American Badger

American Badgers have tan and white fur with yellowish guard hairs and a black face with three white stripes. The middle stripe will go to the back of the head and sometimes extend to the middle of the back. They have a short, fluffy tail and short legs with long, powerful claws. These animals are 26 pounds and 23 to 35 inches long, with the males being larger than the females.  American Badgers can be found in grasslands or desert scrublands and need 2,000 acres of suitable habitat to successfully reproduce. They are nocturnal, but the mothers may be seen during the day foraging for food to care for their young at night. American Badgers are amazing diggers and can even dig through thin cement or blacktop. They prey upon various burrowing animals, including pocket gophers, woodchucks, burrowing owls, ground squirrels, and other small rodents by digging into their prey’s burrows. They will dig multiple burrows to reproduce, and these abandoned burrows will become homes for multiple species of animals. American Badgers are solitary and aggressive animals and will only be seen together during mating season. After mating in the summer, the females will delay their pregnancy until winter to ensure the pups are born in the spring. Each litter usually has two or three pups. They can live for 9- 10 years.

https://www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/nature/american-badger.htm

https://wildlifeillinois.org/identify-wildlife/badger/

American Beaver

American Beavers have brown waterproof fur, long, white whiskers, webbed feet, and orange teeth from thick enamel layers. They have a long, flat tail that helps them swim faster, balance when carrying a heavy piece of wood, and can be slapped across the water to produce a loud sound as an alarm call. They are two to three feet long and are the largest rodents in the United States. American Beavers are found in ponds, streams, rivers, and lakes. They are semiaquatic and can stay underwater for 15 minutes. Their eyelids are see-through to help them see underwater. They eat aquatic plants, roots, leaves, and tree bark. American Beavers must gnaw on wood to file down their teeth, as they will continue to grow throughout their lives and can become too long. They use this wood to build lodges or dams. By building dams, they actively change the ecosystem and can create new lakes, ponds, or floodplains. They are monogamous and will find a mate at three years old. The females will have one litter of kits a year of one to four kits. The kits will stay in the lodge for two years with the parents. They normally live for 8-10 years but can live up to 15 years.

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/American-Beaver

Bobcat

Bobcats have brown, beige, or grey fur with dark lines or spots. They are medium-sized cats and have a short, bobbed tail that gives them their name. They can be found in every US state except Delaware in forests, brushlands, semi-deserts, and mountains. They are most active during twilight and dawn and will sleep during the day in a den. Bobcats are ambush predators and will hunt their prey by stalking and then ambushing with a pounce. They feed on Snowshoe Hares, Cottontail Rabbits, birds, bats, and other rodents. They may also scavenge on remains killed by other animals. Bobcats are highly territorial and solitary until breeding season. They will mark their range with claw marks and scent to avoid fights.  Both males and females will mate with multiple partners. After mating, they will have a litter of three kittens. Females will provide parental care by bringing meat until they are weaned and then teaching them to hunt. The kittens will go off on their own at eight months old. Female Bobcats will become sexually mature at one year and the males at two. They will live for 12 to 25 years.

https://animalia.bio/bobcat

Cottontail Rabbit

Cottontail Rabbits are brown, tan, or gray with a small, white tail. Their tails will stick up when they are alert or fleeing from a predator.  These rabbits weigh a few pounds and are a foot long. They can be found in prairies, open forests, grass clearings, farms, and marshes. Cottontail Rabbits are social animals and will live in large groups for protection. They will share burrows and forage together during the day. These rabbits eat berries leaves, grass, bark, flowers, and other plant parts. They will also eat the fecal pellet the first time that it passes to ensure they get all of the nutrients. Cottontail Rabbits produce at a very fast rate and can produce up to three litters every year.  They have become an important food source for many predators due to their ability to have high population numbers. They will give birth in nests made of grass in their burrows. The young will remain in the nests until they develop, as they are blind and helpless at birth. These rabbits are wild and should be treated as any other wild animal. They have a deep fear of humans and have not been domesticated like pet rabbits.

https://animals.net/cottontail/

Coyote

Coyotes are medium-sized and have reddish legs and faces with brown or gray fur on their body and tail. The tail has a black tip on the end. They have pointed, erect ears and a narrow muzzle. They can be found in mountains, plains, deserts, and grasslands. Coyotes live in packs but can be seen hunting alone, in pairs, or as a family in the evening. With more human development taking over their habitat, they can now be found in big cities and are starting to adapt to urban areas. In their habitats, they will take over abandoned dens as their own. Coyotes prey upon Cottontail Rabbits, Ground Squirrels, snakes, birds, and other small mammals. They are necessary for the ecosystems they live in and help control populations of small mammals. They also eat plants, including certain leaves, strawberries, or apples. These animals are very vocal and will bark to warn of danger or howl to inform the pack of their location. Coyotes mate for life and both males and females provide parental care. The male will provide food and protection for the female and their pups. The pups will become mature at 20 to 22 months old and start their own packs. They will live for 10 to 18 years. 

https://animalia.bio/index.php/coyote

Deer Mouse

A Deer Mouse has light brown fur with white underbellies similar to a deer, which gives them their name. They have large, black eyes, rounded ears, and a long, skinny tail. They are between four and nine inches long and weigh less than an ounce. They can be found in burrows in woodlands, forests, deserts, meadows, or grasslands. They are often close to farms, suburbs, and parks. These mice are omnivores and will eat seeds, berries, grasses, small mammals, grasshoppers, and crickets. They will forage at night, early morning, or late afternoon and may live in colonies or alone. These mice may mate for life or have multiple mates. Each litter has between two and 10 young. 

https://animals.net/deer-mouse/

Grey Wolf

The Grey Wolf has grey fur with black markings and a white underbelly. The males are larger than the females. They have a shorter snout and long legs that allow them to catch prey easier. Grey Wolves can be found in deserts, grasslands, shrublands, forests, and mountains. They are social animals and will live in packs of seven to eight wolves that hunt and travel together. The pack is made up of an alpha male and female and their offspring. These wolves are nocturnal predators and will communicate with other pack members by howling, growling, whining, or barking. They will follow trails, roads, or streams while hunting. Grey Wolves primarily prey upon elk, moose, deer, and caribou. They will also eat rabbits, beavers, birds, lizards, snakes, or frogs, and even some plant material, such as apples, figs, melons, or berries. They are monogamous and will mate for life with their partner, but only the alpha male and female will mate within the pack. When one of the pair dies, a new wolf will replace them as part of the alpha pair. After mating, the female will dig a den and have one to 14 pups. The entire pack will provide parental care by regurgitating food for the pups. Females become mature at two years old, while males mature at three years old. 

https://animalia.bio/grey-wolf

Ground Squirrel

Ground Squirrels are grey, brown, and dusky with round bodies and skinny tails. They are twelve inches long and 9- 26 ounces. They can be found in grasslands, open woodlands, prairies, or farmlands. They live on the ground in burrows, giving them their name. Though, they may also climb trees. Ground Squirrels will eat plants, seeds, berries, nuts, and grains. They can live alone or in colonies, but each squirrel will have its own entrance to the burrow. Ground Squirrels will forage for food during the day and use their cheek pouches to store food. During the breeding season, both males and females will have multiple mates. Females will have one litter per year with five to 11 young. They will reach maturity after one year and will live for six to 10 years.

https://animalia.bio/california-ground-squirrel

Ermine

Ermine, also called Stoat, are long and slender and have coat colors dependent on the season. In the winter, they are bright white; in the summer, they are dark brown with white underbellies. They are between six and 12 inches long, and the males are bigger than the females. They can be found in mountains, woodlands, coasts, or farmlands in colder areas with an abundance of small mammals and rodents. Ermine live in burrows of the prey they have killed and will line the walls with their preys’ furs. These cute animals are voracious predators and will take on prey larger than themselves. They will hunt in burrows or climb trees to reach nests. Ermine prey upon Cottontail Rabbits, small mammals and rodents, fish, and birds. They are also preyed upon by numerous predators, such as snakes or foxes, but they will fight fiercely with their sharp teeth. These animals can also be targeted by hunters for their soft fur. Ermine have territories that they mark by rubbing their bodies, urine, and anal glands throughout. During the breeding season, females will mate with multiple males and have kits from different fathers in a single litter. While cute, these animals would not make good pets, as they are fierce and have sharp teeth.

https://animals.net/ermine/

Moose

Moose are large mammals with dark and light brown fur and a dewlap that hangs from their throat. They are over six feet tall and weigh over 1,000 pounds. The males have large antlers that can reach six feet in length. The antlers will be shed after mating season and regrow every year. Moose can be found in cold climates near streams or ponds. They feed on twigs, bark, trees, and shrubs but are too tall to comfortably bend over and eat grass. They are preyed upon by bears, wolves, and other large predators, particularly before they are a year old. Moose can run at 35 miles per hour, are excellent swimmers, and will use their hooves and antlers to defend themselves.  Their population numbers are decreasing due to rising temperatures. They are greatly affected by heat, which causes low pregnancy rates; weight loss from taking shelter instead of foraging; higher vulnerability to disease; and excessive numbers of ticks, leading to anemia. Moose also suffer from brain eating parasites from accidently ingesting them when foraging. During the breeding season, males will compete for females and may fight with their antlers. The females will provide parental care for one year before the calves become solitary. They can live up to 20 years, but will usually live for 10 to 12 years.

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Moose 

Mountain Lion

Mountain Lions, also known as Cougars, have tan or yellow fur and are three feet tall and nine feet long. They are the fourth largest feline in the world and one of the most widespread terrestrial animals. They can be found in mountains, forests, deserts, prairies, and other habitats. Mountain Lions prey upon Moose, Deer, Bighorn Sheep, Elk, and other large mammals and prefer to ambush their prey while hunting. They are solitary until the breeding season, with the exception of some bordering territories of Mountain Lions sharing kills. Their territories are determined by urine and claw scratches. Though they are large, they are not considered a “big cat” since they do not roar. These animals will hiss, growl, purr, and scream. Their scream can sound like a female human being attacked, which can be quite unnerving at night. It is used for intimidation and as a mating call.  Females will reproduce every two or three years and are the only parent to provide parental care. Each litter will normally have two kittens. The kittens will be able to hunt on their own at six months but will not leave the den for two years.

https://animals.net/mountain-lion/

Mule Deer

Mule Deer have dark brown fur with a white face, rump, and tail with a black tip. They have large mule-like ears, giving them their name. They are over three feet tall, four to seven feet long, and weigh between 130 to 280 pounds. The males have forked antlers and are larger than the females. Mule Deer can be found in areas with an abundance of nutritious vegetation. They eat the most nutritious parts of the trees and shrubs and will focus on quality over quantity. They will run by pushing off the ground with all four hooves at the same time, which is called stotting. During mating season, males will lock their antlers and fight with other males. The dominant male will get to mate with the females. While giving birth, the female will have the offspring in a protected spot where they will remain for about a week until they are strong enough to walk. She will provide parental care until they are independent. They will live for nine to 11 years. 

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Mule-Deer

Muskrat

Muskrats have brown fur; round, stout bodies; and long, narrow tails. They look similar to small beavers but do not have tails as large. They are 16 to 24 inches long and weigh 23 to 63 ounces. They have flattened tails that they use as a paddle in the water and ears that close to keep out water. Muskrats will leave tail tracks as they drag their tails across the ground while walking. They are semi-aquatic and can be found in wetlands, ponds, swamps, lakes, streams, or marshes near dense vegetation. They are territorial and will mark their territory. Muskrats primarily eat aquatic plants, especially cattails and water lilies, but may also eat crops or small mammals. They are social animals and will live with their families and forage together. They are most active at dusk and dawn. Females will have two or three litters of six to eight offspring each year. The young will reach maturity between six to 12 months.

https://animals.net/muskrat/

North American River Otter

North American River Otters have thick, brown fur that keeps them warm in cold water. They have webbed feet, short legs, narrow bodies, and strong tails to help them swim faster. They are three to four feet long and weigh 11 to 30 pounds. North American River Otters are semi-aquatic and can stay under the water for eight minutes. They can be found in ponds, rivers, lakes, marshes, and estuaries. They live in dens along the water in abandoned burrows. On land, they will slide in snow or mud and play with the group. This helps strengthen social bonds and teaches the young techniques to hunt. These animals prey upon fish, crabs, frogs, turtles, and crayfish. They have whiskers to help detect prey and clawed feet to catch it. They are preyed upon by Bobcats, Alligators, Coyotes, and other large predators. North American River Otters can be solitary or live in small groups. They communicate by scent marking and making various calls, such as whistles, growls, yelps, or screams. After mating, females will give birth to one to three pups. They can live eight to nine years. 

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/North-American-River-Otter

Opossum

Opossums, not Possums which are native to Australia, have grey, brown, and black fur with a white face and tail. They are marsupials and have an elongated snout and a long, scaly tail that helps them climb. They are approximately the size of a house cat. Opossums can be found in woody areas, preferably deciduous forests. Though, they have adapted to urban areas as well. These animals can be seen as pests, but they rarely present a problem and do not harm humans. They are good at playing dead and use this as a defense mechanism for predation. Opossums are nocturnal and forage at night. They are mostly scavengers and feed on carrion, but they are very unlikely to develop rabies and actually prevent the spread of diseases due to their impressive immune systems. They are also immune to venom from snake bites and will actively hunt and eat snakes. These animals are solitary and will remain in their current location until resources run out. After mating, the mother will provide parental care by carrying the young in her pouch or on her back until they are mature.

https://animals.net/opossum/

Pallid Bat

Pallid Bats are cream-colored to light brown and have large, pointed ears with serrated outer edges. They are small, under one ounce, and between two and four inches.  They can be found in the savanna, grasslands, forests, farmlands, or caves.  Pallid Bats will roost in rocky areas, such as caves, mines, buildings, or hollow trees, for protection from the elements. They prefer darkness and an easy escape route when picking their roosts. They are highly social and will live in a colony of 12 to 100 bats. They have four different vocalizations and will vocalize to locate other bats and signal the location of a new roost. Pallid Bats are efficient climbers and crawlers and use echolocation to find their prey and navigate. They prey on large flying and ground-dwelling invertebrates, such as grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, katydids, spiders, centipedes, and scorpions. These bats feed on the ground, which makes them vulnerable to predation from snakes and predatory birds, but they have glands on their face that produce a skunk-like odor for protection. The breeding season starts in October and continues through the winter. They will normally have two offspring but can also have one or three. After birth, the mother provides parental care. The young will attach to the mother’s nipple during flight while she brings them to forage with her. She will continue to provide parental care until they mature at one year of age. They will live for nine years. 

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Antrozous_pallidus/

Pocket Gopher

Pocket Gophers are light brown rodents that are five to 14 inches. They have large teeth, claws for digging, long whiskers, tails, and small eyes and ears. They have pockets in their cheeks that they use to store food while foraging, which gives them their name. They can be found in lawns, fields, prairies, grasslands, and meadows in loose, sandy soil covered by vegetation. While digging, they produce mounds of soil. This can be irritating to homeowners, but it provides necessary aeration to the soil within ecosystems. Pocket Gophers eat various vegetation but mainly roots. They are eaten by numerous predators, including weasels, snakes, and badgers. These animals are solitary and only interact during the breeding season. After breeding, the young will be born in nests underground in their burrows. The females will provide parental care for several weeks before they leave the nest to build their own burrows. They live under three years.

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Pocket-Gophers

Pronghorn

Pronghorns are light brown with white underbellies, rears, and necks. They weigh between 90 and 150 pounds and are four and a half feet long and three feet tall. They have long snouts and legs, short tails, hooves, and black horns. Both sexes have horns. The females' horns are small, but the males' horns are 10 to 12 inches long and point backward.The horns have a prong at the top, giving them their name. Pronghorns can be found in grasslands, deserts, prairies, plains, and basins.  They eat sagebrush, grasses, and forbs. They will regurgitate their food after it passes through their stomach and eat it again to absorb all of the nutrients. Pronghorns have large eyes and great vision to help them avoid predators When they spot a predator, they will raise the white hairs on their rears to alert others of danger. They are the fastest animal in the United States, and the second fastest in the world, at 60 miles per hour. Pronghorns also have the largest land migration in the United States at 150 miles. During the winter, herds of 400 Pronghorn will migrate to avoid the cold weather and in search of food. Males have territories with multiple females and will fight other males if they threaten their territory. Females will have one or two fawns after mating and will provide parental care for a year until they mature. They will live for 10 years.

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Pronghorn

Raccoon

Raccoons have grey and white fur with black striped tails and facial markings that give them the appearance of a bandit. These dark eye markings help reduce glare when they are scavenging at night. They can be found in urban areas, but they used to live in woodlands by water sources to hunt crustaceans before urbanization. Raccoons are incredibly intelligent, and their paws are dexterous and able to manipulate objects well. This gives them the ability to cause lots of trouble, especially with breaking into trash cans for food. They will eat anything, including small animals, plants, and birds, but prefer crustaceans and other invertebrates. Before eating, these animals will wash their food, or douse, by rubbing it underwater and then inspecting it before eating. They are nocturnal, but you may see them during the day foraging, especially when raising kits. They are social animals and will socialize, rest, and forage together. The females will give birth to two to five kits after mating. 

https://animals.net/raccoon/

Pygmy Rabbit

Pygmy Rabbits are small, grey rabbits with short ears, small legs, and no white fur. They are nine to 12 inches long and weigh between 13 and 18 ounces, with the females being larger than the males. They can be found in grasslands, forests, or the sagebrush-steppe by large sagebrush plants, preferably around roads or streams for an escape route. Pygmy Rabbits are social animals. They do not hibernate and are active during the day, primarily at dusk or dawn. When they are not foraging, they will rest under large, dense sagebrush or in their burrows. The burrows will be next to big sagebrush plants. Pygmy rabbits are the only rabbit species here that dig their own burrows. They feed on sagebrush, grasses, and forbs and are a food source for a variety of predators. The breeding season is from March until May. The females will have 6 young in each litter and three litters total per year. They will become mature at one year of age and start to reproduce. They live three to five years.

ttps://animalia.bio/pygmy-rabbit

Red Fox

Red Foxes have greyish-white underbellies, chins, and tail tips; black feet; and mostly red fur like their name suggests. They have long snouts and pointed ears. They are three feet long and two feet tall. Red Foxes can be found in woodlands, wetlands, fields, and rural and suburban areas. They prey upon rodents, rabbits, birds, and amphibians. They have excellent hearing and will hear the rodents digging underground. They will also eat fruit or food from garbage cans. Red Foxes are known to be smart and cunning. They are solitary until breeding season. After mating, females will build a den and have up to 12 pups in the litter. The pups are brown or grey, but will turn red a month after being born. Both males and females provide parental care. The young foxes will leave the following fall. 

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Red-Fox

Striped Skunk 

Striped Skunks are black with a white stripe extending from the head to the tail.They have stout bodies and long tails, are between two and 12 pounds, and are 21 to 27 inches long. Their front feet are adapted for digging. They can be found in open areas in woodlands, meadows, and fields. Striped Skunks will hunt during the night and sleep in abandoned dens during the day. They eat carrion, fish, invertebrates, small mammals, grasses, leaves, fruits, and nuts. They will even eat Honeybees, various wasps, Rattlesnakes, and other venomous animals since they are not affected by their venom. Striped Skunks have two musk-filled scent glands used to ward off predators. The musk is yellow, oily, foul smelling, and can be sprayed up to 10 feet and smelled 1.5 miles away. The musk is so potent that they have few natural predators.  These animals are solitary and will only interact during the breeding season. Males will mate with multiple females, but females will only mate multiple times if they have lost their litter or experienced pseudopregnancy. Each litter will have between two and 10 kits. The female will provide parental care, as the kits are helpless at birth, and they will follow her in a single line learning to hunt and forage until they are independent. Striped Skunks will mature at 10 months old, and they will live between one and 10 years.

https://animalia.bio/striped-skunk#google_vignette

White Tailed Deer

The White-tailed Deer is brown or grey with a white underside and tail, giving it its name. The males have antlers that they will shed and regrow every year. The males are 150 pounds, while the females are smaller. They can be found in a wide variety of habitats, including prairies, savannahs, wetlands, temperate forests, and mountains. They feed on grasses, cacti, fruit, and legumes. These animals are preyed upon by numerous predators and are popular game for hunters. White-tailed Deer are unable to distinguish orange and red colors well, making them easier prey. During the breeding season, males will battle to become the dominant male in the herd and will hardly eat or rest, which can severely impact their health. The dominant male will mate with the females. The females will give birth to one to three fawns, and the female fawns will stay with their mother for two years, while the male fawns will stay for only a year. 

https://animals.net/whitetail-deer/

Yellow-bellied Marmot

Yellow-bellied Marmots, also known as Rock Chucks or Whistle Pigs, have dark brown fur with yellow fur on their legs, sides of their necks and throats, and underbellies, giving them their name. They are also called Whistle Pigs because of the high-pitched alarm call they use to warn for predators. They have dark guard hairs with a white tip that gives them a frosted appearance. They are large and stout-bodied, three to 11 pounds, and 18 to 28 inches long. They prefer open areas and can be found in meadows, pastures, fields, or steppes. Yellow-bellied Marmots live in colonies in burrows under rocky areas with one male and two or three females. They may also live in pairs or alone. The males are territorial and defend their harem while the females raise the young together. Yellow-bellied Marmots will eat grasses, flowers, forbs, and seeds. They play an important role in the ecosystem by dispersing seeds, providing food for predators, and providing abandoned burrows for other burrowing animals. These animals hibernate in their burrows for eight months from September to May. The breeding season is the first two weeks after hibernation in May. After hibernation, the male will kick out the male pups from the burrow. They become mature at two years old but will wait to mate until they are three years old. Each litter will have between three and eight pups, and they will live for 13 to 15 years.

https://animalia.bio/index.php/yellow-bellied-marmot