Wildlife

Opossums - Marsupalia Didelphidae virginiana         Identification & Description: Opossums make up the family Didelphidae, of the order Marsupialia. The common Virginia opossum is classified as Didelphis virginiana, the yapock as Chironectes minimus. Opossum, common name for any of 77 marsupial mammals found only in the western hemisphere. The opossum ranges [...]

Townsend's Vole - Rodentia Muridae Microtus townsendi     Identification & Description: The Townsend's Vole is from the order Rodentia. The largest group of mammals is the Rodentia. A rough generalisation is most non-flying mammals are rodents. Prairie Dogs, beavers, porcupines and many others are classified as rodents. The Townsend's Vole has a single [...]

Raccoon - Carnivora Procyonidae Procyon lotor Identification & Description: Raccoons make up the genus Procyon of the family Procyonidae. The common North American raccoon is classified as Procyon lotor, and the crab-eating raccoon as Procyon cancrivorus. The raccoon is a reddish-brown above and black or greyish below. The most prominent characteristics are the bushy [...]

Black-tailed Jackrabbit - Lagomorpha Leporidae Lepus californicus         Identification & Description: The jackrabbit belongs to the family Leporidae, in the order Lagomorpha. The white-tailed jackrabbit is classified as Lepus townsendii, the white-sided jackrabbit as Lepus callotis, and the black-tailed or California jackrabbit as Lepus californicus. The Black-tailed Jack Rabbit is 18 [...]

Douglas Squirrel - Rodentia Sciuridae Tamiasciurus douglasii Identification & Description: Like all squirrels, the Douglas Squirrel are mammals who belong to the Order Rodentia. One characteristic which they all share is they have orange front teeth which constantly grow and must be worn down by chewing. Two common species of Squirrels live in the [...]

Deer Mouse - Rodentia Muridae Peromyscus maniculatus Identification & Description: Deer mice are members of the family Muridae. The common deer mouse is classified as Peromyscus maniculatus. Deer mice are the prototype for "field mice" with large, bulging eyes, big ears, a bicolored pattern and a long tail. They are larger than the harvest [...]

Coyote - Carnivora Canidae Canis latrans Identification & Description: The coyote is a member of the dog family. In size and shape the coyote is like a medium-sized Collie dog, but its tail is round and bushy and is carried straight out below the level of its back. Coyotes found in low deserts and [...]