guh 2

characteristics used to identify wildlife tracks

track identification terminology

general traits associated with rodents and with squirrels

squirrel drey

·       general traits associated with mustelids

types of fur and when fur is at its prime

what traits distinguish rabbits from hares

unique skull characteristics of the rabbit family

general traits associated with bears

general traits associated with canids

history of the management of the Western Great Lakes and Mexican subspecies wolf populations

general traits associated with felids

·       characteristics used to age deer based on their teeth

·       general traits associated with ungulates

characteristics of antlers and horns

general traits associated with bats

characteristics of both Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera

 discuss white-nose syndrome, how it kills bats, and its pattern of movement across North America

·       general traits of earless seals, eared seals, sea lions, and Cetaceans.

marine mammal protection act

threats to marine mammal populations

·       Identify current threats to polar bear populations.

·       threats to sea turtles and some of the protections that are in place.

general traits associated with coldwater, coolwater, and warmwater fishes and which species fall in each thermal range.

fish anatomy

terminology related to spawning survival, migratory strategy, and management strategy.

general traits and threats common to pollinators and specific to bees and butterflies/moths

·       What are some ways to help pollinators?

·       main drivers that have resulted in the loss of wildlife

·       Explain how climate has changed in Wisconsin

·       Be able to describe some of the important climate change adaptation strategies

·       Know which Wisconsin wildlife species are particularly vulnerable to climate change and why

American badger

small burrowing mammals, ground squirrels

open grasslands w/ sandy loam soil

can hunt “with” coyotes

Wolverine

small to large mammals, rats to deer, some veg

forest and tundra

American marten

red-backed voles, other rodents, insects, fruit

old-growth forest

Fisher

snowshoe hares and porcupines

mature coniferous forest w/ closed canopy

North American river otter

fish, amphibians, turtles, crayfish

water bodies in woods

sensitive to pollutants

American mink

muskrat, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, rabbits

water bodies

susceptible to contaminants

Long-tailed weasel

rodents, birds, eggs

forested brush or open areas

kills in surplus

Short-tailed weasel

rodents, birds, herps

varied

white coat - ermine, brown coat - stoat

Least weasel

rodents

grassy fields, marsh, mountain forests

smallest carnivore

Black-footed ferret

prairie dogs

arid prairies

rarest NA mammal

Eastern fox squirrel

Eastern grey squirrel

Red squirrel

Southern flying squirrel

Northern flying squirrel

Groundhog/Woodchuck

Thirteen lined ground squirrel

Franklin’s ground squirrel

Eastern chipmunk

Least chipmunk

Black-tailed prairie dog

Range, diet, habitat

North American beaver

Range, diet, habitat

Muskrat

Aquatic roots, frogs, crayfish, mussels

Semi aquatic, slow waters

Coyote

rodents

forest grassland desert

can run 35mph

Grey wolf

deer, moose, smaller mammals

tundra, forest, arid environs

15-20 deer/yr/wolf

Red fox

rodents, eggs, carrion, insects

mixed veg

broadest dist of any carnivore

Gray fox

mostly rabbits

deciduous woodland with brush near water

climbs trees

Bobcat

mammals

Canada lynx

hares, grouse, small mammals

Cougar (mountain lion)

deer

Jaguar

very rare

similar size and ecology to cougars

Ocelot

armadillos, oppossums, hares, birdws

Collared peccary

rootsm fruits, tubers, plants, carrion

predators: cotorem puma jaguar bobcat

bushy desert rocky canyons

Feral hog

Upper tusks curve up

Moose

cow/calf band; solitary

aquatic veg, woody browse

spruce, swamp, aspen/willow thickets

aggressive

Caribou

cow/calf band, herds over 10000 before migration

lichens, mushrooms, grass, antlers

tundra and taiga, coniferous forest

Elk

mostly grasses

more than 400 id per herd

open meadows in summer, woods in winter

White-tailed deer

family unit, bachelor groups

graze and browse

caried

Key deer

sub spec of white tailed

endangered

habitat loss, domestication

Mule deer

small famoly groups

mixed sex in winter

graze, browse, mast

varied

Pronghorn

females and young, bachelor groups <12, winter >100

grasses, forbs

open terrain

run 70mph

American bison

separate maternal and bachelor herds, dominance hierarchy

graze

open plains

brucellosis

Bighorn sheep

ewe herds 5-15, bachelors 2-5, winter <100

grasses in summer, woody in winter

semi open terrain

Dall sheep

ewe herds, bachelor groups, age based hierarchy

grasses in summer, woody brose and lichen in winter

alpine ridges, meadows, steep slopes

Mountain goat

sexes herd apart

grasses/sedges/forbs

rocky areas above timberline

Range, diet, habitat

Eastern cottontail

herbaceous plants in summer, woody in winter

brush, old fields, woods

tularemia

Snowshoe hare

herbaceous veg in summer, woody in winter

northern forests

American black bear

berries and seeds, fawns, fish

forests, swamps, wooded mountains

Little brown bat

insects w/ aquatic larval stage

state threatened

along streams and lakes

hibernates in caves, maternal colonies roost in buildings

females are site loyal

Northern long-eared bat

Red bat

Hoary bat

moths and beetles

decid and coniferous forest, mature trees, desert canyons, migratory

roosts in trees; solitary

largest bat in its range

Tricolor bat

small insects, flies, beetles

state threatened

woodlands

hibernates in caves, roosts in caves in warmer areas, trees in colder

hibernates the longest, solitary

Silver-haired bat

flies and moths, sometimes beetles

special concern

Polar bear

seals, occasional greens

federally threatened

arctic tundra, sea ice

symbol of eco health

Walrus

near shorelines with sea ice

benthic inverts

no external ears

Northern elephant seal

Harbor seal

Ringed seal

Steller sea lion

California sea lion

Northern fur seal

Right whale

Humpback whale

Atlantic bottlenose dolphin

Orca

Loggerhead sea turtle

Leatherback sea turtle