Maryland's Cutest Mammals

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Gray Fox

Gray Fox

• up to 47 in. in length and weigh 6-15 lbs.

• Salt and pepper gray hair with markings, black stripe down the tail and black tip

• Opportunistic foragers, favorite is small mammals

• Solitary during winter, family remains together from mating in early spring to fall

• Nocturnal, may scavenge in the day

• climb trees and often called “tree fox”

• Carry parasitic insects that cause disease

Tamias striatus

Eastern Chipmunk

Easter Chipmunk

• Up to 12 in. long and 2-5 oz. heavy

• Red-brown fur with a white belly and distinct stripes of black and white down their back

• omnivore

• Solitary except during mating season

• Active in the early morning and late afternoon

• A group is called a scurry

• Chipmunks can be eaten by red squirrels if there is no other source of food

• Chipmunks follow and repeat a zigzag trail when foraging and burrowing

Mephitis mephitis

Striped Skunk

Striped Skunk

• Omnivore, opportunistic foragers

• Nocturnal and solitary

• Baby skunks are called kittens

• prey to larger birds that tolerate its odor

• Skunks expel an oily musk that can temporarily blind any threats

• Between 18-32 in. long and weigh between 1.5-13 lbs.

• Black coat with two stripes down their back and one from snout to forehead

Peromyscus leucopus

White-Footed Deer Mouse

White-Footed Deer Mouse

• Can grow up to 8.4 in. and weigh 0.4-1 oz.

• gray to brown/red coat with a dark band down their back, big ears and black eyes

• Omnivore, nocturnal, and solitary

• They spread fungi and seeds (their diet)

• excellent climbers, turn old bird’s nests into homes by building a roof over top

• Track fact: they drum on dry leaves or reeds that creates a long buzzing noise

Procyon lotor

Raccoon

Raccoon

• 20-30 in. long and 10-35 lbs.

• Grayish-brown fur with a black “mask” and white fur around their eyes, black striped tail

• Omnivores and nocturnal

• Can often be found eating out of the trash (and creating a mess) because of their hand like paws

• Solitary when not breeding (June-Dec.)

• They are responsible for almost two thirds of Maryland rabies cases

• Raccoons fecal matter promotes plant reproduction