Kangaroo rats are small burrowing, seed-eating rodents of the genus Dipodomys. Of the 20 species native to western North America, 17 or 18 of them are found in the US. All inhabit arid regions: desert, dunes, dry grassland, brushland, chaparral, … Continue reading →
We all put trail cameras up with hopes of capturing the perfectly framed face shot of a panther, or bobcat, or fox. With these great expectations, we download images from SD cards left months in the field, only to discover perfectly framed photos of the derrieres — the infamous “butt shot!”
Continue reading →Beavers groom frequently, both in the lodge and on land, to remove debris from the coat and to waterproof it with oil from anal glands. When the animal emerges from the water to groom, it may start with its face … Continue reading →
The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is the most successful of North America’s wild felines, and one reason for its success is its diet. Like its cousin the Canada lynx, the bobcat relishes a meal of rabbit or hare, but unlike the … Continue reading →
North American beavers (Castor canadensis) mark their territory by creating mounds of debris onto which they deposit scent from their castor sacs and possibly anal glands. Some beaver wetlands are marked sparsely with a few small mounds here and there, … Continue reading →
Coat color varies more in the gray wolf (Canis lupus) than in most other mammals, and some variations relate to camouflage. For example, the white coat of the Arctic wolf allows it to blend better with the snow and ice, … Continue reading →
When you want to track an animal, it helps a lot to understand its habitat needs so you will know where to look for its tracks and sign. Some species, like raccoons, are true generalists and can be found almost … Continue reading →
Tracking the American marten (Martes americana) is much like tracking the fisher but in miniature. Like fishers (5 – 12 pounds), martens (1 – 3 pounds) wind through the forest, often from the base of one large tree or snag … Continue reading →
Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are hardly ever the intended target species of my camera trapping endeavors because, as adaptable and abundant creatures, they show up almost anywhere, anyway. So, what I’ve learned about raccoon scent marking has been mostly (okay entirely) … Continue reading →
There have been only two studies of North American river otter vocalizations, both mentioning 12 different calls: the whine, chirp, grunt, blow, chatter, creek, squeak, scream, hiss, swish, hiccup, and whistle. You can see a description of each one in … Continue reading →
