More Tracks!

 It can be really difficult to photograph wildlife!!!

The only critters I saw this week were a couple of foxes in my car headlights!

However, because we got some new snow, I did get some new track photos!

Once again, I didn't see any of the animals that left these tracks.

Can you guess why I didn't see them?

Deer Mouse also called White Footed Mouse
Peromyscus maniculatus

I only saw one set of mice tracks, except in this one area, where it looked like
either lots of mice used this path, or just a few mice used it a lot!
I would really like to know what story that track was telling!
 
Like Mountain Lions, mice are mainly nocturnal.  They stay in their dens most
of the day and come out to forage when it's really dark at night.
Sometimes mice make their dens underground, sometimes in old woodpecker 
holes, sometimes in knot holes in trees, sometimes in man made structures.
They usually live alone or with their mate, but sometimes in winter,
up to 10 mice may huddle together in a nest to keep warm!

They store some food for winter, mainly seeds, but will also actively look
for more seeds, berries, and plants above and below the snow! 

Deer Mice are 3-4" long including their bi colored tail.
They weigh .3 to .85 of an ounce.

Raccoon
Procyon lotor

I saw raccoon tracks all over the place this week!  I even followed some of their tracks for half a mile and more!  They don't store any food for winter, but forage frequently for berries, seeds, insects, and fish.  They mainly forage at night, but are occasionally seen during the day.  You won't see them catching fish in the river, as they prefer to catch them in ponds, lakes, or streams. 

In winter, Raccoons don't hibernate, but fall into a deep sleep for several days
 at a time, in their dens.  They make their dens in hollow logs, rock crevices, 
or underground burrows.  Several raccoons may share a den, 
but they are usually members of the same family. 

Raccoons can be 18-24" long, with a tail an additional 9-12".
They can weigh 15 to 40 lbs.

Red Fox or Gray Fox
Vulpes vulpes fulva or Urocyon cinereoargentus

I'm not sure which kind of fox left the tracks in the above photo, but it's one of them!
Foxes do this interesting thing called "direct registering" when they walk in the snow.  Their hind feet land exactly upon the recently made front tracks.  This "registering" conserves energy when their walking in the snow!  Red Foxes also grow dense fur between their toes in winter, for easier travel on snow! 

Foxes are usually nocturnal, but can also be seen during the daytime.  
They are omnivorous and eat mice, birds, squirrels, rabbits, berries, insects, seeds, and acorns.  The Gray Fox is unique, in that it is the only fox that can climb trees to hunt or rest!  It climbs by "hugging" a tree with its front legs, while climbing with its hind legs!
The Gray Fox lives in hollow trees or logs, rock ledges and sometimes old culverts.
The Red Fox usually lives in a rocky den.  

Unlike it's name, the Gray Fox has red, black and white markings that vary a lot.
The easiest way to identify them is their black tipped tail.
Although mostly red, the Red Fox can also have white, black, and gray markings that vary a lot.  The easiest way to identify them is their white tipped tail!

( note: The Gray Fox is native to this area, whereas the Red Fox is not.  There is a native Sierra Nevada Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes necator, that lives at high elevations in the mountains.  It is extremely rare, and is one of the most endangered mammals in North America.  The main factor that caused the demise of this fox was over trapping.)

Red and Gray Foxes are similar in size and weight.
Their body is usually 24-26" long, with a tail an additional tail 11-16".
They weigh 7 to 15 lbs.

How can these animals see at night?
How is their vision different than ours?
Can these mammals see color?
Check back next week for the answers!