Small Mammals

Cottontail Rabbit

Cottontail Rabbit

Habitat: Farmsteads, field edges, brushy areasFeeding Habits: grasses, forbs, vegetable herbs,

berries during the summer, barkLife Cycle:1. Breeding season- February through September2. 5-7 young are born, blind and naked3. Gestation period is 28 days4. Prolific rate is necessary due to predators5. Live 3-5 years of age.

Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

Habitat: Evergreen forestsFeeding Habits: nuts, mushrooms and pineconesLife Cycle:1. Single litter of young in April and May2. Gestation period is 40 days3. Born in hollow or abandoned woodpecker hole4. 3 to 5 young are born blind and naked within 6 to 8

weeks are weaned5. May live up to 10 years

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Habitat: Hardwood and evergreen forestsFeeding Habits: acorns, hickory, chestnuts, fruits, birdsLife Cycle:1. Several males usually attempt to breed each

receptive female2. Gestation period of 40 days or so, two to four blind

and naked young3. Net for 6 weeks, until they can eat solid foods4. Can live to 15 years old

Eastern Fox Squirrel

Eastern Fox Squirrel

Habitat: Oaks ForestsFeeding Habits: nuts and seedsLife Cycle:1. Solitary except during breeding season, starts

during January2. Gestation 45 days, 3 to 4 blind and naked3. One litter a year4. Young rely on their mother for up to 10 weeks

Red Fox

Red Fox

Habitat: woodlands, brushy areas, suburbs, treeless areasFeeding Habits: anything they can catch and killLife Cycle:1. Breeding season- February2. Gestation 56 days, 6 to 8 pups3. Male remains with the female and assists in raising the pups4. Normally born in old woodchuck burrow5. Pups born fully furred, but eyes do not open until 9 to 10 days

after birth6. Grow and mature with parents7. May live to be 15 years old

Gray Fox

Gray Fox

Habitat: Open woodlands, fields, streams and river bottoms, and western plains

Feeding Habits: small birds, mice, snakes, rabbits, frogs, most small mammals and insects

Life Cycle:1. Breeding season- January2. Gestation period is 2 months3. Pups and born blind but fully furred at birth and are

weaned at about 60 days4. Males leave the “family” in late summer5. Females remain with pups until fall

Striped Skunk

Striped Skunk

Habitat: almost anywhereFeeding Habits: insects, eggs and young of ground-nesting

birds, mice, rats, and domestic poultry Life Cycle:1. Late winter breeding season2. Males mate with many females as possible3. 3 to 8 young are born about 60 days later4. Baby skunk eyes open at 3 weeks of age, at 5 weeks of age

they start following their mother5. Captive skunks may live 10 to 12 years, in the wild they do

not live that long

Coyote

Coyote

Habitat: Anywhere there is foodFeeding Habits: rodents, rabbits, deer, birds, livestock, fruits,

berriesLife Cycle:1. One litter a year of 6 to 10 pups2. Breeding season occurs in January3. Gestation period of 63 days4. Pups born fully furred with closed eyes5. Weaned at 6 weeks and begin to chase and kill rodents6. Learn to hunt from their parents

Badger

Badger

Habitat: Open plains and up into the mountains of the west, open to semi-open areas

Feeding Habits: rodents, burrows, ground squirrels, snakes, insects, eggs, birds

Life Cycle:1. Delayed implantation2. Mate in late summer or early fall3. Gives birth to 2-4 young, usually three4. Solitary animals5. Weaned at 2 months of age6. Can live up to 12 years in captivity

Porcupine

Porcupine

Habitat: Forested areasFeeding Habits: leaves, bark, and twigs are entirely

vegetarianLife Cycle:1. Breeding season- November2. One offspring born in March3. Born with full set of soft quills, harden in 30 minutes

after birth4. Babies feed themselves at one week and can climb by

themselves after a few days

Opossum

Opossum

Habitat: WoodlandsFeeding Habits: Fruits, nuts, berries, insects, bird eggs and any

meat it can catch or scavengeLife Cycle:1. Give birth in April to September2. Up to three litters of 8 to 18 young each.3. Gestation is only 13 to 14 days4. Incubate in pouch for about 6 weeks5. Once out of the pouch, young often ride the mother’s back6. Fake death

Raccoon

Raccoon

Habitat: Very AdaptableFeeding Habits: Omnivores; eating frogs, berries, fish, small

mammals, nuts, vegetables, shellfish, grain, birds, and bird eggs

Life Cycle:1. Breeding season- late January until March2. Males mate with many females3. Gestation period is 64 days4. 2-6 young, born with fur and their eyes closed5. Eyes begin to open at about 18 to 20 days of age6. Leave den at 6 weeks of age

Muskrat

Muskrat

Habitat: Near waterFeeding Habits: aquatic plants, freshwater mussels, and fishLife Cycle:1. Two to four litters a year2. Four to eight young are born blind and almost hairless3. Eyes open at about 2 weeks of age, they are eating

vegetation 3 weeks4. Shortly after they begin to eat they leave to find their

own homes

Beaver

BeaverHabitat: Rivers and Streams in areas with woodlandsFeeding Habits: aquatic plants, such as water lilies, as well as the inner

bark of willow, aspen, and birchLife Cycle:1. Mate for life2. Give birth in April3. Fully furred with open eyes and the ability to swim hours after birth4. Weaned after 1 month5. House consists of parents, previous year’s offspring, and recent

offspring6. After 2 years they leave home to find their own mate and build

their own home.

Mink

Mink

Habitat: woodlands with aquatic sourceFeeding Habits: hunt around water, eating frogs, salamanders, fish

waterfowl, and their eggs, and snakesLife Cycle:1. Breeding season in January-March2. Male stays with one of the females he has bred and assists in

raising the young3. Gestation 45 days4. Five to eight young are born in a den in rocks, under the roots of

a tree, or in an old muskrat den5. Born with their eyes closed and nursed until 5 weeks old, when

they begin to eat solid foods

Bobcat

Bobcat

Habitat: woodlands, marshes and swamps, deserts and mountains

Feeding Habits: Rodents, small mammals, birds, fawnsLife Cycle:1. Breeding season- February2. Gestation is 50 days.3. Two to seven young, usually four4. Rocky ledges are often chosen for den sites5. 9 to 10 days kittens’ eyes open and they begin to crawl about6. After weaning mother begins to bring pray back alive7. In captivity live for up to 15 years, wild is shorter

Lynx

Lynx

Habitat: Northern woodlands and brushy areasFeeding Habits: grouse, squirrels, rodents, small

mammalsLife Cycle:1. Gestation is 60 days2. Two to four young are commonly born in late spring3. Kittens are born fully furred and eyes closed4. Kittens stay in den for three months5. Practice hunting

Woodchuck

Woodchuck

Habitat: Open woodlands and field edgesFeeding Habits: grasses, clover, garden vegetablesLife Cycle:1. Males breeding as many receptive females as possible2. Gestation is 28 days3. Typically 4 naked babies4. Open eyes at 3 weeks of age5. Stay with mom for a few months6. Winter- put on multiple layers of fat, then hibernate

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