clatsop county mammals: eight small prey items for larger creatures…

Clatsop County Mammals:Eight small prey items for larger creatures…

Broadway Middle SchoolLife Science 2009-2010

Trowbridge’s ShrewSorex trowbridgii

Order Insectivora, Family Soricidae For more information about Soricidae: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Insectivora.html

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/sotr.html

www.ucpress.edu/books/ pages/5776/5776.ch04.html

Identification: two-colored tail.

Range, Habitat and Diet

Habitat:• Open areas• Woodlands• Forests

Diet: • Insects

Most individuals live no longer than 18 months. http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/sotr.html

Townsend’s ChipmunkTamias townsendii

Order Rodentia, Family SciuridaeFor more information about Sciuridae:http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Sciuridae.html

Identification: Chipmunks have stripes on their face; ground squirrels do not.

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/tato.html

Range, Habitat and Diet, etc.

Habitat:• Coniferous forests• BrushDiet: • Seeds, flowers & fruitsHabits, breeding:• Hibernates• One litter per year,

2-6 younghttp://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/tato.html

Douglas Squirrel,Tamiasciurus douglasii

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/tado.html

Identification:• Dark gray on top• Orange underneath• Black stripe from elbow

to knee• Pale eye-ring

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/tado.html

Habitat:• Coniferous forestsDiet: • Seeds of conifers(from the cones)Habits, breeding:• Does not hibernate• 1 to 2 litters per year,

4-6 young

Range, Habitat and Diet, etc.

Northern Flying Squirrel,Glaucomys sabrinus

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/glsa.html

http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpecies_LI.asp?imageID=18791

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site//resources/phil_myers/classic/sabrinus1.jpg/view.html (upper right)

Identification: Large eyes, membrane from elbows to knees for gliding

Range, Habitat and Diet, etc.

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/glsa.html

Habitat:• Coniferous forests• Mixed forestsDiet: • Lichens• Fungus (important: Flying Squirrels disperse fungal spores and bacteria in their

scat that help fix nitrogen; clearcutting breaks that cycle and makes it difficult for the forest to regenerate)

Habits, breeding:• Nocturnal• Glides from trees• One litter per year, 2-5 young

Creeping Vole, Microtus oregoni

http://www.enature.com/fieldguide/showSpecies_LI.asp?imageID=18756

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/mior.html

Identification: Short, bi-colored tail

Range, Habitat and Diet, etc.Habitat:• Grasslands• ForestDiet: • Herbivore (plants)Habits, breeding:• Burrows underground• 4-5 litters per year,

3-4 younghttp://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/mior.html

Townsend’s Vole,Microtus townsendii

Identification:Dark brown above, gray below; feet dusky; large ears.

Total length: 15-25 cmtail: 5-8 cmmass: 40-100 g http://share3.esd105.wednet.edu/rsandelin/NWnature/2005.htm

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/collections/mammalogy/mamwash/rodentia.php#

Range, Habitat and Diet, etc.• Habitat:• Marshes, streams, and wet meadows

• Diet: • Herbivore (plants)

• Habits, breeding:• Burrows underground, can swim• Breeds from early spring through late summer or early

fall; several litters of 1–9 young each; gestation 21–24 days

Red-backed Vole Clethrionomys gapperi

http://www.hubbardbrook.org/image_library/view.php?id=430

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/collections/mammalogy/mamwash/rodentia.php#

Identification:Short tail; red back. Total length: 12-16 cmtail: 3-5 cmmass: 16-42 g.

Range, Habitat and Diet, etc.• Habitat: Forest or meadows in

mountains, damp areas• Diet: Herbivore

• Habits, Reproduction:• Sexually mature at 2–4 months; breeds late

winter to late fall; several litters per year of 2–8 young, with larger litters at higher elevations and latitudes; gestation 17–19 days.

• Red-backed voles can live in the wild to be 20 months. However, most voles only live as long as 12 to 18 months

Deer Mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/pema.html

Identification:• Adults brown on top, white

below• Juveniles gray on top• Bi-colored tail• Large ears

Notes:• Most species tested are positive

for the Hantavirus.• Some Hantavirus strains can kill

humans but not all virus strains are harmful to humans.

More information on Hantavirus from the Centers for Disease Control:http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/

Range, Habitat and Diet, etc.

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/mammalogy/mamwash/pema.html

Habitat:• Ubiquitous (present in all habitats…everywhere, all the time)

Diet: • Granivore, omnivore, caprophagy

Habits, breeding:• Burrows underground• Many litters per year, 1-11 young

(average is 4-6 young)