At least in the northern portion of its range, the North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) uses dens in winter for protection from wind and weather. They choose spots near good feeding trees, but they are flexible in terms of den … Continue reading →
Prairie dogs (Cynomys species) are diurnal, burrowing rodents that eat mostly grasses and small seeds and live in “towns” of multiple family groups. While some scientists quibble about the designation of prairie dogs as keystone species, the argument hinges on … Continue reading →
In my first post on this topic, Tree Preferences of the Beaver, I summarized the basics: that beavers (Castor canadensis) prefer most deciduous trees over conifers, that some hardwoods are more desirable than others, that aspen is the all time … Continue reading →
All 20 kangaroo rat species (Dipodomys spp.) den in ground burrows but there is surprising variation in the burrow system from species to species. Of course they differ in terms of entry hole size – larger species generally make larger … Continue reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Often when I camera trap I target some kind of animal sign to get a certain species or even a specific behavior. Some examples from past posts are an otter latrine, a bear marking tree, a woodchuck marking a sapling, … Continue reading →
This woodland jumping mouse (Napaeozapus insignis) was captured by my camera targeting a ruffed grouse dust bath in pine-hemlock-hardwood upland forest. It’s my first jumping mouse, so it was a small consolation for failure to get the bird actually dust … Continue reading →
Grasshopper mice (Onychomys species) inhabit deserts, shrublands, and grasslands of the western US and Mexico. They look quite like the familiar deermice and house mice, but they have very short tails and their habits are unusual in several ways. The … Continue reading →
