northwoods, Author at NorthWoods Stewardship Center

19 06, 2012

Norway Rat

2022-10-05T10:49:23-04:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Rattus norvegicus photo credit: en.wikipedia.org ID Coarse fur Prominent, naked ears Nearly naked, scaly tail Brown upper parts with scattered black hairs Pale gray or grayish brown underparts Distribution Most of North America. Non-native. Reproduction Can breed year-round if shelter and food are adequate Gestation lasts 21 to 23 days but may last longer if the female is still nursing a previous litter Highly variable litter numbers, but usually 6 to 8 young produced (Whitaker) Females can mate again within hours of giving birth (Audubon) Behavior Largely nocturnal Very [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

Southern Bog Lemming

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

Synaptomys cooperi photo credit: animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/ ID Small, robust, short legs, large head, very short tail Long, shaggy fur Mixed brown, gray, and black upper parts with a little bit of dark yellow Silverish gray underparts (Whitaker) Distribution Reproduction Young can be produced in any month, but less commonly in the winter months Gestation takes 23 to 26 days with litters of 1 to 8 young Females can produce multiple litters in a year (Whitaker) Behavior Often share burrows with other small mammals of different species Build nests of [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

Northern Bog Lemming*

2022-10-05T10:49:59-04:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Synaptomys borealis photo credit: fieldguide.mt.gov ID Very short tails Lightly grooved incisor Dull brown upper parts, sometimes with an olive wash Bicolored tail (Whitaker) Distribution Reproduction Breeding season is from May until late August Litter size is between 2 and 8 young, and females are able to produce more than one litter per season (Smithsonian) Behavior Scarcely captured and don't respond to baiting (Whitaker) Active on the surface as well as in their burrows when there is no snow cover, though they stay underground more often in the summer, [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

Woodland Vole*

2022-10-05T10:53:58-04:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Microtus pinetorum photo credit: www.mnh.si.edu/ ID Small eyes and small ears, which are often hidden by fur Soft, short, dense fur Bright brown or chestnut upperpart with lighter sides and a belly of dusky to silvery gray Five tubercles on the soles of the hind feet (Whitaker) Distribution Reproduction Breeding season lasts from early March well into November Gestation lasts for 20 – 24 days producing litters of 1 to 5 young Females can produce one to four litters per year (Whitaker) Behavior Active day or night, but [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

Meadow Vole

2024-10-29T17:33:59-04:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Microtus pennsylvanicus ID Dense, soft fur of a chestnut brown in the summer and a darker gray in the winter Tail is usually at least twice as long as the hind foot Six tubercles on the soles of the hind feet (Whitaker) Distribution Reproduction Can produce as many as 17 litters in a year Gestation is 20-21 days with litters ranging from 1 to 11 young Females can breed by 3 weeks old Both males and females are promiscuous (Whitaker) Behavior Males will often kill babies in nests that they [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

Rock Vole*

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

Microtus chrotorrhinus photo credit: NorthWoods Stewardship Center ID Orange or saffron-colored nose Grizzled brown mixed with black on the dorsum, orange-rufous or saffron face Silvery-gray belly Small eyes Prominent ears Distribution Reproduction Females can mate 24 hours after giving birth, so they often are pregnant with one litter while nursing another Gestation is 19-21 days and a litter is usually 3 or 4 young (Smithsonian) Young are born anywhere between early spring and well into the fall (Whitaker) Behavior Live in shallow burrows Food Habits Bunchberries, butterfly larvae, moss, [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

Southern Red-Backed Vole

2022-10-05T11:19:31-04:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Myodes gapperi photo credit: Northwoods Stewardship Center ID Reddish colored with a broad rusty-red dorsal band, though species in Northern New England are said to be more ocherous Small eyes Prominent ears Pale gray underparts (Whitaker) Distribution Reproduction Breeding happens from late winter or very early spring until late in the fall Gestation takes 17-19 days and litters are usually between 2 and 8 young Males don't seem to help with caring for the young, but they continue to live with the female until the young are [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

Deer Mouse

2022-10-05T11:20:11-04:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Peromyscus maniculatus photo credit: Jayson Benoit, Northwoods Stewardship Center ID Two morphological/behavioral forms: Large, long-tailed, big-eared, woodland form Smaller, short-tailed, small-eared field form Two morphs are separate species, but have a circular overlap in Wisconsin that integrates the two Brownish-gray upper parts with a slightly darker mid-dorsal stripe Tail is gray on top and white on bottom White feet (Whitaker) Distribution [/fusion_builder_column] Credit: Smithsonian Institution Reproduction Promiscuous Breeding season starts in early spring, around March, and lasts until later in the fall, around October Gestation lasts [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

White-footed Mouse

2024-05-28T14:29:20-04:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Peromyscus leucopus ID Tail is slightly less than half of the animal's total length Grayish-brown to dull orange-brown upper parts with darkish mid-dorsum White underparts Distribution Reproduction Breeding season lasts from spring (March through May) until fall (October or November) Gestation is about 23 days, litters usually have 4 or 5 young Females produce several litters over the summer and can start breeding at 2 months old Males assist in taking care of the young, though the females play a much larger role in young-rearing (Whitaker) Behavior Nocturnal Semi-arboreal Explore home-range [Read More...]

19 06, 2012

Woodland Jumping Mouse

2022-05-16T11:38:40-04:00June 19th, 2012|Mammal Atlas|

Napaeozapus insignis photo credit: NorthWoods Stewardship Center ID Similar to Meadow Jumping Mouse, but with a white tail tip, and brighter reddish-yellow colors. Distribution Reproduction Gestation is 29 days and litter size is three to six young Young are born in late June or early July and some mice have a second litter in August (Whitaker) Behavior Primarily nocturnal Will sometimes use the burrows of other animals, rotting logs, fallen trees, root structures as shelter Extremely powerful jumper, up to 3 to 4 meters Hibernate for 6 months [Read More...]

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