Mammal Identification In Ontario Niagara College Fauna Identification Course # ENVR9259
About Mammals Mammals evolved from reptiles 200,000,000 years ago. Their rise and subsequent proliferation coincided with the decline of the reptiles on the planet. Mammals are now the dominant animal group on the planet. Mammals can be found in every continent and every ocean in the world.
General Mammalian Characteristics Body hair Mammary glands Live birth 4-chambered heart A constant, raised body temperature
Mammal Taxonomy Canines (Canidae) Felines (Felidae) Ungulates (Cervidae) Weasels (Mustelidae) Lagomorphs (Leporidae) Rodents (Rodentia) Raccoons (Procyon lotor) Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) Bears (Urisidae)
Canines (Canidae) Gray/Timber Wolf (Canis lupus) Coyote (Canis latrans) Red Fox (Vulpes fulva) Gray Fox (Urocyon cenereoargenteus) Domestic Dogs
Gray/Timber Wolf (Canis lupus) Only pack hunters in Ontario Very large range There may be a red wolf subspecies in Algonquin Largest wild canine Large sagittal crest
Coyote (Canis latrans) Have adapted to humans Can survive off of mice Population cycles with rabbits & groundhogs Can actually run faster than wolves (60 km/hr)
Fox (Red, Grey, and Cross) Red and grey interbreed to create the cross fox Only canine that doesn t breed with other canines Follow the sounds of ravens/crows to find food Only pure Grey fox population found on Pelee Island Red fox can run up to 50 km/hr
Felines (Felidae) House cat (Felis domestica) Bobcat (Lynx rufus) Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) Eastern Cougar (Felis concolor) Canada Lynx
House cat (Felis domestica) One of the most invasive animals in Ontario Many Species at Risk are predated by house cats One of the most common mammals in some rural areas
Bobcat (Lynx rufus) Pocket populations Small tufts on ears Sized between house cat and Canada Lynx Lives south of the range of Lynx due to it s inability to compete in snow
Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) Nicknamed the Wood Ghost Most common native cat in Ontario Large ear tufts Snowshoe paws Boreal forest habitat
Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) 80% of diet is snowshoe hare Hares during the high cycle have more biomass than any other mammal Each lynx requires 1 hare per day Only 1 in 7 lynx survives the hare population crash Vole populations rise when hares collapse It takes 50 voles to equal the energy received from one hare
Eastern Cougar (Felis concolor) Same as a mountain lion, or puma Endangered-May not exist in Ontario Canada s largest cat Most distributed wild cat in the world Currently being studied by the Ontario Puma Foundation
Ungulates (Cervidae) Moose (Alces alces) White Tailed deer North American Elk (Cervus canadensis) Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) Woodland Caribou Jess Fang 2010 All can heavily browse trees and shrubs
White Tail, Moose, Elk, Caribou Jess Fang 2010 Woodland Caribou (threatened) North American Elk (Reintroduced) White Tailed Deer Moose
Weasel Family (Mustelidae) Weasels (shorttail, longtail, and least) American Mink (Mustela vison) Marten (Martes americana) Fisher (Martes pennanti) Wolverine (Gulo luscus) River Otter (Lutra canadensis) Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) Badger (Taxidea taxus) Jess Fang 2010 Ermine (short tailed weasel)
Mink, Marten, Fisher and Wolverine Mink Marten Jess Fang 2010 Fisher Wolverine (Vulnerable)
River Otter (Lutra canadensis) Considered the Wolf of the Water Commonly lives in beaver lodges Leaves toilets to mark territory More active at night
American Mink Common in most of Ontario Very similar to marten (look for pearl under chin) Indicator species for local contamination (eat fish and have small ranges) Primarily aquatic/riparian Use their same trails (Typically not found in trees)
Lagomorphs (Leporidae) European Hare, Snowshoe Hare, Eastern Cottontail Rabbit Can heavily browse vegetation Snowshoe turns white in winter and has largest ears Jackrabbit/European hare (Lepus europaeus) Snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus spp.)
Rodents (Rodentia) Most numerous order of mammals Beaver (Castor canadensis) Muskrat (Ondatra zibethica) Squirrels (red, grey and flying) Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) Groundhog/Gopher Mice, Rats, Voles, and Shrews Bats
Beaver Castor canadensis Aquatic mammal Typically up to 60 lbs Lives in beaver lodges May help or hinder projects Alters their environment more than any other creature except humans Making a comeback in Niagara
Evolved from mice Builds push ups for the winter Can remove large cattail stands for food Burrows through berms Occasionally drains wetlands Muskrat Ondatra zibethica
Groundhogs/Gophers Burrows/Lives in a den Requires easy to dig soil (sandy and well drained) Rarely found in clay True hibernation Have also been known to predict the weather
Significant predator of bird eggs Major propagator of seed (trees, wildflowers & grasses) A frequently overlooked component of our ecosystems Flying squirrels most difficult to track Squirrels Sciurus sp. (red, grey and flying)
Have inhabited North America for 3 million years Often lives in Basswoods Girdles trees Defecate at their dens entrance Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)
Raccoons (Procyon lotor) Up to 100 times pre settlement populations Have adapted to humans Highly intelligent Have overstressed many other species Migrating north
Only North American marsupial Been around since the dinosaurs Prehensile tail Voted least likely to survive a predator attack Similar behaviours and habitats with Raccoon Representative of Carolinian Habitat Short lived (2-4 years) Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
Black Bear (Ursus americanus) Bear are the oldest worshipped deity, dating back to Neanderthal times Typically up to 200 lbs, but can reach over 600 lbs Omnivorous Somewhat adapting to humans (highly intelligent) Currently experiencing exceptionally high populations Management practices under significant debate Significant level of poaching for the illegal sale of gall bladders Best defense is to scare the bear by making lots of noise, acting aggressively, and slowly backing away