Mammals and More!

Birds are a lot easier to observe than mammals! 

Other than squirrels, bear, and deer, I have rarely seen mammals in my neighborhood!  I've seen more signs of mammal presence, than the actual animals. I've collected the bones and antlers pictured above, over many years of exploring the "woods"!  This week I found the little dead Shrew Mole pictured below!  

Shrew Mole - Neurotichus gibbsii

This little critter has fur and forefeet like a Shrew, but has a large head and teeth like a Mole, so hence its name "Shrew Mole"!  It is the tiniest mole in North America, measuring 5"-6" in length (including its tail).  Unlike most Moles, the Shrew Mole forages above ground and underground.  It's main food is earthworms, which it finds by digging tunnels underground.  Above ground, it will climb bushes and dig in leaf litter in search of insects and their larvae, sow bugs, beetles and even some vegetation!  They prefer to live in damp, forested areas near streams.  To deal with the humidity, low oxygen, and high level of carbon dioxide found underground, the Shrew Mole has large lungs that can be up to 20% of its body weight!  Females have several litters a year, with 1-4 young.  The baby moles are 30 mm long when born, and weigh less than 1 gram!  Wouldn't those be neat to see?  I don't know why this Shrew Mole died, but I'm glad I got to see it!  

Striped Skunk - Mephitis mephitis

One reason why I haven't seen many mammals is that a lot of them are only active at night, like this Striped Skunk.  This skunk has been in our backyard nightly for quite a while, eating the sunflower seed we put out for the birds!  On Friday, it was there earlier than usual.  Since it was still light outside, I decided to use my flash to take its picture.  If it was during the night I wouldn't use my flash, as the bright light could temporarily disturb the skunk's vision.  

Skunks live in dens year-round.  They have been known to make their dens under woodpiles, buildings, concrete slabs, and rock piles.  Their dens have also been found in hallow trees, rock crevices, and abandoned ground-squirrel and fox dens!  They are omnivores, and eat just about anything they can find!  Sometime in May, the females give birth to a litter of 4-7 kits.  After 6-8 weeks they are weaned, and begin to hunt with their mother!   By July or August, young males begin to disperse and become independent. Their sisters will typically remain with their mother for almost a year. 

Black Bear   Columbian Black-tailed Deer    Raccoon

Ursus americanus     Odocoileus hemionus      Procyon lotor

Identifying animal tracks is sometimes fairly easy in mud, sand and snow.  However, in many situations following an animal's track can be quite difficult!  There are many books and websites dedicated to this subject.  Here are some tips, that I gleaned from a variety of sources, that may help you track and see more wildlife!

•Learn about the habits of the animals that live in the area you're studying, 

BEFORE you go out in the field!  This will take some time!

•Use field guides and binoculars to help you identify critters.

•Sit quietly in one spot for 15 minutes or more, and watch for movement and contrasting colors and shapes.  Visit the same area for several days.

•Wear muted colors. Bright clothing will make YOU visible to the critters!

•In addition to tracks and scat, look for animal trails, signs of grazing, midden piles, areas on tree trunks that look "rubbed" or scratched, and broken branches.

•Visit websites for tons of more information.  A good website is outdooraction.princeton.edu/nature/guide-animal-tracking

Black Bear      Columbian Black-tailed Deer    Gray Fox

  Ursus americanus          Odocoileus hemionus     Urocyon cinereoargentus
columbianus

Scat might be kind of gross to some of you, but identifying scat will help you learn what animals have passed by!  Again, there are a ton of websites with scat identifying information.  I learned the following basic, but very helpful, information from the website I listed above.  Apparently the first thing to assess when you find some scat is its shape.

• Pencil lead shape = rodents
•M&M's shape =  rabbits & hares
•Tubular = dog family, raccoon, skunks, possum, wolverine, bear
•Tubular and tapered at both ends = fox
•Tear drop or tapered at one end = cat family
•Flattened threads = weasel family
•Oblong, may have a nipple at one end = deer

 American Robin  - Turdus migratorius   &  Bullock's Oriole (female) -  Icterus bullockii

Bird Update!

The American Robin is still on her nest!  The Bullock's Orioles are still recycling old nests to make new nests!  This week I was out in our garden, and I noticed the female oriole on the right (below) exploring a willow for quite some time.  After she left, I went to see if I could find what she had been eating.  On the tips of many leaves, I found tiny, little, green caterpillars that had stitched a piece of leaf over themselves!!!  That's what she was eating!  How cool is that?!!!

The oriole on the left (below), I believe, is the young female I photographed last week!  She is getting full-sized FAST!  I watched her probe around in a cedar tree looking for bugs as well!  Do you think her mom is the one eating those green caterpillars?

  OK so NEXT week I'll talk about...

What eats snakes and lizards?

Where are the Black Bears?

What's happening in and along the river?

Check back next week for answers to these questions 

and MORE!!!