.

Notes:

Call is a high-pitched “hoo-hoo-hoo,” which is repeated by the entire flock, producing a high-pitched

whistling sound.

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

Size:

57 to 62 in. (143 to 155 cm).



Habitat:

Commonly found on protected bays, open marshes and ponds.

Eats mostly aquatic plants, but will also eat insects, fish and frogs.

Notes:

Usually silent, but sometimes snorts or hisses or makes barking notes that sound like a puppy.

Builds nests out of grasses and lines it with feathers above the water level in wetland areas.





Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

Other common names: canadas

Size:

25 to 36 in. (63 to 90 cm).



Habitat:

Prefers permanent water on marshes, lakes, ponds, rivers, lagoons, reservoirs and ditches.

Diet is varied but consists mostly of grains, grasses, plant shoots and roots, and small fish and other

aquatic life.

Notes:

Builds nests of grasses, feathers and down, usually on the ground or on beaver lodges or muskrat houses.

Will also nest in abandoned large bird nests, on man-made platforms and in trees.





Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens)

Other common names: snowies; wavies; blue

goose

Size:

29 to 31 in. (75 to 80 cm).

Weighs 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 lb. (3 to 3-1/2 kg)


Since the middle of the 20th century, snow geese

populations have been growing at a tremendous rate, and

by the turn of the 21st century, were shown to be

destroying their fragile tundra nesting habitat in Canada.

Wildlife agencies in Canada and the U.S. are now

implementing strategies to try to reduce the populations

to levels that will not destroy the habitat.

Habitat:

Spends summer in the sub-Arctic and Arctic tundra, and spends winter around ponds, marshes and rice

fields along the Gulf of Mexico.

Eats seeds, leaves, tubers, grains and wild grass roots. Has become particularly fond of rice and other

farm crops in the U.S.

Notes:

Voice is a shrill nasal honk while flying.

Has a blue-gray color phase in which only the neck and head are white.

Nests on the ground in mounds of grasses, moss and down feathers.





Ross Goose (Chen rossii)

Size:

23 in. (58 cm).

Weighs 2 1/2 to 5 lb. (1 to 2 kg).


Habitat:

Marsh tundra and wetlands. Spends the winters near the Gulf of Mexico, around fields with water

nearby.

Feeds on waste grain and grasses.

Notes:

Similar to the snow goose, but smaller, with a shorter neck and rounder head.

Nests in depressions on the ground that are lined with vegetation and down feathers.





White-Fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)

Size:

29 in. (75 cm).

Weighs 6 1/4 lb. (2.8 kg).


Habitat:

Along shallow coastal marshes, ponds and near rivers; winter habitat includes croplands, pastures and

open lands.

Feeds mostly on vegetation such as grasses, grains, sedges, aquatic plants and berries. Occasionally eats

insects and mollusks.

Notes:

Nests on the a ground in a slight depression lined with feathers, grasses and down feathers.





Black Brant (Branta bernicla)

Other common names: sea goose

Size:

24 to 25 in. (61 to 64 cm).

Weighs 3 1/4 to 3 3/4 lb. (1 1/2 to 1 3/4

kg)


Habitat:

Usually found in saltwater areas such as tundra marshes, ponds and sandy shallows.

Eats mostly eelgrass and other marine plants. Winters in large flocks around mudflats.

Builds a nest of mosses in a slight depression on the ground.




Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Other common names: greenhead

Size:

23 in. (58 cm)

Weighs about 3 lb. (1 1/4 kg)


Habitat:

Commonly found around lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes and farmlands.

Eats a variety of roots, seeds, grains, insects and small aquatic animals.

Notes:

Common throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

Voice is the familiar “quack.”




Pintail (Anas acuta)

Size:

20 to 26 in. (51 to 66 cm).

Weighs about 2-1/2 lb. (1 kg).


Habitat:

Usually found in open areas with low vegetation and shallow water; frequently around lakes, rivers,

marshes, ponds and cultivated fields.

Eats mostly seeds, roots and aquatic vegetation.

Notes:

Builds a nest of dry grasses and leaves on the ground.




American Wigeon (Anas Americana)

Size:

19 in. (48 cm).

Weighs about 2 lb. (1 kg).


Habitat:

Prefers estuaries, lagoons, mudflats and shallow bays, but will also live in fields, marshes, lakes and

slow-moving rivers.

Eats mostly green leaves, insects, aquatic plants and aquatic invertebrates. Will eat grass, seeds and

grain in autumn.

Notes:

Call is a three-note flute sound.

Builds a nest on the ground in grassy areas near water.




Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

Other common names: spoonbills

Size:

19 in. (48 cm).



Habitat:

Found in shallow pools, swamps, marshes and other flooded areas.

Eats tiny food particles such as crustaceans, mollusks, insects, aquatic plants and seeds, as well as water

beetles, small minnows and snails.

Notes:

Nests in shallow ground depressions constructed of grass and lined with down feathers.





Gadwall (Anas strepera)

Size:

20 in. (51 cm).



Habitat:

Shallow freshwater and brackish ponds, swamps and marshes, as well as flooded areas, but generally

avoids wetlands that are surrounded by forests or thick brush.

Eats leaves, insects, mollusks, crustaceans, small amphibians and fish.





Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

Other common names: Woody

Size:

18-1/2 in. (47 cm).

Weighs 1 to 2 lb. (1/2 to 1 kg).


Habitat:

Woodland areas along lakes, rivers and wetlands.

Must have hollow trees or other similar cavities for nesting.

Notes:

Call is a series of whistles combined with occasional “cheeps” and clucks.





Green Winged Teal (Anas crecca)

Size:

14-1/2 in. (37 cm).

Weighs about 1 lb. (1/2 kg).


Habitat:

Freshwater marshes, small ponds and lakes.

Eats aquatic plants, seeds and grain.

Notes:

Male’s voice is a short whistle; female’s voice is a high-pitched quack.





Blue-Winged Teal (Anas discors)

Size:

15-1/2 in. (39 cm).



Habitat:

Marshes, lakes and shallow ponds.

Notes:

Male’s voice is a series of chirps, peeps and short whistles; female’s voice is a soft high-pitched quack.





Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)

Size:

16 in. (41 cm).



Habitat:

Open shallow lakes, marshes, streams and ponds.

Diet consists of aquatic plant seeds.

Notes:

Male voice sounds like a rattle; female voice is a high-pitched quack.





Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)

Other common names: Cans

Size:

21 in. (53 cm).

Weighs about 3 lb. (1-1/3 kg).


Habitat:

Marshes, lakes and bays. Diet includes various aquatic plants, insects, small fish and crustaceans.

Notes:

Male is similar to male redhead, but with longer, sloping bill and more white on the body.

Male voice is a hoarse croak or a peep; female voice is a wailing “curr-curr” or a loud quack.





Redhead (Aythya americana)

Size:

19 in. (48 cm).



Habitat:

Marshes, lakes and bays.

Diet includes aquatic plants, insects and crustaceans.

Notes:

Male is similar to male canvasback, but with shorter bill and less white on the body.





Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Other common names: butterballs

Size:

13-1/2 in. (34 cm).



Habitat:

Lakes, saltwater bays and ponds.

Eats mollusks, crustaceans, snails, fish and insects.

Notes:

Male is similar to male hooded merganser, but with shorter, rounded bill and white sides.





Greater Scaup (Aythya merila)

Other common names: bluebill

Size:

18 in. (46 cm).



Habitat:

Ponds, rivers, lakes and bays.

Eats aquatic plants, insects, mollusks and snails.

Notes:

Very similar to lesser scaup, but male is whiter with a rounder head and a larger black tip on the bill.





Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)

Other common names: bluebill

Size:

16-1/2 in. (42 cm)



Habitat:

Ponds, marshes, rivers, lakes.

Eats aquatic seed, insects, crustaceans and snails.

Notes:

Very similar to greater scaup, but male is more gray than white, and has a more pointed head and a

smaller black tip on the bill.





Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)

Size:

17 in. (43 cm)

1 to 2 lb. (1/2 to 1 kg)


Habitat:

Wooded ponds, rivers, lakes.

Eats aquatic plants, insects and mollusks.

Notes:

Male is similar to male scaup, but has a black back.





Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)

Size:

15 in. (38 cm).

Weighs about 1 lb. (1/2 kg)


Habitat:

Marshes, lakes, ponds, bays

Eats crustaceans, insects, aquatic plants

Notes:

Small and “chubby.”

Often holds tail vertically.

Cannot walk on land.





Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

Size:

18-1/2 in. (47 cm).



Habitat:

Lakes, saltwater bays, ponds.

Eats mollusks, crustaceans, insects.

Notes:

Very similar to Barrow’s goldeneye, but male’s head is greenish, not purplish (although difficult to

distinguish at a distance). Female has slightly longer bill than Barrow’s.

Similar to scaup but has a white chest.





Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)

Size:

18 in. (46 cm).

Weighs about 2 lb. (0.9 kg)


Habitat:

Lakes, saltwater bays, ponds.

Eats mollusks, crustaceans, fish and insects.

Notes:

Very similar to common goldeneye, but male’s head is purplish, not greenish (although difficult to

distinguish at a distance). Female’s bill is slightly shorter than common goldeneye’s bill.

Similar to scaup but has a white chest.




Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)

Size:

22-27 inches (55-68 cm).

Weighs about 3-1/2 lb. (1.6 kg)


Habitat:

Wooded lakes, shallow ponds and rivers. Rarely seen in coastal bays.

Eats mostly fish but will also eat crustaceans and mollusks.

Notes:

Similar to red-breasted merganser, but lacks the prominent crest on the back of the head, and the body is

whiter.

Female mergansers look similar to male canvasbacks and redheads, but both of those species have black

chests.





Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)

Size:

20-26 inches (50-65 cm)

Weighs about 1-1/2 lb. (0.7 kg).


Habitat:

Found at freshwater marshes, shallow ponds and lakes; coastal bays during winter.

Eats mostly fish but also aquatic invertebrates.

Notes:

Similar to common merganser, but has a prominent crest on the back of the head (often looks like the

bird is having a “bad hair day.”)

Female mergansers look similar to male canvasbacks and redheads, but both of those species have black

chests.





Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)

Size:

18 inches (46cm).



Habitat:

Freshwater marshes, wooded lakes, shallow ponds and rivers.

Eats mostly fish but also some aquatic invertebrates.

Notes:

Smaller than the other mergansers, but similar body and bill shape.

Male has a large and showy fan-shaped, black and white crest on the head which may be raised or

lowered.

Male bufflehead is similar, but it is chubbier and has white sides.




Harlequin (Histrionicus histrionicus)

Size:

16-1/2 in. (42 cm).



Habitat:

Fast-running mountain streams in summer; rocky coastlines in winter.

Eats mollusks, insects.

Notes:

Dark and unusually colored duck.

Female is similar to female bufflehead, but has three white face spots.




Common Eider (Somateria mollissima)

Size:

24 in. (61 cm).

4 lb. (1-3/4 kg).


Habitat:

Rocky coastlines, islands, tundra.

Eats sea urchins, crustaceans and mollusks, especially blue mussels.

Notes:

Common eiders and spectacled eiders are the only ducks in North America with black bellies and white

backs.

The male king eider is similar, but it has a more prominent orange bill shield (“nose”), and it’s back is

more black than white.





King Eider (Somateria spectabilis)

Size:

24 in. (61 cm).

4 lb. (1-3/4 kg).


Habitat:

Rocky coastlines, open ocean.

Eats sea urchins, mollusks, starfish and some aquatic plants.

Notes:

The male common eider is similar, but it has a white back.

Stays farther north than common eider, so is rarely seen.




Oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis)

Size:

16 to 22 in. (41 to 56 cm).



Habitat:

Tundra lakes and coastal bays and inlets.

Eats mollusks, insects, crustaceans.

Notes:

Male has very long tail.

Flies in bunched-up, disorganized flocks.





White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca)

Size:

21 in. (53 cm).



Habitat:

Estuaries and open ocean; may be found in freshwater lakes in summer.

Eats mussels, clams and scallops.

Notes:

Most widespread scoter.

Often migrates in long, single-file lines.

Female is very similar to female surf scoter, but has a white wing patch (although this patch may not

show until the bird takes flight).





Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)

Size:

20 in. (51 cm).



Habitat:

Wooded arctic lakes and rivers in summer; open ocean and coastal areas during winter.

Eats mostly mollusks and crustaceans; some aquatic plants.

Notes:

Known for its habit of diving into waves as they break along the coast.

Gather in large flocks along the coast during fall migration.

Female is very similar to female white-winged scoter, but it does not have a white wing patch (this patch

may not show until the bird takes flight).





Shore and Wading Birds Common snipe

American woodcock

Purple gallinule

Common moorhen

Rails

American coot

Sandhill crane

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

Size:

11 in. (28 cm).

4 -5 oz. (115 to 130 g)


Other common names: jacksnipe, Wilson’s snipe

Habitat:

Coastal lagoons, salt marshes, bogs and other marshy, wetland areas.

Notes:

Eats primarily snails, aquatic insects and small crustaceans.

When flushed, will zig-zag noisily upward, then dive.

Builds nests of moss, leaves and grass in a scraped hollow on the ground





American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)

Size:

11 in. (28 cm).

8 oz. (219 g)


Habitat:

Lowland forests, moist thickets and brushy swamps.

Notes:

Eats mostly earthworms, but will also eat various insects and larvae.

Nests are simple ground scrapes or may lay eggs on dry ground litter.

Bursts from cover with a loud whistling call.





Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

Size:

13 in. (33 cm).

10 -12 oz. (300 - 350 g)


Habitat:

Ponds, lakes and marshes with dense vegetation.

Notes:

Nests are built out of grasses and aquatic plants above water level—usually with a ramp leading to the

water.

Eats mostly aquatic plants, seeds, fruits, mollusks and insects.

Voice is croaking and squawking sounds.





Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica)

Size:

13 in. (33 cm).

9 oz. (250 g).


Common Gallinule

Habitat:

Salt and freshwater marshes and swamps, as well as rivers, ponds and lakes with aquatic vegetation.

Notes:

Builds nests out of grasses and other aquatic vegetation attached to marsh plants over water.

Calls include cackling and guttural noises.

Eats frogs, insects and aquatic vegetation.





Rails (Rallidae spp)

Size:

- Sora and Virginia: 9 in (23 cm).

- Weighs 3 oz. (84 g).

- Clapper: 16 in. (40 cm).

- Weighs 5 oz. (140 g).


Virginia Rail

Sora

There are several kinds of rails. Among them are:

- Sora (Porzana carolina)

- Virginia rail (Rallus limicola)

- Clapper rail (Rallus longirostris)

Habitat:

Freshwater and saltwater marshes and ponds.

Notes:

Sora has widest distribution of the rails, and has shorter, thicker bill than the others.

Virginia rail similar in size to sora, but longer bill and reddish in color.

Clapper rail larger than the others; long bill has downward curve.

Calls include grunts, clatters, and peeps.

They build a nest out of dry grasses woven into surrounding vegetation.

They eat seeds, insects, and aquatic plants and animals.





American Coot (Fulica americana)

Size:

13 to 16 in. (33 to 40 cm).

Weighs 1 to 1 1/2 lb. (1/2 to 3/4 kg).


Other common names: marsh bird, mud hen

Habitat:

Freshwater wetlands, lakes and ponds.

Eats small aquatic animals (fish or tadpoles), insects and vegetation.

Notes:

Looks similar to a duck, but bill is different

Has “lobed” toes instead of webbed feet.

Eyes are red

Males and females have same coloring.

Builds a platform nest at the edge of water, usually with a ramp leading to the water.

Makes a variety of calls, including clucking, cackling, and frog-like croaking.

Similar to gallinules, but are slightly larger and have a white bill.





Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)

Size:

34 to 48 in. (86 to 120 cm).

Weighs 6.5 lb. (3 kg).


Habitat:

Open grassy areas and shallow, freshwater marshes

Notes:

Eats mostly grains but will also eat berries, insects, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals.

Builds nests with twigs and stems concealed in aquatic vegetation and surrounded by water.





Exotic Species Exotic species are species that are not native to an area, but are brought in to an area either intentionally, such as for

hunting, or accidentally, such as an unsuspected "hitchhiker" species.

Huntable exotics are often found in game preserves and are stocked much like agricultural crops. Most exotics have

restricted movement because of game-proof fencing and are owned by landowners. Some "free-roaming" exotics

have expanded their ranges into neighboring counties. Exotic species are somewhat controversial because they can

out-compete many of the native species. It is important that landowners use hunters to control exotic numbers just

as hunters are used in wildlife management by states and provinces.

Some exotic species that are hunted in North America include the fallow deer, red deer, European wild boar and

nilgai antelope.

Protected or endangered species Species that are not allowed to be hunted are protected, rare and endangered species.

Endangered species are species that historically lived in an area but its population has decreased to the point that the

species is on the verge of extinction. Threatened species are at risk of becoming endangered. Rare species may have

always been in few numbers, or suffered a major decline in population. Rare species are watched for further decline

toward threatened or endangered status. Some reasons for the decline of a species include loss of habitat, disease, or

competition from other species. You can review more about endangered species and how wildlife managers are

trying to save these species in the Wildlife Conservation section of this course.

Protected species include raptors, songbirds and many shorebirds. Raptors are birds of prey, and they include

eagles, falcons, hawks and owls. Songbirds are many of the common birds you see in backyards and woods, such as

cardinals, finches, and many more species. Shorebirds often migrate with huntable waterfowl. Pelicans, herons,

gulls, egrets and many smaller shorebirds are protected.

As a hunter, you must be especially watchful for "look-alike" species—species that look or act similar to huntable

species but are actually protected. For example, the meadowlark can be mistaken for quail or dove. Sparrow hawks

can look like doves. Many protected sparrow and song birds look like the unprotected English sparrow. All these

remind hunters to be sure of their target before pulling the trigger.

For a list of the species currently listed as endangered, see the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service at

http://endangered.fws.gov/wildlife.html


http://endangered.fws.gov/wildlife.html

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