Chapter 2: Wildlife Conservation
Wildlife Glossary

White-tailed Deer		Mule Deer
Male Whitetail		Male Mule Deer
Female Whitetail		Female Mule Deer
Reddish brown to blue-gray or tan coloring; underside of tail is white, producing a “flag” when raised off the rump. Antlers on male primarily consist of main beam with tines growing from it. Maximum antler size occurs between 5-7 years of age. Habitat and Habits: Herbivore. Range movements limited to one to three miles, depending on sex, age, and habitat. Lives up to 10 years. Male is polygamous with most whitetails rutting in November in North America. One to two spotted fawns typical.		Reddish coloring in summer and blue-gray in winter. Rump patch is cream-colored with black tip; tail is cream-colored. Ears are larger than the white-tailed deer. Antlers branch equally. Habitat and Habits: Lives in forests, among desert shrubs, thickets of shrubs, or trees; grasslands; plains, foothills; and river bottoms. Herbivore. Lives up to 16 years. Male is polygamous; rut runs Oct. - Dec. One to two spotted fawns typical.
How to Identify Adult White-tailed Deer from Fawns
		Fawns Short, square bodies (look like a "briefcase" from a distance) Short necks and less muscle development Rarely have swaying backs or sagging bellies Ears appear large in comparison to head Adults Larger, rectangular-shaped bodies (look like a "suitcase" from a distance) Long Necks
How to Identify Buck Fawns Presence of developing antlers Head appears more flat and less rounded between ears		How to Identify Doe Fawns No developing antlers Head appears slightly rounded between ears
Pronghorn		Bighorn Sheep
Male Pronghorn		Male Bighorn Sheep
Female Pronghorn		Female Bighorn Sheep
White-hoofed with reddish to tan coloring. Large white rump patch; short white tail; rump hair stands up when alerted or fleeing. Two broad white bands across neck. Male has large black jaw patch and larger, slightly curved horns with single prong growing forward. Habitat and Habits: Lives in open prairies, plains, and brushlands. Herbivore. Lives up to 14 years. Male is polygamous; rut runs Aug. - Nov. Two grayish-brown fawns typical.		Dark brown to gray coloring; white rump patch with short darker tail. Two heavy, tapering, curled brown horns on male; smaller and less curled on female. Habitat and Habits: Lives in rocky mountainous terrain, preferring bluffs or steep slopes. Herbivore. Lives up to 15 years. Male is polygamous; rut runs Nov. - Dec.; males engage in battles, butting heads. One small brown lamb typical.
Moose		Caribou
Male Moose		Male Caribou
Female Moose		Female Caribou
Dark brown coloring; legs are grayish. Large overhanging snout; dewlap on throat. Antlers on male are massive, palmate, and flat. Habitat and Habits: Lives in forests with lakes and swamps. Herbivore. Lives up to 20 years. Male is polygamous; rut runs Sept. - Oct. Usually one calf; light reddish-brown with dark strip down back.		Dark brown with whitish neck, underside, rump, and above each hoof. All males and more than half of females have semipalmated antlers with a prominent vertical tine over nose. Females' antlers are smaller. Habitat and Habits: Found in boreal coniferous forests, alpine tundra, and muskegs (peat bogs). Herbivore. Lives up to 10 - 12 years. Male is polygamous; rut is late Sept. Grayish-brown fawns.
Elk		Mountain Lion (Cougar)
Male Elk
Female Elk
Dark brown to tan coloring; yellowish rump patch and tail. Large, spreading antlers on male. Habitat and Habits: Lives in mountain pastures in summer and wooded slopes in winter. Herbivore. Lives up to 15 years. Male is polygamous; rut runs Sept. - Nov. Usually one calf; spotted until 3 months of age.		Large tan-gray cat with long brownish tipped tail. Habitat and Habits: Lives mainly in rugged mountains and sometimes in forests and swamplands. carnivore. Lives up to 18 years. Makes a food "cache" out of uneaten prey. Mainly nocturnal; dens found in caves, rock crevices, and other concealed locations. Two spotted cubs can be born throughout year.
Coyote		Black Bear
Medium-sized to large with gray to reddish-gray fur, more tan on legs, feet, ears; dark-tipped tail, whitish belly and throat. Habitat and Habits: Lives in prairies, open woodlands, shrublands, and variety of habitats. Carnivore. Lives up to 8 - 10 years. Mainly nocturnal but can be active anytime. Five to 10 pups born Apr. - May.		Color varies from black to cinnamon in West and black in East; face always brown; usually a small white patch on chest. Male much larger than female. Habitat and Habits: Lives primarily in forest and swamps in East; in forest and wooded mountains in West. Omnivore. Lives up to 30 years. Nocturnal; usually solitary, except mother with cubs. Mates June - July. Typically two cubs, born in winter.
Feral Hog		Wild Turkey
A medium-sized, hoofed mammal; a descendent of the domestic hog. Varies greatly in color but most often black. Upper tusks curl up and out along sides of mouth. Wild hogs may be infected with swine brucellosis, which can be transmitted to people who come in contact with infected blood. Habitat and Habits: Lives in forested mountainous areas, brushlands, dry ridges, and swamps. Omnivore. Lives up to 10 - 15 years. Travels in groups. Three to twelve young born anytime during the year.		Large, long-legged; body dark and iridescent; featherless, reddish head. Male larger and more iridescent than female. Wild turkeys are native to North America and there are five subspecies: Eastern, Osceola (Florida), Rio Grande, Merriam's, and Gould's. Habitat and Habits: Lives in open woodlands, brush country, thickets of shrubs or trees, river bottoms, and hardwoods. Polygamous males. Mating call is a gobble; normal calls are clucks, putts, and purrs. Nests in depressions; 6 - 20 whitish eggs.
American Beaver		Porcupine
Medium-sized, brown rodent; naked tail, scaly and paddle-shaped. Large chestnut-colored front teeth; webbed short feet for swimming. Habitat and Habits: Lives in streams, ponds, or lakes. Constructs houses of sticks, logs, and mud or burrows in banks; builds dams serving as habitat. Lives up to 11 years. Two to four kits born Apr. - Jul.		Large rodent, size of small dog; chunky body with short legs. Color varies from black or brown in East and yellowish in West. Sharp spines on rump and tail. Habitat and Habits: Lives in forests or in brushy areas. Herbivore; likes salt. Lives 7 - 8 years. Primarily nocturnal. Mates in fall; one young born May - Jun.
Eastern Fox Squirrel		Eastern Gray Squirrel
Larger, rusty-yellowish with orange-red underside, bushy tail tipped with darker hairs. Habitat and Habits: Lives in open woodlands, river bottoms, and pine forests with interspersed clearings. Herbivore. Lives up to 10 years. Two to five young born in Jan. and May.		Medium-sized with inner yellowish-rusty and gray or white-tipped hairs; lighter underside; bushy tail with varying dark hairs tipped white or yellow. Habitat and Habits: Lives in forests, river bottoms, pine forests interspersed with hardwoods, and clearings. Herbivore. Lives up to 15 years. Two to five young per litter.
Red Squirrel		Red Fox
Smallest of tree squirrels in its range. Yellowish or reddish back and whitish belly; bushy tail. Habitat and Habits: Lives in pine, spruce, or mixed hardwood forests. Nests in tree cavities or branches. Herbivore. Lives up to 10 years. Three to seven young born Mar. – Apr.		Medium-sized, reddish-yellow; can range from darker to lighter; bushy tail with white tip; usually dark legs and paws. Habitat and Habits: Lives in mixed woodlands, farmland, and open country. Carnivore. Lives up to 10 years. Three to seven young born Apr. - May.
Virginia Opossum		Mink
		Medium-sized with dark brown fur and white chin patch; tail slightly bushy. Habitat and Habits: Lives in stream, pond, and lake habitats. Carnivore. Polygamous. Four to ten young born Jan. - Mar.
Small to medium-sized with gray to dark gray fur; whitish face and small ears; rat-like tail. Habitat and Habits: Lives in woodlands, water, and farming areas. Omnivore. Lives up to 3 years. Nocturnal. Up to 14 young per litter several times a year. Young remain in mother’s pouch for several months.
Common Muskrat		Jackrabbit
Small with brown to grayish-brown fur and grayish underside; black, scaly tail; partially webbed hind feet. Habitat and Habits: Lives in marshes, ponds, and streams. Omnivore, feeding on aquatic vegetation, frogs, and small fish. Two to six young per litter; 2 – 3 litters per year.		Medium-sized; grayish-brown fur with large black-tipped ears and black streak on top of short tail. Habitat and Habits: Lives in prairies, shrublands, and semi-arid deserts. Herbivore. Lives up to 5 - 6 years. Two to four young per litter.
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit		Striped Skunk
Small with brownish-gray fur with cottontail; large ears but not as large as jackrabbit. Habitat and Habits: Lives in heavy brush in forests, farmlands, thickets of shrubs or trees, swamplands, and weed patches. Herbivore. Lives up to 3 – 4 years. Four to seven young per litter; 3 – 4 litters per year.		Medium-sized with black fur and white stripes from head to tail. Habitat and Habits: Lives in semi-open prairies, thickets of shrubs or trees, and mixed woods near water. Omnivore. mostly nocturnal. Five to six young born in May.
Prairie Dog		Common Raccoon
Small-sized with tan to reddish fur; small ears and light-colored underside; black-tipped short tail. Habitat and Habits: Lives in dry upland prairies in colonies or “towns” of burrows. Herbivore mostly but may eat some insects. Lives up to 7 – 8 years. Three to five young born Mar. – Apr.		Medium-sized with dark and light mixed fur and distinctive black mask across white face. Small- to medium-sized ears and ringed tail. Habitat and Habits: Lives in woods near cliffs and water. Omnivore. Lives up to 7 - 10 years. Nocturnal. Two to seven young born Apr. - May.
American Badger
Medium-sized with short black legs and yellowish-gray hair. Medium white stripe over head to nose, white cheeks, and black patch in front of each ear. Long front claws for digging. Habitat and Habits: Lives in open grasslands, deserts, and thickets of shrubs and trees. Carnivore; feeds mainly on small rodents. Lives up to 12 years. Two to five young born Feb. – May; one litter per year.