Species in Canidae, Ursidae, and Mephitidae

Large and robust; total length more than 1400 mm; condylobasal length more than 200 mm; length of lower carnassial (m1) more than 25 mm; one shot recently in Nebraska

Carnivora
Canidae
Canis lupus
Wolf

Pelage brownish gray; orbits not rising abruptly above rostrum; dewclaw often absent 

Carnivora
Canidae
Canis latrans
Coyote

Pelage variable in color; orbits usually rising abruptly above rostrum; dewclaw frequently present

Dorsum of skull rising abruptly at orbits; temporal ridges generally not prominent

Carnivora
Canidae
Canis familiaris
Dog

Dorsal pelage grizzled grayish; tail with black dorsal stripe; fur of cheeks and backs of ears reddish; temporal ridge U-shaped or lyre-shaped; mandible with notch on lower border

Carnivora
Canidae
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
common gray fox

Dorsal pelage and tail reddish; tip of tail white; ears with black tips; temporal ridges on skull V-shaped; condylobasal length more than 125 mm; length of maxillary toothrow more than 55 mm

Carnivora
Canidae
Vulpes vulpes
Red fox

Upper parts yellowish brown, fur on cheek white; tip of tail black; ears not black-tipped; temporal ridges reduced, medium sized; condylobasal length less than 125 mm; length of maxillary toothrow less than 55 mm; western Nebraska only

Carnivora
Canidae
Vulpes velox
swift fox

Dorsal pelage with two white stripes merging anteriorly; skull arched with orbital region rounded; mastoids and auditory bullae not inflated; notch on bottom edge of mandible; maxillary toothrow greater than 20 mm; zygomatic breadth greater than 40 mm

Carnivora
Mephitidae
Mephitis mephitis
striped skunk

Dorsal pelage with four or more broken white lines, giving a spotted appearance; white spot on head; skull profile flattened and not arched; mastoid and auditory bullae inflated; no notch on mandible; maxillary toothrow less than 20 mm; zygomatic breadth less than 40 mm; not common

Carnivora
Mephitidae
Spilogale putorius
eastern spotted skunk

Shoulder hump present; claws on front feet longer than claws on hindfeet; 

second upper molar broadest anteriorly; maxillary toothrow greater than 110 

mm 

Carnivora
Ursidae
Ursus arctos
Grizzly bear

No shoulder hump present; claws on front and hind feet approximately equal length; second upper molar broadest in middle of tooth; maxillary toothrow less than 110 mm; seen recently in western Nebraska

Carnivora
Ursidae
Ursus americanus
Black bear