IDENTIFICATON OF FUR BEARING

ANIMALSBy Jill Tipton

Edited by: Kaci Hatch

Objectives

List and describe nine Texas game animal species

List and describe nineteen Texas fur-bearing animals

Explain the regulations which pertain to the trapping and raising of fur-bearing animals in Texas.

What is a fur-bearing animal? Fur-bearing animals refer to vertebrate

animals with a pelt valued for its use in trimming or lining of garments.

Texas law identifies the following as fur-bearing animals: Badgers Weasels Beavers Muskrat Nutria Raccoon Foxes Skunk

Game Animals vs. Fur Bearing Animals

Classification as a game animal requires production, growth, or natural living in the sate or part of the state.

Examples: White-tailed deer Squirrels Mule deer Javelinas Desert Bighorn Sheep Elk

Licenses A trapper license cost $15 for a resident

of Texas and $250 for a non resident.

This allows the trapper to take fur-bearing animals for personal use, when taken outside the commercial season.

illegal Issues To take otter with fire arms To use leghold style trap Use smoke, explosives, or chemical

irritant of any kind Shoot at or attempt to take a fur-bearing

animal from a boat on public waters in Texas

Sale or Purchase Of Fur-Bearing Animals or Pelts

1. Fur-bearing animals and their pelts can only be sold by: Licensed trappers; Licensed retail buyers or wholesale dealers; Fur-bearing animal propagators

2. Live fur-bearing animals or their pelts can be sold only from November 1 through April 5.

Fur-Bearing Animals ThatWill Be Identified

Badgers Beavers Foxes

Red Fox Desert Fox Swift Fox Gray Fox

Minks

Muskrats Nutria Opossum Otter Racoons Ringtails Snunks Black Bear

Badger Covers the western

half of TexasLarge, robust, short-

legged “weasel” with a broad body and short, thick tail

They have a distinct white stripe that extends from tip of the nose back over the top of the head to shoulder area.

They are active throughout the year

Beaver Aquatic rodents Found over a

large area of Texas

Broad, flat, scaly tails

Webbed hind feet

Dark brown color

Red Fox Bright, golden

yellow body Chin, throat, &

belly mid-line of belly are white

Forefeet & legs are black

Desert Fox Smaller body Upper body is

buffy gray Sides, tail & mid-

belly are clear buff

Throat is white Have large ears

Swift Fox Smallest of the

American foxes Upper parts are

pale buffy yellow with frosted white

Tail is buffy gray with a black tip

Gray Fox Gray upper body Reddish brown

legs White throat,

cheeks, & mid-line of belly

Found in most Texas counties

Weasel Long, slender

animal Short legs & long

tail Small, rounded

ears

Mink Size of a house

cat Dark brown Semi-aquatic Prefer small

streams

Muskrat Large, brownish,

aquatic, scaly-tailed rodent

Tail is naked Inhabit marshes

Nutria Aquatic rodent that

resembles the beaver Long, round sparsely

haired tail Dark underfur with

long, glossy dark brown guard hairs

Native to South America and introduced to US in 1938

Opossum Long, scaly,

prehensile tail Nocturnal White base and

black tipped fur

Otter Large, dark brown

animal with slender body

Webbed feet & long thick tail

Aquatic and feed mostly on fish

Raccoon Blackish facial

mask with white outline

Tail is black and white alternating rings

nocturnal

Ringtails Resembles a

small fox Long, tail with

alternating white and black rings

Nocturnal Bodies are gray

Spotted Skunk Small white spot

on forehead Six distinct white

stripes on body

Striped Skunk Two white stripes

on sides of back Stripes connect at

the neck region & continue down the head

Inhabits every county in the State

Black Bear Medium-size bear Black or brown Front claws are

slightly longer and curved for climbing

They reside in the mountainous areas of the Trans-Pecos region

Objectives

List and describe nine Texas game animal species

List and describe nineteen Texas fur-bearing animals

Explain the regulations which pertain to the trapping and raising of fur-bearing animals in Texas.