PA Mammalian Predators

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PA Mammalian Predators
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Eastern Coyote

• AKA brush wolf, prairie wolf, coy-dog
• Largest wild canine in PA
• During wolf bounties of 1800s, many were turned
  in by mistake
• By 1990 populations had rebounded

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Eastern Coyote Identification

• Larger than Western Coyote may be due to
  hybridization with wolves
• Males 45-55 lbs.
• Females 35 to 40 pounds
• Many different coat colors and patterns
  tri-color (German shepherd-like), red, blonde and
  dark brown (appears black at a distance)

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IDENTIFICATION

• Tri-color
• RED

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Black Phase

• BLONDE PHASE

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Eastern Coyote Diet

• Generalist small mice, voles, deer, rabbits,
  wood chuck, birds, plant matter
• Sometimes prey on domestic animals (sheep,
  chickens, ducks, dogs, cats)

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Eastern Coyote General Biology

• Monogamous, but not for life
• May hunt alone or with family group, not a true
  pack animal like the wolf
• Nocturnal
• Smell and hearing are keen very alert
• Prefer heavy brush, edges
• PA population estimated at 40,000

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PA Game Commission Bag Limits

• COYOTES No closed season. Unlimited. Outside of
  any big game season (deer, bear, elk and turkey),
  coyotes may be taken with a hunting license or a
  furtaker license, and without wearing orange.
  During any big game season, coyotes may be taken
  while lawfully hunting big game or with a
  furtakers license.

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Owl In an SUV grill

• http//www.cnn.com/video/?hpthp_c3/video/us/2013
  /02/11/dnt-owl-trapped-in-suv.wsvn

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Mustelid Family Predators

• Examples Mink, Otter, Fisher, Weasels
• Others not in PA Ferret, Badger, Wolverine

LEAST WEASEL
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OTTER
MINK
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FISHER
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WEASELS

• Mustelid family
• Strong musk odor
• Found worldwide except Antarctica
• 3 species in PA ermine, long-tailed weasel,
  least weasel
• Long, slim bodies, short legs, 5 clawed toes

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WEASELS

• ERMINE

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WEASELS

• Least Weasel

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WEASELS

• Long tailed Weasel

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WEASELS Diet

• Consummate Predators kill and consume wide
  varieties of prey (including animals larger than
  themselves)
• Mice, voles, rats, shrews, snakes, birds, insects
• Very fast metabolism for size eat 1/3 body
  weight every 24 hrs.
• Keen smell, sight, hearing

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WEASELS Biology

• Aggressive and quick
• Secretive and warydifficult to
• study in nature
• Delayed implantation
• Mate in summer/fall
• Fertilized egg implants in uterus in spring
• WHY???
• 1.Assures litters arrive when prey is abundant
• 2.Does not restrict mating to a short period

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FISHER

• Size of a house cat 12lbs.-30 lbs.
• Males 2 times heavier than females
• Appear black from a distance, really cream
  underneath tri-colored hair

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FISHER Habitat

• Climb trees very well den in holes in the trees,
  rest in nests, pursue prey
• Continuous forest areas

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FISHER Biology

• Low population densities and large home ranges
  30 square miles
• Nocturnal
• Produce 1 litter per year 2 or 3 cubs
• Born and raised in a tree cavity
• Solitary and opportunistic predators
• Snowshoe hare and porcupine
• RARELY EAT FISH!!

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FISHER Population

• Widely distributed prior to 1800s
• Timber cutting and unregulated trapping almost
  eliminated by 1900s
• Reintroduced to Catskills, WV, PA
• 1994 PSU and Game Commission released in
  Allegheny National Forest

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BOBCAT

• 36 long with a 6 tail
• 15-35 lbs.
• Grey brown fur, dark spots and bars
• Neck and belly white
• Ruff of fur on ears

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Bobcat Habitat

• Mountains, deep forest, swamp
• Very elusive, prefer to stay away from people
• Most common in North Central PA
• In 2000 estimated pop. was 3500 adults
• Very restricted hunting/trapping season

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PA Game Commission Bag Limits

• BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D,
  4A, 4C, 4D and 4E) Jan. 15-Feb. 5. One bobcat
  per license year, but all licensed furtakers may
  obtain one permit.

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Bobcat Eye Adaptation

• Nocturnal
• Pupils slit shaped,
• open wide

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Bobcat Diet

• Mice, wood rat, shrew, squirrel, chipmunk, bird,
  rabbit, hare, porcupine, mink, muskrat, fish,
  frog
• Sick/injured deer cover and save carcass

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Bobcat Breeding

• Males can travel up to 20 miles in a single night
  to find a female
• Males play no part in raising young
• Females guard litter young often killed by
  males, owls, foxes
• Mature bobcat has few enemies except man

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Bobcat Hunting Adaptations

• Sharp sight, smell and especially hearing
• 4 large canines pierce and hold
• 5 retractable, hooked claws on front
• 4 on rear

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Bobcat Retractable Claws
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Red Fox Appearance
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Gray Fox Appearance
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Red Fox And Gray Fox

• Canidae family (coyote, wolf, domestic dog, fox)
• Gray only member of
• Canidae to climb trees

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Red Fox and Gray Biology

• Males dogs Females vixen
• Young are born in dens underground
• Both parents care for young
• Do not hibernate but will use bushy tail to
  conserve heat in severe weather

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Red Fox and Gray Biology

• Swift runners, can swim
• Nocturnal
• Opportunistic predators mice, rabbits,
  woodchucks, opossum, cats, chickens, squirrels,
  fruits, grasses
• Bury uneaten food in ground

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Habitat

• Red prefers rolling farmland, woods, marshes and
  streams
• Gray heavy woods, rugged, mountains

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Exit Ticket..To leave this room you must answer
these questions.

1. List one surprising new idea you learned about
   mammalian predators.
2. Name 2 weasels found in PA.
3. See 2.
4. What is the common characteristic shared by the
   Mustelid family?
5. Name 2 adaptations that help the canines locate
   prey.