Hoofed Mammals

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Hoofed Mammals

• Wildlife Conservation

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Two Basic Types

• Ungulate term for a mammal with hooves, which
  are tough coverings on the feet made of a
  horn-like material
• All hoofed mammals are cloven-hoofed, which means
  the hoof is divided into two distinct parts
• Horses and burros are the exception they are
  single-hoofed

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Ruminants

• Sheep, goats, pronghorns, wild cattle, and
  members of the deer family
• Series of 4 stomach compartments capable of
  digesting food that contains a large amount of
  fiber
• Most grasses, brush, twigs, and other forages are
  high in fiber

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Ruminant

• Bacteria in the rumen stomach compartment digest
  the foods fiber
• Cud is a small portion of the food that is
  regurgitated from the rumen to be more thoroughly
  chewed
• Symbiotic relationship symbiosis is the
  relationship between two organisms that is
  mutually beneficial

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Pronghorn

• Only remaining member of its family in North
  America
• Not a member of the antelope family, although it
  is commonly called an antelope, or of the deer
  family, either
• Best defenses against predators are eyesight and
  speed fastest animals in this part of the world
  (up to 50 mph)

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Pronghorn

• Managed as a game animal to promote population
  growth
• Horns are hollow, shed after the mating season
  and regrown during spring
• Twins are common and can run by a few days of age
• Brown with white rump patch

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Deer

• Moose, elk, caribou, several species of deer
• Widely distributed environments, popular game
  animals
• Antlers are shed annually, sometimes the female
  also has antlers
• Male elk and moose are bulls, females are cows,
  and young are calves
• Male deer are bucks, females are does, young are
  fawns

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Moose

• Largest of deer family
• 8 ft tall at shoulder, 1800 lbs, 6 ft antler
  spread
• Called an elk in Europe
• Live alone
• Cows are very protective of young

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Elk

• Large deer one species hunted to extinction
• Elk management has improved reintroduced to many
  areas
• Fast runners and strong swimmers, migratory
• 5 ft at shoulder, 800 lbs

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Caribou

• Closely related to domesticated reindeer
• Migratory in Canada
• 4.5 ft, 375 lbs
• Numbers declined seriously but are recovering
  slowly
• Main predator is wolf

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Whitetail Deer

• More widely distributed than any other deer
• 4 ft, 300 lbs
• Named for white color of lower tail
• Natural predators include coyote, mountain lion,
  bear and wolf

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Mule Deer

• Short tail with black tip
• Larger ears than whitetails
• Mostly seen in Western US
• Deer populations are controlled mostly by hunters

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Black-tailed Deer

• Coastal mountain deer
• Deer antlers grow under velvet, covering of skin
  and hair
• Antlers grow bigger as young deer mature

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Bison and Musk Ox

• Closely related to domestic cattle
• Decline of the bison is a classic example of
  human abuse of a wildlife resource
• Caused problems for the Native American tribes
  dependent on bison
• Contributed to the wars in that time period

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Bison

• Among the largest game animals in the world
• 6 ft, over 2000 lbs
• Population declined to near extinction
• Natural range now restricted to small areas
• Calves weigh 30-40 lbs

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Musk Ox

• Also nearly exterminated by humans
• Arctic animals
• Circle of defense formed with calves in the
  middle when attacked
• Give off strong, musky odor
• 5 ft, 900 lbs
• Calves weigh 20 lbs

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Bighorn Sheep

• Deserts, prairies, alpine meadows
• Live mostly on cliffs and ledges
• Band together most of the year
• Polygamous
• 3.5 ft, 300 lbs

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Dalls Sheep

• White, gray, or nearly black
• 40 inches tall, 200 lbs
• Natural predators include mountain lions and
  wolves
• Lambs are also prey to eagles
• Growth rings on the horns can tell the age of the
  sheep

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Mountain Goat

• Travel as families
• Live among rocks and on cliffs
• Sharp, spiked horns on males
• 3.5 ft, 300 lbs
• White in color
• Agile and coordinated
• Very few hunting permits outside of Alaska are
  issued

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Peccary

• Also called musk hog or javelina
• Not a true pig
• 20 inches, 65 lbs
• Bristled hair coat is gray with white stripe
  around neck
• Musk glands in back
• Eat nearly everything cause serious damage to
  crops

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Horses and Burros

• Spanish conquerors left horses and donkeys behind
  when they invaded what is now Texas and Mexico
• Mustangs are their descendants
• Protected by Wild Horses and Burros Act of 1971
• Bureau of Land Management runs an adoption
  program to cover the cost of the grazing areas

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Horses and Burros