northwoods, Author at NorthWoods Stewardship Center

19 06, 2012

Long-Tailed Weasel

2016-12-13T19:12:25-05:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Mustela frenata photo credit: Roger W. Barbour (Smithsonian) ID Long, slender body with long neck Yellowish-white underparts with brown top parts Black tail-tip (Burt) Turn white in the winter, but maintain the black tail-tip (Audubon) Distribution Reproduction Young born in litters of 4-8 in April or May Midsummer mating season Gestation of 205-314 days (Audubon) Behavior Most widespread carnivore in the Western Hemisphere Will sometimes go on killing sprees, instincts telling them to procure food when it is available and cache it for later (Audubon) Both males and [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

Star-Nosed Mole

2022-10-05T11:23:27-04:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Condylura cristata photo credit: G.C. Hickman, American Society of Mammologists (Smithsonian) ID 22 fleshy projections on nose Black fur Long, hairy tail Large digging forelegs with large claws (Audubon) Distribution Reproduction Litters of 4-7 young usually born between April and May, but sometimes later Gestation lasts about 45 days (Audubon) Behavior Fingerlike nasal appendages are used for object manipulation, and possibly detection of electrical signals in water indicating the presence of prey (Smithsonian) Depends on water foraging in the winter when the frozen ground makes it difficult to [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

Hairy-Tailed Mole

2022-10-05T11:25:02-04:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Parascalops breweri photo credit: Northwoods Stewardship Center ID Short, dense, soft, dark gray coat with lighter underbelly Very small eyes, no external ears Cylindrical body and pointed snout Hairy tail Large, flat, clawed front feet with dense fringe of whiskerlike hairs (Smithsonian) Distribution Reproduction Young are born in early May with an average litter size of 4 4 week gestation period (Burt) Behavior Rely heavily on sense of touch (Smithsonian) If outside of tunnels during the day, can usually be caught by hand Active all winter, but usually [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

Northern Short-tailed Shrew

2022-10-05T11:26:47-04:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Blarina brevicauda photo credit: Northwoods Stewardship Center ID Short, dense, grayish to grayish black fur Slightly paler color on the belly Cylindrical body and pointed snout Very small eyes and ears Tail is shorter than the length of the body (University of Georgia MNH) Distribution Reproduction Breeding season begins in late winter and lasts through the warm months Gestation lasts about 22 days with an average litter size of 6-7 young Females may produce 3-4 litters per year (Discover Life) Behavior Active at twilight and nighttime Heart beats [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

Eastern Water Shrew

2022-10-05T11:27:05-04:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Sorex albibarbis photo credit: www.mnh.si.edu ID Larger than most shrews Soft fur that traps air, making the shrew buoyant Large, partially webbed hind feet Dark, almost black, upper parts in winter Slightly lighter, brownish in summer Underparts are grayish white Distribution Reproduction Breeding season is estimated to be between January and August Gestation lasts 21 days for litters of about 6 young Females produce 2-3 litters per year (Audubon) Behavior Can swim and dive very quickly and skillfully Unique morphology allows them to actually run across water [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

Pygmy Shrew

2022-10-05T11:27:35-04:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Sorex hoyi photo credit: www.pestproducts.com ID Sepia-brown above, smoky-gray below tinged with light buff Slight build, short tail (Whitaker) Distribution Reproduction Much is unknown Research suggests that litters of 5-8 are born in the summer Young mature in about 10 weeks. (Whitaker) Behavior Too small for snap-traps so until pit traps, they were thought to be quite uncommon Do not hibernate Active throughout the day (neither nocturnal nor diurnal) Can swim, jump, climb and hang like a bat (Whitaker) Food Habits Insect larvae, spiders, beetles, flies, caterpillars (Whitaker) [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

Smoky Shrew

2022-10-05T11:27:51-04:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Sorex fumeus photo credit: www.mnh.si.edu ID Second largest of the eastern long-tailed shrews Dark, mouse-gray winter upper fur and lighter underpart fur Olive-ish brown summer upper fur and pale, sometimes silvery underpart fur Relatively prominent ears (Whitaker) Distribution Reproduction Breeding season lasts from spring until fall with the first litters usually born in late April Gestation lasts about 20 days with litter sizes of 2-8 young Usually there are two litters per female per year, but occasionally they produce another fall litter Females do not breed in their [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

Long-tailed Shrew*

2022-10-05T11:28:13-04:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Sorex dispar photo credit: www.opwall.com/ ID Similar to smoky shrew, but with longer tail, slimmer body, and nearly uniform darker slate-colored fur (Whitaker) Narrow skull and buck-toothed incisors (Smithsonian) Distribution Reproduction Breeding extends from late April to August (Whitaker) Behavior Spend almost all of their time underground (Smithsonian) Food Habits Adult flies, cave crickets, spiders, centipedes, beetles (Whitaker) Size/Life Cycle Average measurements: 103-137 mm (total length), 3.1-3.8 g (total weight) (Whitaker) Predators Unknown Habitat Upland areas, under or among rocks or boulders, or along mountain streams. (Whitaker)

19 06, 2012

Masked Shrew

2022-10-05T11:28:29-04:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Sorex cinereus photo credit: www.mnh.si.edu ID Grayish brown upper parts with lighter underparts Tail is bicolored with dark brownish gray on top and a yellowish brown on the bottom Smaller and browner than the Smoky Shrew (Whitaker) Distribution Reproduction Breeding occurs between early spring and early fall (Whitaker) Gestation lasts about 18 days (Audubon) Litter size numbers between 4 and 10 young Females usually have 3 litters per year (Whitaker) Behavior Active all hours of the day, but more so at night Do not hibernate Use rodent runs and [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

House Mouse

2016-12-13T19:12:26-05:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Mus musculus photo credit: en.wikipedia.org/ ID Long tail, prominent ears, no line of demarcation between dorsal and ventral colorations Grayish brown to brown upper parts shading to lighter gray or brown on the belly Scaly tail nearly lacking in hairs Distinctive odor (Whitaker) Distribution Most of North America. Reproduction Breeding occurs from early spring until late fall without pause, but stops during colder months Males sense female pheromone cues, which cause them to release male pheromones, which in turn cause females to release more pheromones in a positive feedback [Read More...]

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