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Wildlife
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Beavers are social animals that live and work in family groups. They build elaborate lodges made of sticks and mud. Female beavers have between 3 and 4 kits per litter. Once in decline in the 1800s, beavers were trapped for their fur that is both warm and water resistant.Trapping of beavers lessened in the early 1900's and today beavers are back in abundance. They are very adaptive to urban development and can be found in many suburban areas.
INTERESTING FACTS: Beavers can close their ears and nose when they dive underwater.
photo credit: USFWS/Randy Lennon
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Coyotes are members of the canine family. They are clever, highly adaptable animals and are found throughout the United States.
photo credit: USFWS/George Harrison
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The gray wolf is a highly intelligent, social animal that lives in groups known as packs. The pack is usually comprised of a dominant male and female pair, their offspring, and other adult members. The pack is extremely hierarchical, meaning each wolf has a particular social position within the pack. This hierarchical structure forms the basis of the pack's behavior in socializing, hunting, and feeding.
photo credit: USFWS/J & K Hollingsworth
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Moose are the largest members of the deer family. In North America, they inhabit the timbered regions of Canada, Alaska, and parts of the northwestern United States in the Rocky Mountains as well as parts of Maine. The favorite habitat is moist areas with abundant willow and poplar trees. They are frequently found wading in water feeding on the underwater vegetation. Bulls have large antlers and mating occurs in September or October. Moose are generally solitary animals, not gathering in herds. Moose are an important prey species for wolves and grizzly bears.
photo credit: USFWS/LaVerne Smith
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Muskrat
photo credit: USFWS/J & K Hollingsworth
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Pine martens are in the same family as weasels and ferrets known as Mustelidae. They live in coniferous or pine woodlands and for the most part live and hunt alone. They eat hares, squirrels and mice and are known to prey upon baby birds in their nests. Pine martens are declining due to loss of forest habitat and over trapping for their fur.
INTERESTING FACT: Pine martens sometimes eat large insects and berries.
photo credit: USFWS/Erwin and Peggy Bauer
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Porcupine
photo credit: USFWS/J & K Hollingsworth
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Snowshoe hares range in Canada and the northern most parts of the U. S. The snowshoe hare eats grasses and plants in the spring and summer seasons and during the winter months eats roots and barks. The main predators of the snowshoe hare are coyotes, lynx, weasels and fox. Their hind feet are large and broad and enable them to move on top of the snow quickly. The snowshoe hare changes its brown coat in the winter and becomes completely white to blend in with its snowy surroundings.
photo credit USFWS/Dick Hensel
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The Spruce grouse can be found in the northern parts of the United States and Canada. They are found in coniferous forests with dense undergrowth. Spruce grouse females have two color phases, red and gray. The male has a dark throat and breast, edged in white. The male can also be distinguished by his bright red eye combs over each eye.
photo credit USFWS/Richard Baetsen
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Whitetail deer are one of the most numerous wildlife species in the United States today. They are important prey for cougars, grizzly bears, and wolves. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates their population at 15-20 million. Regulated hunting seasons help control whitetail populations.
photo credit: USFWS photo
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