ASI - Animal Scene Investigation Getting outdoors is a great way to discover the beauty of Mother Nature. The key is to not be blind to what surrounds you. How do you know when an animal is nearby? Just like humans, animals leave evidence of their lives. We can use these signs to know what types of animals live in a habitat. This study packet will introduce you to the most common larger mammals found in the CSRA and the evidence they leave behind. While speed hiking down wooded trails is wonderful exercise and has many great benefits, it is the slow curious wanderer that truly witnesses nature. This region is shared with a myriad of wildlife species that become more evident if one takes the time to truly observe. Wildlife, as its very name indicates, is wild. Most often, it is evidence of their presence that can be observed. Observing nature is a sacred responsibility. It gives you the ability to walk among the homes of animals. You must always treasure this gift and respect the animals by being non-intrusive. Getting too close to animals can cause serious disturbances including: abandoning young, disturbing nesting grounds, damaging foraging areas and may even cause the animal's death while escaping from a human presence. Always remember that you are only a visitor in their habitat. Also keep in mind that there are safety concerns for humans including poison ivy, ticks, rabies, venomous snakes and insects. Humans should not approach any injured wildlife or any animals that is behaving abnormally. While there are many species of wildlife that share our world, most people begin their study with mammals. In order to observe these mammals or the evidence of their presence, one must first learn about the animals, their habitat, and the signs they may leave behind. The most obvious things animals leave behind are footprints. By studying an animal's tracks, one may quickly determine which animals are present. Reading the tracks may also indicate the size of the animal. If the steps of an animal are close together, it generally has shorter legs. Smaller tracks are made by smaller animals. By comparing track depths, often a comparison of animal weights can also be made. Tracks also often tell what the animal was doing, such as running or standing. Once you have learned to read tracks and signs, the outdoors will furnish non-fiction stories in a never ending supply. Forested areas don't lend themselves to recording the passage of an animal's feet on the ground. Therefore, you cannot rely on just footprints, but on any signs or evidence of animal activity. While ultimately the number of different kinds of sign a person might discover in the forest is nearly infinite, we can recognize several large categories to help guide one's search. Feeding Sign: This can include anything from clipped vegetation for herbivores to partially buried carcasses for carnivores. Food trash such as nut shells, chewed pinecones, etc. may also be visible.
Scat: Animal feces are often very distinct and can tell a great deal about the wildlife of the forest. Different creatures deposit their scat in different places for various reasons. Trails and Travel Routes: While clear footprints may be in short supply, evidence of well used travel routes may be quite obvious. Look for packed down routes through brush or places where little or no vegetation grows in relatively straight lines through areas with overall abundant growth. Again, the size, shape, and location of the travel route says a great deal about the type of animal that made it and what they use it for. Trails are the superhighways of the woods! Shelters / Rest Stops: All wildlife, like humans, need to rest and need some sort of shelter to either protect them from the elements or hide them from predators. They might be elaborately constructed subterranean dens or simply small areas of trampled vegetation where an animal has bedded down. Some may be associated with feeding sign or scat while others are meticulously separated from these things by the animal who uses them. Marking / Advertising: A great deal of wildlife try to blend into their surroundings so as not to be seen by their predators or the prey they are after. But wildlife will also leave clear evidence displaying their presence often for other members of their species to see. This could involve scent marking, scraping trees, leaving scat in particular locations among other things. When studying animal tracks, a clear understanding of how animals walk is necessary. Animals that find their prey by stalking are able to see where to place their front feet and not break twigs or in some way make a noise that would alert their prey. Then, by placing the hind feet in the exact spot where their front feet were, they can silently move from place to place. This process is known as registering. A direct register, also known as perfect walking, occurs when the rear foot drops directly into the front track. An indirect register occurs when the rear foot drops slightly to the side or behind the front track. The tracks of a running animal seldom register. Registering can cause distorted tracks that can lead to misidentification if one is not educated on the various common species found in an area. Squirrels Squirrels are mammals in the family Rodentia (rodents). Probably one of the most familiar and most observed wildlife species is the squirrel. The gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is the most common species in Georgia. It is found statewide in both rural and urban areas. Gray squirrel adult weights range from 12 ounces to one and a half pounds. Though there is some color variation among gray squirrels, most are very similar in appearance. The slightly larger and more variably colored fox squirrel (S. niger) is also found statewide, but is less common, more habitat specific, and has more of a sporadic, patchy distribution. Adult fox squirrels range in weight from one pound to nearly three
pounds. Their hair is extremely variable, ranging from pure black to pure blond with all sorts of intermediate color schemes. Both gray and fox squirrels are associated with wooded habitats. Although they are often found together in the same area (sympatric), there are some differences in their preferred habitats. Gray squirrels are most numerous in mature upland and bottomland hardwood forests. In developed areas gray squirrels can be found in parks and neighborhoods. Gray squirrel densities can be quite high in urban and suburban areas. Fox squirrels tend to be most closely associated with mature pine and mixed pine/hardwood habitats. Oak acorns and hickory nuts provide the most nutritious food for squirrels, and they will also eat the flowers of these trees in the spring. Squirrels eat a variety of other foods including buds and flowers of other trees, dogwood fruit, mulberries, blackgum fruit, grasses, and various seeds. Both gray and fox squirrels are diurnal and will use leaf nests and cavity nests. The use of cavity nests is probably dependent upon availability. Many mature oaks have cavities in the bole or limbs of the tree that provide protective cover for nesting. Fox squirrels tend to use more leaf nests than gray squirrels. A leaf nest is called a drey and is abandoned when it becomes too soiled for use. Tracks are usually in a leaping pattern. Another common sign of squirrel activity is chewed pinecones, nut shells and other forms of food trash. Front Track Size Hind Track Size 1.25-1 7/8 in. L x.75-1.75 in. W 1.25-2 1/16 in. L x 1-1.75 in. W Beavers Beavers (Castor canadensis) were almost eliminated from this area because of unregulated trapping and habitat loss. Wildlife professionals of the 1940's conducted restoration efforts that were quickly successful. Beavers are found throughout North America wherever suitable habitat exists. Present in most areas with a year-round water flow, beavers are found in streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and low lying land or swamps along flood-prone creek and river bottoms. Beavers occasionally are found in roadside ditches, drainage ditches, and sewage ponds and are becoming more common in urban areas.
Members of the Order Rodentia (rodents) and Family Castoridae, beavers are North America's largest rodents. Considered semi-aquatic animals, beavers live on both land and in water. Their broad flat tails are used for stability while sitting, feeding or chewing trees. In water, the tail serves as a warning device when slapped on the water and as a rudder for swimming. It is not, however, used as a shovel for moving dirt. The herbivorous diet of beavers varies seasonally. During the winter months, preferred woody vegetation includes sweet gum, ash, willows, poplar, cottonwoods, pines and fruit trees; however, beavers will chew most trees. During the spring and summer, beavers relish aquatic plants and lush tender green shoots or plants. Beavers are social animals and usually live in family units called colonies. A single colony may contain a breeding adult pair and both yearling and juvenile offspring. Just before sunset is the best time to witness beavers checking their dams and patrolling their ponds. Beavers create their own shelter in the form of either bank dens or lodges. Dens are created by digging a series of holes in the banks of lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks or streams. Beavers may opt to pile up sticks and form a lodge. Entrances to the lodge or den are submerged while the denning area is 1-2 feet above the water level. The beaver's most famous signature is the dam. Beaver dams serve to stabilize water levels yielding protection to both beavers and their homes as well as facilitating access to food. From an ecological standpoint, beavers are one of the most important animals in nature. Ponds or wetlands created by beavers provide excellent habitat for numerous plants and animals, as well as provide critical nesting or foraging areas for numerous species of waterfowl and other migratory birds. Beaver created wetlands also serve as a filtration system trapping sediments and improving water quality. Landowners may benefit from having beaver ponds on their property through improved hunting, fishing and bird watching opportunities. However, beavers sometimes create impressive wetlands that conflict with people's use of the land. Tracks of the beaver are very unique with the hind foot having toes that are webbed together to aid in swimming. Often there is a tail drag which all but obliterates the track prints. Obvious signs, besides dams and lodges, are the remnants of branches from which they have chewed off the inner bark for food. Hind Foot 4.75-7 in. L x 3.25-5.25 in. W Front Foot 2.5-3.75 in L x 2.25-3.5 in W
Opossum The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), or "opossum" as it is commonly known, is a native mammal in the CSRA. Many people are familiar with opossums, but there are several aspects of the opossum with which people are unfamiliar. The opossum is about the size of a house cat with adult males weighing an average of 5.5 pounds and adult females an average of 4.0 pounds. They have long, dense body fur that is usually a grayish white color, although some opossums in the southeastern U.S. are darker. An opossums face is white with a pointed snout and whiskers. An adult opossum has 50 teeth, quite a lot, and is not afraid to bare them when scared or angry (hence the phrase "grinning like a opossum"). Its tail is about a foot long and has very little hair on it. The tail is prehensile which means it is can be used to grasp onto objects such as tree limbs. Opossums are fairly widespread in continental North America. Opossums are not constrained to any specific habitat type, thus they are found in many different areas from cities and towns to rural areas. However, across their range they appear to be most numerous in wooded areas adjacent to water bodies such as creeks, rivers, and lakes. Opossums are not territorial animals, but do maintain seasonal home ranges (the area typically traversed by an animal over a given time). Unique among North American mammals, opossums belong to the mammalian subclass known as marsupials. Breeding occurs in mid-winter, and tiny (0.1 inch) young are born after a brief gestation period of 12 days. Remarkably, the young climb into a pouch located on the females abdomen. In the pouch, female opossums suckle and shelter their newborn young for almost 70 days. Being fed milk in the warm cozy environment of the pouch, the young fully develop. The young are completely weaned at about 100 days after entering their mothers pouch. Average litter size is seven and adult female opossums have an average of two litters each year. Opossums are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plant and animal substances. They eat hard and soft mast: acorns, berries, and other fruits. Opossums consume insects and other arthropods, as well as bird eggs, bird nestlings, and small mammals. They have even been known to kill and eat venomous snakes (opossums are remarkably immune to snake venom). Carrion (dead animals), garbage, and even young of their own species round out an opossums diet. Hind Track 1 7/16-2 3/8 in. L X 1.25-2.25 in W Front Track 1-1 11/16 in. L X 1-2 7/16 in. W Many people have heard of opossums "playing dead". This unusual behavior is thought to have evolved as a defense mechanism against predators that seek
out live prey. By lying still and feigning death in the face of perceived danger, perhaps the opossum is banking on being passed by rather than eaten. The tracks of the opossum show similarities to the human hand with the thumb often turned forward. Fox Valued as one of the classic representatives from the wild canid family, foxes are found throughout the CSRA in both rural and urban landscapes. In the region, there are two species of fox - the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Grizzled gray in color with patches of reddish fur on the neck, flanks, legs and underside of the tail, gray foxes weigh between 8-12 pounds, are 34-40 inches in total length. A black stripe often runs along their back down to the tail tip. A furry deep reddish brown to yellowish red animal with a characteristic bushy red tail tipped with white, the red fox weighs between 8-14 pounds, and is 36-45 inches in total length. Both gray and red foxes are considered monogamous and both male and female work together to raise pups. Also referred to as a forest fox, the gray fox is native to the eastern forests of the United States. The association of the gray fox with forests may in part be based on the gray foxes ability to elude predators such as predatory birds, coyotes, and bobcats by climbing trees-a feature unique among foxes. Even though gray foxes are associated primarily with forested areas, they are also found along woodland edges and in and around urban/suburban areas. Both red and gray foxes are considered carnivores because a large portion of their diet includes rabbits, rats, mice, squirrels, birds, and insects, however they also will eat carrion and vegetation, including all types of fruits, nuts and berries. Originally introduced into America by European settlers and now found throughout most of the United States, the red fox is characterized as an old field or edge-species since it is commonly found in areas of mixed pine-hardwood forests interspersed with fields, cropland and/or grasslands. Red foxes are quite common in urban and suburban areas because of the abundance of food in these areas and their adaptability. Oftentimes home range and territories overlap and vary in size depending on red fox population densities and food abundance. When preyed upon by coyotes, bobcats, and/or predatory birds, red foxes utilize their adaptation of speed and endurance to elude predators. This adaptation is what made this species so popular for fox and hound hunting.
Although foxes are primarily nocturnal hunters, it is not uncommon to see a fox during the day. If you see a fox during the day in either the woods or in your yard, the best advice is to simply leave it alone. Front Track Size 1 7/16-2 in. L x 1 3/16-1.75 in. W Hind Track Size 1.25-1.75 in. L x 1 1 7/16 in. W Skunk Two species of skunks occur in Georgia; the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) and the Eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius). Skunks are members of the Family Mustelidae. Commonly referred to as polecats, striped skunk are about the size of domestic house cats, measuring 21-28 inches in total length and weighing from 3-11 pounds. As one of the most recognizable mammals anywhere, striped skunks are known for their black fur and characteristic white stripes on their head and down their back. Spotted skunks can also emit a putrid smell; hence the species name "putorius". Also referred to as civet cats, spotted skunks are considerably smaller than striped skunks measuring between 17 and 23 inches in length and weighing between 1 to 3 pounds. The black and white color is consistent with other skunks, however spotted skunks typically have horizontal white stripes on their neck and shoulders, irregular vertical and elongated spots on their sides, and white spots on the top of their head and between their eyes. In terms of color patterns, no two skunks seem to be the same. Skunks are perhaps most well known for their defense strategy. When confronted, striped skunks will face the threat, arch and elevate their tail, erect the tail hairs, chatter their teeth, and stomp the ground with their front feet. This warning usually convinces most to retreat. However, if the threat remains the skunk will twist around, raise its tail straight up, and squeeze its anal glands spraying a foul secretion up to 15 feet away that may be detected up to a mile away. Spotted skunks will stand on their front feet and discharge their scent directly over their head. Contrary to popular myth, skunks can spray even when being held off the ground by its tail. Most animals attempt to blend in to their environment for protection. However, the unique and very noticeable contrasting coloration of skunks serves as sufficient warning to most predators. Great-horned owls with their poorly
developed sense of smell and nocturnal activities are a significant predator of skunks. Striped skunks are the most common skunks throughout the United States. They are found in a wide variety of habitats including forests, agriculture, and urban areas. Areas dominated by brush that are adjacent to grassy and forested areas (also known as edge habitat) are preferred habitat for this skunk. Although it may occasionally dig its own den, striped skunk will seek out shelter in crevices, abandoned burrows of other animals, hollow logs, or even underneath buildings or homes. Striped skunks eat a large amount of insects. Their diet includes a wide variety of beetles and their larvae, grasshoppers, crickets, earthworms, butterfly and moth larvae, spiders, snails, ants, bees and wasps, and crayfish. When insects are not available, their diet may shift to mice, vegetation, or ground nesting bird eggs. Spotted skunks are found in the more northern and eastern parts of Georgia and South Carolina as well as much of the Eastern United States. It is less common than striped skunks and occurs at considerably lower densities. Habitats they frequent include farmlands and other early successional areas with an abundance of "edge." Skunks are a significant carrier of rabies in the United States. This status, as well as their propensity to use urbanized areas, makes them a serious potential source of human exposure to rabies. Front Track 7/8-1 1/2 in. L x 3/4-1 3/16 in. W Hind Track 15/16-1 13/16 in. L x 13/16-1 1/4 in. W Striped Skunk Tracks Long front claws for digging. White tailed Deer White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) once were nearly eliminated in the CSRA, but through diligent wildlife management efforts, deer were successfully restored throughout the state. In fact, the current deer population exceeds 1.2 million. Adult deer in Georgia range from 70 to 250 pounds with bucks (males) typically weighing more than does (females). Newborns, called fawns, are spotted and range from 4-8 lbs. Most are born between May and August with a peak in June.
For the first month or so, does spend very little time with fawns, hiding them for hours at a time and returning to nurse them only 4 or 5 times per day. This tactic helps keep scent levels very low so predators are not attracted to newborns. Young deer begin foraging on plants within a month and are completely weaned in three months. Deer can be seen about anytime of day, but are mostly active around dawn and dusk. This is called a crepuscular activity pattern. The deer herd is the result of a complex interaction of food supply, population size, births, deaths, movements, weather, and past history. Deer are the only native animals that routinely browse plants 4 to 5 feet above the ground. They eat about five pounds per day (dry weight) of hundreds of species of both native and non-native plants, but have definite preferences for certain plants, fruits and nuts. Some of their favorites include Japanese honeysuckle, acorns, grapes, apples, persimmons, greenbrier, blackberry, maple, blackgum, grasses, corn, clover, summer weeds, and sumac. Deer are known as generalists because of their ability to thrive in a wide variety of habitats including forests, woodlots, suburbs, golf courses, extensive agriculture, swamps and coastal marshes. High deer numbers are a serious concern because they can destroy their own habitat and that of dozens of other species, even causing extirpation of plant species. The best deer habitat contains mixed ages of pine and hardwood forests interspersed with openings and agriculture. This provides the optimum combination of food, cover, and water that are the essential components of any habitat. Deer are the only hoofed wildlife species in this region. While walking the tracks of a deer will register, but will not if the animal is running or jumping. Cut vegetation, rubs (where deer rub the velvet from their antlers), and bedding areas are also signs of an active deer population. Bucks grow their antlers each spring and shed them in the winter. Shed antlers quickly become a food source for rodents. Raccoon The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a stocky mammal up to three feet in length and weighing between 8-20 pounds. Distinctive markings include a black mask over the eyes and heavily furred tail with black rings. Raccoons have pointy, triangular ears and hand-like front paws. Raccoons are found throughout the South in rural, suburban, and urban landscapes. They are typically found in habitats closely associated with water, including coastal marshes, swamps, rivers, lakes and streams. They also tend to favor habitats where mature hardwood trees are available. Raccoons are highly
adaptable and their populations thrive in most parts of the region. They typically den in hollow trees, ground burrows, or brush piles, but will readily use human structures like a barn, an attic, or an abandoned building. Denned raccoons with young can often be heard "chattering" in the den. Raccoons are active throughout the year, but may remain in their dens during extreme winter weather. They are considered nocturnal, but will readily forage during the day when local conditions allow. Raccoons are omnivorous and opportunistic. They feed on a variety of plant and animal matter including berries, fruits, seeds, and insects, as well as other invertebrates and small vertebrates. As with all wildlife, raccoons should not be approached or handled by humans. One reason for leaving raccoons undisturbed is their susceptibility to numerous diseases including canine distemper and parvovirus, in addition to zoonotic diseases (humans can get from animals) such as rabies and raccoon roundworms. Even though raccoons may be carriers of rabies, not all raccoons have rabies. Typically, rabid raccoons will exhibit aimless wandering and lack of coordination, or they will exhibit aggressive behavior that can include attacks and self-mutilation. One of the most common conflicts between raccoons and humans occurs when household pets are fed outside. Raccoons are attracted to pet foods and can often congregate in large numbers to take advantage of this easily obtained food source. 1 15/16-4 in. L x 1 7/16-2 15/16 in. W 1 9/16 in. - 3 1/8 in. L x 1 9/16-2 7/8 in. W Armadillo No other mammal in the CSRA has bony skin plates or a shell, which makes the armadillo easy to identify. Armadillos are common in the CSRA and are moving northward. Their common name, armadillo, is derived from a Spanish word meaning little armored one. They are considered both an exotic species and a pest. Because they are not protected they can be hunted or trapped throughout the year. Armadillos have few natural predators. Many are killed while trying to cross roads or highways or when feeding along roadsides. The nine-banded armadillo is about the size of an opossum or large house cat. They are 24 to 32 inches long of which 9 ½ to 14 ½ inches is tail. The larger adult males weigh between 12 and 17 pounds whereas the smaller females weigh between 8 and 13 pounds. They
are brown to yellow-brown in color. Armadillos have a few sparse hairs on their bodies. The nine-banded armadillo does not ball up for protection. Long claws make them proficient diggers. They have four toes on each front foot and five on each back foot. The toes are spread so that a walking track looks somewhat like an opossum or raccoon. The ears are about an inch and a half long and the snout is pig-like. Armadillos dig their own burrows or use the burrow of another armadillo, tortoises or natural holes. They do not hibernate but neither can they tolerate high temperature (above about 85 ). During the winter months they often are active during the warmer part of the day. During the hot summer, activity shifts to the cooler night hours. Armadillos rely on a good sense of smell to locate food since they have poor eyesight. They eat insects and surrounding soil and plant litter while foraging so their droppings consist of undigested insect parts, soil, and litter fragments. Droppings are about the size and shape of marbles. Armadillos spend most of their active time outside the burrow feeding. They move slowly often in an erratic, wandering pattern. Often grunting like a pig and with their snout to the ground, they forage by smell and, possibly, sound. They can use their sticky tongue to probe holes searching for food but they are also powerful diggers. Foraging pits are up to 5 inches deep and are found in moist soil such as planting beds, gardens, and irrigated lawns. Armadillos prefer habitat near streams but avoid excessively wet or dry extremes. Soil type is important due to their burrowing. They prefer sandy or clay soils. Armadillo can be found in pine forests, hardwood woodlands, grass prairies, salt marsh and coastal dunes. Human created habitats such as pasture, cemeteries, parks, golf courses, plant nurseries and croplands also provide suitable habitat. Armadillo may carry diseases transmissible to humans, but reports are rare. Armadillo can acquire leprosy and are used in medical research to study this disease. An armadillo will leave a set of parallel tracks, sometimes registering with a trail drag down the middle of the track pattern. Coyote Among the non-native wildlife found throughout the southeast, coyotes are unique in their ability to rapidly acclimate to a variety of habitats. With the extirpation of the red wolf in the last century across the South, the coyote (Canis latrans) has been able to fill a once occupied void and now can be found statewide.
Resembling a small dog in appearance, distinguishing characteristics of a coyote include pointy ears and snout, mottled color fur pattern ranging from black to reddish-blonde and a bushy tail. As with most canines, coyotes are equipped with keen eyesight and an acute sense of smell to seek out their diet of small mammals, carrion and succulent vegetation. High pitched cries, shrieks or yips can be heard late in the evening as these animals communicate. Growling, barking and whining also are commonly used methods of communication. The coyote's geographic range spans the entire North American continent from Alaska down to Central America. Ranging from the open grasslands and deserts of the west to the forests and agricultural fields of the east, the coyote can adapt and thrive wherever food, water and shelter can be found. Preferences include wooded forests bordered by fields and brushy areas to den and hunt for small mammals, which is similar to its native habitat range of the southwestern U.S. However, due to their ability to adapt, coyotes do not have many problems when exposed to habitat alterations. Coyotes have even recently been found frequenting urban areas in search of garbage, rodents and other easily found meals. A coyote displaying abnormal behavior and appearing fearless of humans is uncharacteristic and may mean the animal is injured or has fallen victim to a disease, such as rabies, parvovirus or distemper. Front Track Hind Track 2 1/8-3 1/16 in. L x 1 5/8-2.5 in. W 1.75-2 15/16 in. L x 1 3/8-2 1/8 in. W Tracks of the coyote will register almost 100% of the time. Rabbit Rabbits are members of the Leporidae. The eastern cottontail is the most common rabbit occurring throughout the entire CSRA. It has dense brown to gray fur on its back with a white underside and white or cotton tail. There is usually a white spot on its forehead, the nape of the neck is rusty in color, and the feet are whitish. From head to tail adults measure 14-17 inches and weigh 2-4 pounds.
The eastern cottontail is active mostly from dusk till dawn. Their annual home ranges cover 4-13 acres. Research has shown that cottontails use a variety of habitat types ranging from crop fields, old fields, and pastures to briar and shrub thickets. Brush and briar thickets provide important cover from predators and mortality rates are greater when rabbits venture into open areas with sparse ground cover. Cottontails use a variety of habitats, but prefer early succession habitats (i.e., a mix of grasses, briars, and shrubs). Early succession habitat can be created or maintained by combinations of periodic ground disturbances that maintain ground vegetation in a 1-5 year old growth stage. Cottontails feed on a great variety of vegetation. The tracks are always of a nonregistering type. The rabbit never really runs, but actually makes a continual series of leaps. Tracks are often rather blurred due to the hair covering the entire foot. Rabbits do not make a den but rather makes a nest of grass and fur in a shallow depression on the ground. River Otter The river otter (Lutra canadensis) is a member of the Mustelidae or weasel family. River otter abundance is directly dependent on habitat quality and availability. River otter are thickly furred and their body is torpedo shaped. Their fur is usually dark brown but may range from almost black to reddish. The belly is usually silvery or grayish brown and their throat and cheeks are silvery to yellowish brown. Otters range in size from three to almost five feet long from nose to tip of tail. They may weigh from 15-30 pounds. Its tail makes up almost 1/3 of the length of the otter. The hind feet of the otter are webbed and like the beaver, the ears and nose have valves that close when the otter submerges to make the otter watertight. The otter can stay submerged for up to 4 minutes and dive to depths of 60 feet. It can swim at an average speed of 6-7 miles per hour and run up to 15-18 miles per hour. River otter are most active early evening through early morning and occupy a wide variety of habitat types. These include lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, and streams. River otter primarily use waterways as travel paths, but do cross-land between rivers or streams or ponds and often have well worn paths, which are regularly used by otters for years. Otter use scent posts along these paths and waterways to mark territories and communicate with other otter in the area.
Chirps, chuckles, grunts, whistles, and screams are also used by otter for communication. River otters are carnivores and eat a wide variety of prey items depending upon location and the time of year. Common items eaten by otters include various crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, birds, insects, muskrats, and fish. The most common prey item for otter is fish. River otter use their whiskers and keen sense of touch to find and catch prey with their mouth. They hunt by diving and chasing fish or digging in the bottom of ponds and streams. River otter are an important indicator species as to the quality of habitats where they are found. This is because the otter is a strict carnivore and contaminants that occur in the environment may concentrate in the otter over time in a process known as biomagnification. 2 1/16-3 9/16 in. L x 1 13/16-3 in. W 2 3/16-4 1/8 in. L x 2 1/4-3 7/8 in. W Bobcat The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a native mammal and a member of the Felidae family. Bobcats are about twice the size of the common house cat.. Females and males are colored the same, but males are generally larger. Males range from 12-40+ lbs. with an average of 18-28 lbs., while females range from 9-34 lbs. and average 14-20 lbs. The tail is short and gives the appearance of being "bobbed." The bobcat is the most widely distributed native felid in North America and is found statewide. It can occupy a wide variety of habitats due to its wide prey base. Typical bobcat habitat is mixed forest and agricultural areas that have a high percentage of early successional stages. The bobcat is a carnivore and an opportunistic predator. Common prey items include mice, rats, rabbits and various other small mammals. However, bobcats will also prey on reptiles, birds and feral cats. Bobcats can prey on animals as large as deer and will feed on hunter killed or road-killed deer. Bobcats are very rarely seen due to their extreme nocturnal habits and natural shyness. Mortality on bobcats can be caused directly by other animals, by competition with other animals for food, diseases and parasites, and by man. Coyotes, hawks,
and owls may prey on bobcat kittens and coyotes may out compete bobcats (especially juveniles) in years with low prey abundance. Tracks of a bobcat are usually quite difficult to find except in sandy soils. Bobcats prefer traveling on stable ground and often use fallen logs, rocks and trees as their roadway. Front Hind 1 5/8-2.5 in L x 1 3/8-2 5/8 in W 1 9/16-2.5 in L x 1 3/16-2 5/8 in W Another Animal Sign A common animal sign that is often ignored or passed over because of our human tendency to look upon it as dirty is animal droppings which is called scat. However, this is another way to identify the species that are present in an area, and even determine what they are eating in that location. Scientists studying scat can determine the health of the individual animal by analyzing the chemical content of this material, as well as looking for seeds, plant parts, berries, and other indicators of the animal's diet. Predator scat often contains large amounts of hair and bones from the prey. Rabbit and other herbivore scat usually contains only plant material. Never handle scat with your bear hands, but rather use gloves or a stick. Animal Scat Identification Chart Skunk Uneven and variable. Fox Tapered end. Scat may also have seeds, feathers, berries, small bones. Likely to find on prominent location as territory marker. May contain fur or feathers. Raccoon Blunt ends and uniform thickness, like a tootsie roll. Scat will have berries, seeds, corn and perhaps crayfish parts. May find anywhere --- in thickets, stream banks, on rocks, outside of dens.
Coyote Very similar to fox, but larger. A large fox and a small coyote may have identical scat. Squirrel Small, smooth oval to odd shaped pellets. Black to brown in color. Beaver Oval pellets are 1 to 1 1/4 inches in length and 3/4 inch in diameter. Found near beaver chews. Usually contain wood chips. Rabbit Round, slightly squashed pellets of finely chewed plant material. Dark brown, tan or black depending on food. Deer Pellets with a slight taper. There will generally be a small pile. Entirely vegetative and quite uniform in consistency Opossum Uneven and variable due to changing food sources. May have hair or berries. Smaller in general than fox, and smaller sections too. Different shape than raccoon Bobcat Four inches long and 3/4 inch in diameter. Segmented with blunt ends. Scat may or may not be covered with leaves or soil. River Otter Found near waterways. No significant shape but is easily identified by the presence of fish remains. Armadillo Round scat, filled with insects and dirt as a result of their feeding behavior A computer search of wildlife will quickly result in excellent pictures of the wildlife found in the CSRA. Learning about animals and their interactions with their habitats will help one become a slow wanderer in nature. The key is to be quiet and observant. Nature will seldom disappoint.