Skull Identification Wildlife Food 1 Muskrat Muskrats are

Skull Identification Wildlife- Food

#1 Muskrat • Muskrats are large rodents that always live near water. They have thick brown fur and a long, furless, scaly tail. They can grow up to two feet long (with tail). Their rear feet are webbed for swimming, and their eyes and ears are very small. • Muskrats live in marshes, or alongside ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams.

#2 Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis Family: Mephitidae (skunks) in the order Carnivora Description: A cat-sized mammal with a prominent long-haired tail. The fur is black, usually with a white stripe running down the head and dividing to become two stripes on each side of the body. Often smelled before they are seen, skunks produce an obnoxious scent upon provocation. This disagreeable musk is secreted by glands at the base of the tail and can be aimed and sprayed at will. Prior to spraying, skunks usually warn intruders by stamping their feet and holding the tail high in the air. Size: Total length: 20– 30 inches; tail length: 7– 15 inches; weight: 2½– 11½ pounds. Missouri Species Identification 3

#3

Beaver

Beaver Family castoridae, monogamous, gestation period of 107 days herbivore.

#4 Raccoon

Raccoon skull

Raccoon Polygamous, family procyonidae, omnivores, gestation period of 63 days.

#5 River Otter Lontra canadensis Family: Mustelidae (weasels) in the order Carnivora Description: River otters are well suited to life in the water. They have streamlined bodies, webbed feet and long, tapered tails. Their ears and nose close when they go underwater. Dense, oily fur and heavy layers of body fat insulate them in the water. The have an acute sense of smell, and prominent facial whiskers, which are extremely sensitive to touch. Otters are dark brown with pale brown or gray bellies. The muzzle and throat are silvery. Males and females look alike, although males are larger. Otters are relatively long-lived. In captivity, some bred at 17 years and lived to 19 years of age. They are graceful, powerful swimmers and can remain submerged for 3 to 4 minutes. On land, they travel with a loping gate. On snow or ice, they alternate loping with sliding. Size: Total length is 35 ½ – 53 inches Missouri Species Identification 10

#6 Mink A mink pauses momentary along a bluff early in the morning while searching for food. Mustela vison Family: Mustelidae (weasels) in the order Carnivora Description: Adults are almost entirely brown. The mink is one of few mammals in which males are larger than females. Males are 27 1/4 inches long and 3 pounds while the largest female may be only 21 1/4 inches long and 2 pounds. Musk glands in the anal region secrete a strong odor considered by many to be more obnoxious than that of either weasel or skunk. This odor is given off particularly during the breeding season but also at any period of intense excitement. Size: Males: Total length: 20– 27 inches; tail length: 7– 9 inches; weight: 1½– 3¼ pounds. Females smaller (to 2 pounds). Missouri Species Identification 11

#7 Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Family: Canidae (dogs) in the order Carnivora Description: Doglike in appearance with an elongated, pointed muzzle, large pointed ears that are usually held erect and forward, moderately long legs, and a long, heavily furred, bushy tail that is circular in cross section. The fur is long, thick and soft. The pupil of the eye is vertically elliptical. Upperparts are reddish yellow, becoming slightly darker on the back. The tail is similar but mixed with black and tipped with white. The nose pad is black and backs of the ears blackish. Cheeks, throat and belly are whitish. The legs and feet are black. Size: Total length: 12½– 46 inches; tail length: 11½– 16 inches; weight: 7½– 15 pounds. Missouri Species Identification 12

#8 Opossum Didelphis virginiana Family: Didelphidae (opossums) in the order Marsupialia Description: Opossums are medium-sized mammals with long, rather coarse, grayish-white (sometimes darker) fur; a sharp, slender muzzle with a pink nose; prominent, thin, naked ears; a white or yellowish-white head; short legs; and a long, grasping tail covered with scales and scant hairs. Males and females look alike, although mature females possess a fur-lined belly pouch for carrying young, and adult males in particular often have damaged ears and tail tips due to freezing. Size: Total length: 24– 34 inches; tail length: 9– 15 inches; weight: 4– 15 pounds. Missouri Species Identification 13

#9 Coyote

Coyote

Badger

Rat

Black bear

Black bear 200 -210 day incubation period omnivore

Owl

#2

Whitetail Deer 7 month gestation period, herbivores polygamous.