ORDER CARNIVORA
Family: Mustelidae
1. Fisher (Martes pennanti) 2. American marten (Martes americana) 3. Mink (Neovison vison) 4. Long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata) 5. Short-tailed weasel (Mustela erminea) 6. River otter (Lontra canadensis)
Family: Mephitidae
1. Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
Family: Felidae
1. Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
FAMILY: Mustelidae
• Usually slender with short limbs
• Well developed anal scent glands
• Contains smallest Carnivora mammal
on earth
• Sexual dimorphism
•Males are larger than
females
• Carnassial teeth well
developed Least weasel 50 g
Fisher
Martes pennanti
• Habitat: Primarily forests
• Declining in west, but expanding in east
• Large mustelid
• Males: 3.5 kg
• Females: 2.5 kg
• Dark brown pelage
with silver/gold guard
hairs on face
American marten
Martes americana
• Habitat: Boreal forests
• Semi-arboreal
• Diet: red squirrels, other small
mammals, birds (seasonal)
• Smaller than fishers
• Males 1.5 kg
• Females 0.75 kg
• Auburn to brown pelage with
cream-colored throat patch
Mink
Neovison vison
• Habitat: near water,
usually in forests
• Nocturnal
• Diet: muskrats, rabbits,
mice, chipmunks, fish
• Males 1 kg
• Females 0.75 kg
• Dark brown-black pelage
with white chin patch
Long-tailed weasel Mustela frenata
• Habitat: Generalist, often avoids dense forests & high elevations
• Males 2x larger than females
• Tail at least ½ body length • Pelage: light brown dorsally,
cream-colored ventrally, black-tipped tail • White in
winter
Short-tailed weasel, “Ermine”
Mustela erminea
• Habitat: generalist
• Widespread across Holarctic
• Males 80 g
• Females 50 g
• Shorter tail than M. frenata
• Tail has black tip
• Pelage: brown during summer, white in winter
River otter
Lontra canadensis
• Habitat: healthy water
systems
• Will float on back and handle
food
• 5 -14 kg; Large and brown
• Webbed feet
• Orbits dorsally projected
• Broad rostrum
FAMILY: Mephitidae
•Formerly considered mustelids
•Skunks & stink badgers
Skunks:
•Known for noxious scent
•Omnivorous
•Nocturnal & Solitary
Stink Badger – Indonesia and Philippines
Striped skunk
Mephitis mephitis
• Habitat: agriculture, woodlands
• Anal glands able to spray
– Demonstrate warning stance prior to spraying
• 2 - 5 kg
• White stripes running down back meet at a “V” shape behind head
FAMILY: Felidae
• Built for carnivorous lifestyle:
1. Acute hearing and smell
2. Most have retractable claws
3. Night vision 6x greater than humans
4. Generally few teeth
• Shorter rostrum than most carnivores
• Generally elusive
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
• Habitat: generalist
• Only remaining wild felid in NYS
• Known to displace lynx
• Diet: rabbits, hares, squirrels
• Ear tufts < 1in
• 8 to 12 kg
• Short tail ( ~ 5”)
• Spotted fur
ORDER ARTIODACTYLA
Family: Cervidae
1. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) 2. Moose (Alces alces)
FAMILY: Cervidae
• Antlers with velvet sheath
• No upper incisors
• Hoofs well developed
• Game species
• Herbivores
White-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus
• Habitat: edge species
• Very acclimated to urban areas
• Human-wildlife conflicts
• Most popular game species in US
• Antlers have a main beam
• No incisors or canines on upper jaw
• 32 teeth with selenodont molars
Selenodont - teeth with a
crown pattern of longitudinal
crescent-shaped ridges