Wild Mammals

The alpine chipmunk (Neotamias alpinus) is a species of chipmunk native to the high elevations of the Sierra Nevada of California.

Description
Alpine chipmunks share the typical pattern of genus Neotamias, being gray-brown overall and featuring three white stripes on the cheeks and four down the back. The flanks are muted orange. Overall the pattern is much paler compared to most species. They weigh 27-45 grams.

Distribution of Alpine chipmunk
Alpine chipmunks only live in high Sierra Nevada, from Yosemite National Park in the north, to Olancha Peak in the south. They have been observed at altitudes from around 2,300 meters (7,500 ft) to 3,900 meters (12,800 ft), though they rarely occur below 2,500 meters (8,200 ft).

Behavior and ecology
The alpine chipmunk feeds on the seeds of sedges, grasses, and other plants in their namesake alpine zone.[4] They generally eat their food on the ground. They do not generally require a source of water other than food, but will use it given the opportunity.

They nest in crevices between rocks, taking advantage of the micro-climatic conditions (i.e. higher temperatures) that exist there. Their young are born in June and July, in litters of 3–6.

They are considered diurnal, though they exhibit some nocturnal activity during the summer. They hibernate from November through April, frequently awakening to eat.

Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Neotamias
Species: N. alpinus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpine_chipmunk

Arctic ground squirrels are the largest and most northern of the North American ground squirrels. This species is common in the ice-free mountainous regions of Denali. Permafrost and soil type are two of the most important factors limiting ground squirrel distribution in Denali.

Arctic ground squirrels are burrowing animals and they establish colonies in areas with well-drained soils and views of the surrounding landscape. Colonies often consist of multiple burrows and a maze of tunnels beneath the surface. Well-drained soils are important, as flooding of these burrows causes considerable problems for squirrels. Accordingly, squirrels usually avoid establishing colonies or excavating burrows where permafrost is close to the surface.

Adapting to the Arctic
Like many other arctic animals, arctic ground squirrels have unique physiological adaptations that allow them to survive during winter. Arctic ground squirrels are obligate hibernators and spend 7 to 8 months in hibernation. Researchers at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks have shown that during hibernation, arctic ground squirrels adopt the lowest body temperature ever measured in a mammal. The body temperature of hibernating squirrels drops below freezing, a condition referred to as supercooling. At intervals of two to three weeks, still in a state of sleep, hibernating squirrels shiver and shake for 12 to 15 hours to create heat that warms them back to a normal body temperature of about 98 degrees Fahrenheit. When the shivering and shaking stops, body temperature drops back to the minimal temperature. This type of hibernation is rare among mammals and scientists are still studying this unique physiological behavior.

In Denali, ground squirrels are active from late April to early October, but the sexes and age-classes show some differences in their annual activity patterns. Adult males are usually the first to emerge from hibernation. They dig their way through the snow and stay relatively close to their burrows until the snow cover melts. Breeding occurs in May and a single litter of 5 to 10 pups is born in June. The young develop rapidly and usually emerge from their burrows in mid-July. By late summer, young abandon their natal burrow and occupy a neighboring, empty burrow or excavate a new one.

Adults start hibernating as soon as they have enough body fat to survive the winter, often in late August when plenty of foods are still available. It is probably safer to enter hibernation early, even when foods are accessible, than to remain on the surface vulnerable to predators. Youngsters, however, take much longer to find foods and put on body fat and they are often active until late September. This means that youngsters are more vulnerable to predation than adults.

Diet and Social Behavior
The diet of arctic ground squirrels is diverse and opportunistic. They eat many types of vegetation including the leaves, seeds, fruits, stems, flowers, and roots of many species of grasses, forbs, and woody plants. They also eat mushrooms and meat from freshly killed animals (including ground squirrels). Because they are active only during the short subarctic summer, arctic ground squirrels must be efficient foragers. As summer progresses, they put on a tremendous amount of fat stores for the winter and often double their body weight by the time they enter hibernation in fall.

The social behavior of arctic ground squirrels is complex. This species is highly territorial and squirrels may kill other squirrels over territorial disputes. However, other related females in the colony often care for orphaned youngsters. Further, territorial behavior lessens during late summer, and male squirrels may move between colonies or establish colonies of their own.

So many different predators eat arctic ground squirrels that Adolph Murie called them the "staff of life" in Denali. They are one of the most important summer food sources for golden eagles, gyrfalcons, foxes, and grizzly bears.

http://www.nps.gov/dena/naturescience/arcticgroundsquirrel.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Arctic_Ground_Squirrel

Meet Hugo
Two men riding snow machines on Hugo Mountain near Kotzebue, Alaska, found our grizzly bear, Hugo in 2000 abandoned and with hundreds of porcupine quills embedded in her paws. She was severely dehydrated, malnourished and was unable to walk or eat when she was brought to the AWCC. Although she has made an incredible recovery, she cannot be released back into the wild because she does not have the necessary skills to survive on her own. Hugo was the first bear to be given a permanent home at AWCC. She loves catching fish in the stream, playing with her fellow brown bears, JB and Patron, and playing with hay bales she receives for enrichment.

Grizzly Bears:
Hugo is AWCC’s only grizzly bear. Grizzly bears are a type of brown bear. They are smaller than coastal brown bears because they do not have as much access to rich fish runs. They also face colder and more brutal winters than the coastal bears. Grizzly bears are found throughout the United States, whereas coastal brown bears are found only in Alaska. Brown bears are omnivores, so they eat deer, moose, fish, as well as leaves and berries.

JB’s and Patron’s story began in the town of Willow, Alaska.
Their mother killed a moose calf in a local resident’s backyard and as result, the man was afraid the bear might try to attack his dog. The man killed the sow*, not knowing she had cubs nearby. Once he saw the two cubs, he called the area wildlife biologist to notify him of the situation. The biologist, who happened to be a former gymnast, daringly climbed to the top of the skinny tree the cubs were hiding in. He was able to grab the smaller male cub by a rear leg, holding on to the tree with the other hand. He climbed down and lowered the cub into a fish net. The second cub was more of a challenge; she was a large female cub and acted aggressively. The biologist climbed to the top of the tree, injected her with a sedative, then grabbed her by the scruff. As he began to climb down, the skinny birch tree began to bend and crack. The tree bent all the way over, delivering the biologist and the cub safely to the ground! After they were rescued and monitored, JB and Patron came to live at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in 2004. The siblings have since thrived! They can both be found wandering their large wooded enclosure, digging holes in the ground, or catching fish in the stream running through their enclosure! The siblings also enjoy roughhousing with each other and their fellow bear, Hugo.
*In Alaska, killing a bear in defense of life or property is legal.

About Coastal Bears:
JB and Patron are both coastal bears, commonly referred to as brown bears. Coastal bears tend to be larger than their cousins the grizzly bears because they have better access to rich fish runs. They also do not face as cold and brutal of winters as the grizzly bears of interior Alaska do. Bears are omnivores, so they eat deer, moose, and a variety of birds as well as leaves and berries. Brown bears can weigh up to 700 pounds and stand as tall as 9.5 feet!

https://alaskawildlife.org/project/brown-bears/

Caribou, also called reindeer, are found in northern regions of North America, Europe, Asia, and Greenland. Large hoofed animals belonging to the deer family, caribou and reindeer are actually the same species—Rangifer tarandus. There are differences between caribou and reindeer though. Caribou are native to North America, whereas reindeer are native to northern Europe and Asia. Alaska does have some reindeer, however, imported from Siberia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Migration
Caribou make one of the world's great large-animal migrations. As summer approaches, they head north along well-trod annual routes. Some herds may travel up to 800 miles to get to their summer grazing grounds. They'll spend the summer months feeding on the abundant grasses and plants of the tundra. An adult caribou can eat 12 pounds of food each day. This is also when they give birth. When the first snows fall each year, the caribou turn back south. Herds of female caribou, called cows, leave several weeks before the males, which follow with yearling calves from the previous birthing season. The herds spend the winter in more sheltered climes and survive by feeding on lichens. Caribou are taller and lankier than reindeer, likely because they evolved to make these long migrations. Cows have one calf each year, which can stand after only a few minutes and move on with its mother by the next day

Hooves and antlers
Caribou, as part of the deer family, have large hooves that are useful tools for life in the harsh northlands. They are big enough to support the animal's bulk on snow and to paddle it efficiently through the water. The hoof's underside is hollowed out like a scoop and used for digging through the snow in search of food. Its sharp edges give the animal good purchase on rocks or ice. Caribou are the only deer in which male and females both have antlers—though only some females have them. Male reindeer, however, shed their antlers every November and grow them back in February—suggesting that Santa’s reindeer would have been female.

Conservation
Caribou are classified as vulnerable to extinction, one step above endangered. Because they're migratory, changes in the landscape, such as the appearance of new fences or other human development on their migration routes, can be especially disruptive. Human activities like logging has made caribou more susceptible to predation from wolves and other animals who now have free access to caribou habitats. Climate change is also a threat. As the Arctic warms, they become more susceptible to diseases and parasites, which could quickly spread through a herd.

COMMON NAME: Caribou (Reindeer)
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Rangifer tarandus
TYPE: Mammals
DIET: Herbivore
GROUP NAME: Herd
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 15 years
SIZE: 4 to 5 feet at the shoulder
WEIGHT: 240 to 700 pounds

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/caribou?loggedin=true&rnd=1705563921625

Musk oxen live in the frozen Arctic and roam the tundra in search of the roots, mosses, and lichens that sustain them. In winter, they use their hooves to dig through snow to graze on these plants. During the summer, they supplement their diet with Arctic flowers and grasses, often feeding near water.

Arctic Adaptations
These animals have inhabited the Arctic for many thousands of years, and their long shaggy hair is well adapted to the frigid climate. The outer hairs, called guard hairs, cover a second, shorter undercoat that provides additional insulation in winter. This undercoat falls out when temperatures climb at winter's end. Female musk oxen carry their calves during an eight-month pregnancy, but after birth there is little time to waste. The infants are able to keep up with their mothers and the rest of the herd within a few hours.

Herd Behavior
Musk oxen are herd animals, and groups of two or three dozen animals are sometimes led by a single female. Herds use cooperation to deal with predation by wolves or dogs. When threatened, they “circle the wagons” and array themselves with their young in the middle and their sharp horns facing outward toward their foes. A cornered musk ox can be a fearsome enemy, charging with its massive bulk and attempting to use its horns to deadly effect. Such defenses are not terribly effective against human hunters, who killed great numbers of musk oxen for their hides and meat. Today, legislation protects herds in Alaska, Norway, and Siberia, where the animals live on preserves.

COMMON NAME: Musk Ox
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ovibos moschatus
TYPE: Mammals
DIET: Herbivore
GROUP NAME: Herd
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 12 to 20 years
SIZE: Height at shoulder: 4 to 5 feet
WEIGHT: 500 to 800 pounds

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/musk-ox

The Roosevelt elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti), also known commonly as the Olympic elk and Roosevelt's wapiti, is the largest of the four surviving subspecies of elk (Cervus canadensis) in North America by body mass. Mature bulls weigh from 700 to 1200 lbs. with very rare large bulls weighing more. Its geographic range includes temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest including parts of northern California. It was introduced to Alaska's Afognak, Kodiak, and Raspberry Islands in 1928 and reintroduced to British Columbia's Sunshine Coast from Vancouver Island in 1986. In December 1897, mammalogist C. Hart Merriam named the species after his friend Theodore Roosevelt, then Assistant Secretary of the US Navy.: 589  The desire to protect the Roosevelt elk was one of the primary forces behind the establishment of the Mount Olympus National Monument in 1909 by President Theodore Roosevelt. Later in 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the region and saw the elk named after his relative] The following year he created Olympic National Park.

Description
The Roosevelt elk grows to around 6–10 ft (1.8–3 m) in length and stands 2.5–5.6 ft (0.75–1.7 m)[9] tall at the withers. Roosevelt elk bulls generally weigh between 700 and 1,100 lb (300–500 kg), while cows weigh 575–625 lb (260–285 kg). Some mature bulls from Raspberry Island in Alaska have weighed nearly 1,300 lb (600 kg).

Although the largest elk subspecies by body mass, by antler size both the Boone and Crockett (rifle) and Pope and Young (bow) records have Rocky Mountain elk being larger; none of the top 10 Roosevelt elk would score in the top 20 of Pope and Young's Rocky Mountain elk.

Diet
From late spring to early fall, the Roosevelt elk feeds upon herbaceous plants, such as grasses and sedges. During winter months, it feeds on woody plants, including highbush cranberry, elderberry, devil's club, and newly planted seedlings (Douglas fir and western redcedar). The Roosevelt elk is also known to eat ferns, blueberries, mushrooms, lichens, and salmonberries.

Longevity
In the wild, the Roosevelt elk rarely lives beyond 12 to 15 years, but in captivity it has been known to live over 25 years. In 2018, the New York State Zoo had a Roosevelt elk named Rosie die in August of that year at the age of 26, which means it was one of the oldest at that time.

Reintroduction
This elk subspecies, Cervus canadensis roosevelti, was reintroduced to British Columbia's Sunshine Coast from Vancouver Island in 1986.

Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Cervinae
Genus: Cervus
Species: C. canadensis
Subspecies: C. c. roosevelti

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_elk

For the last 10,000 years, the Athabascan people of Alaska relied on the wood bison for food, clothing, and shelter. Then the wood bison disappeared. North America’s largest land mammal, a victim of ecological change and overhunting, were thought to be extinct. But thanks to one of the world’s greatest conservation projects, wood bison have returned to Alaska.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game made the commitment over 25 years ago to return wood bison to their native range in Central-Alaska in partnership with the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, who currently cares for the only captive herd in the United States. Following the state’s acquisition of wood bison and years of careful management by AWCC, 130 wood bison were successfully released into the wild in spring of 2015.

History
This magnificent animal stood in the doorway of extinction with its numbers crashing to fewer than 300 at the turn of the 20th century. If not for the work of conservationists from the early 1900s to the present, this stalwart creature would surely have joined the ranks of the dinosaurs and wooly mammoth. Efforts to restore free-ranging wood bison populations in parts of their original range in Alaska began over 25 years ago.
Conservation and education remain a primary focus for AWCC, and for our largest conservation project, we partnered with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) to restore Wood Bison to Alaska. AWCC had received permits to have Wood Bison through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Authority’s Endangered Species. In 2005, a Memorandum of Understanding between AWCC and ADF&G was signed, outlining the responsibilities for AWCC in the captive management of Wood Bison. At the time, AWCC had genetically-pure plains bison onsite. These animals were moved to Sand Point, Alaska to be managed by the Native Alaskans in the region, where they remain today. In 2006, 13 Wood Bison from Canada were transferred to AWCC. A captive breeding program began, and in 2008 60 Wood Bison were brought to the AWCC from Elk Island, funded through a grant from Turner Endangered Species Fund to the State of Alaska’s Fish and Game Department. AWCC devoted 250 acres to Wood Bison habitat. The herd had grown to 150 plus healthy, generically-pure animals.
AWCC worked diligently with the Alaska Legislature, local communities, and national media to provide education on the Wood Bison Reintroduction Project. Community presentations and other forums increased public awareness of the Wood Bison Reintroduction Project and its importance to the State of Alaska and the conservation effort nationwide. The Alaska business community showed tremendous support in providing services and goods at little or no cost. As an example, hay delivery for the length of the project (over 7 years) was provided at no cost. Grants from local businesses aided in the overall costs of the project. Volunteers came together and helped erect fences and feeders for the wood bison herd. This project was truly embraced by Alaskans.
Wood bison were downlisted from “endangered” to “threatened” status in 2012. A special regulation was adopted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in May 2014 declaring them a Nonessential Experimental Population under the 10(j) section of the Endangered Species Act. Among other things, this status stipulates that critical habitat cannot be designated for wood bison, and allows hunting based on sustained yield principles, as established by ADF&G. This ruling allowed for the reintroduction to take place, and those involved began planning for the release in the following spring.
The Wood Bison Management Plan was developed by a diverse group of individuals representing 28 interest groups which included local communities, regional population centers, landowners, Alaska Native interests, wildlife conservation interests, industry, and State and Federal agencies. The project cultivated an unprecedented spirit of sharing and finding common solutions, which guided plan development

The Release
In March 2015, transportation of wood bison to their new home in Shageluk, Alaska began. Loading 100 Wood Bison into special containers, they were transported to Anchorage, Alaska where they were loaded onto a C130 aircraft and flown to Shageluk’s Innoko Valley. They are now roaming free– a species returned to Alaska after a 100-year absence.
There are currently no other wood bison in Alaska, although there are plains bison in several locations. AWCC has plans for additional wood bison releases in the future and will work with ADF&G in their efforts. With the recent completion of Bison Hall at the AWCC, this new facility pays an educational tribute to the Wood Bison Reintroduction Project. This space provides room to accommodate year-round education for school groups, as well as community and visitor use. Currently, no facility is dedicated to education exclusively. The “working barn” was built for storage and space for daily animal care.

Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Bovinae
Genus: Bison
Species: B. bison
Subspecies: B. b. athabascae

https://alaskawildlife.org/about/wood-bison-restoration/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_bison

Belding's ground squirrel (Urocitellus beldingi) is a squirrel that lives on mountains in the western United States. This species is not of conservation concern, and its range includes some protected areas.

Appearance
Belding's ground squirrel is medium-sized with "a relatively short tail, short limbs, and small ears". It has a gray pelage that becomes more cinnamon at the underside and reddish-brown on the back. The tail is bushy but also flattened. The distal hairs of the tail have three color bands, one black, one white, and one red. Its feet are covered in little to no hair. Compared to other ground squirrel species, its cheek pouches are moderate in size.

Distribution
Belding's ground squirrels are found in northeastern Oregon and part of Washington, north California, southwestern Idaho, north and central Nevada, and northwestern Utah. They prefer to live at higher altitudes, occurring in alpine and subalpine meadows. They are also found in sagebrush flats, brush/grass habitats, and cultivated areas. They like open areas with enough fresh vegetation and water. They do not live in dense forests, tall grasses, rocky slopes, or thick shrubbery as they cannot watch for predators. In addition, they do not prefer grass that is too short in which they cannot hide from predators.

Habits and Lifestyle
Belding's ground squirrels live in a nepotistic society where most interactions occur between females and their offspring and kin. They recognize their kin by comparing their scent through dorsal and anal glands that leave a "pungent" odor in the dust bathing areas. Each squirrel has its own repertoire of scents that others can use to recognize it. This allows them to know whom to act nepotistic towards when defending nests or territories or when making alarm calls. Related females will also, at times, share food and shelter. Adult males do not display nepotistic behavior and are nomadic between seasons. Belding's ground squirrels leave their burrows at sunrise. The first squirrel to enter the surface will stay at the burrow entrance until there are enough following squirrels above ground to watch for predators. The squirrels then move farther from the burrows. Most activity occurs in the morning with digging and feeding. Much of the day is spent stretched out on rocks or on the ground getting warmth from the sun. They will also maintain burrows and groom each other. When the young are above ground they will engage in play. The ground squirrels will go back into their burrows in the afternoon. Juveniles enter later than adults. Belding's ground squirrels hibernate at different times, depending on the sex and age of the individual and the altitude of their environment. Adult males go into hibernation between late July and early September when at higher altitudes. Females may follow them in late September, depending on the elevation. Juveniles follow their parent into hibernation. The ground squirrels hibernate in burrow chambers called hibernacula. Males usually hibernate alone while females tend to hibernate together. The time in which ground squirrels emerge from their hibernation also depends on different factors. At lower elevations, males emerge in February while at higher elevations, they emerge at the end of April. Belding's ground squirrels are prey for various predators and have two specific alarm calls used to warn others of predators. One call, known as the churr call or the trill, is made of a series of more than five notes given rapidly. Another alarm call is known as the whistle, which is a single high-pitched note. This call is made in response to immediate threats, usually aerial ones. All individuals in hearing range will crouch or flee into the nearest shelter.

Diet and Nutrition
Belding's ground squirrels have a herbivorous (granivorous, folivorous) diet. However, they will also eat insects, carrion, other vertebrates, and even other conspecifics. They mostly eat flowers and seeds but also nuts, grains, roots, bulbs, mushrooms, and green vegetation.

Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Urocitellus
Species: U. beldingi

https://animalia.bio/beldings-ground-squirrel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belding%27s_ground_squirrel

The bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis)[6] is a species of sheep native to North America.[7] It is named for its large horns. A pair of horns might weigh up to 14 kg (30 lb);[8] the sheep typically weigh up to 143 kg (315 lb).[9] Recent genetic testing indicates three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: O. c. sierrae.

Description
The bighorn sheep's compact body is muscular, with chocolate brown fur trimmed in white on the muzzle, rump, and belly. Most weigh 160 to 250 pounds (73 to 113 kilograms), but males may weigh more than 350 pounds (159 kilograms) and stand around 40 inches (102 centimeters) at the shoulder. Their wide-set eyes are situated well forward on the head, providing a wide arc of exceptional vision. The bighorn sheep's keen eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell help it detect and avoid predators. The bighorn sheep is one of two species of wild sheep in North America with large horns, the other being the Dall sheep (Ovis dalli). The latest science shows that "bighorn sheep" is one species, with three living subspecies: the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis), the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis sierrae)—formerly called the California bighorn sheep, and the desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni). Large, curved horns—borne by the males, or rams—can weigh up to 30 pounds (14 kilograms), as much as the rest of the bones in the male's body. Older rams have massive horns that can grow over three feet (0.9 meters) long with a more than one-foot (0.3-meter) circumference at the base. Females, or ewes, also have horns, but they are short with only a slight curvature. Both rams and ewes use their horns as tools for eating and fighting. Although not as agile as mountain goats, bighorn sheep are well-equipped for climbing the steep terrain that keeps their predators at bay. The outer hooves are modified toenails shaped to snag any slight protrusion, while a soft inner pad provides a grip that conforms to each variable surface.

Clashing of Horns
Fighting for dominance or mating rights, males face each other, rear up on their hind legs, and hurl themselves at each other in charges of some 20 miles an hour. The resounding clash of horns can be heard echoing through the mountains as the confrontation is repeated—sometimes for many hours—until one ram submits and walks away. The animal's thick, bony skull usually prevents serious injury. A bighorn ram's horns can weigh 30 pounds—more than all the bones in his body combined. Females (ewes) also have horns, but they are of smaller size.

Rugged Adaptations
Bighorns inhabit a vast range, from the Rocky Mountains in Canada down to the deserts of the American Southwest. They are relatives of goats, and have balance-aiding split hooves and rough hoof bottoms for natural grip. These attributes, along with keen vision, help them move easily about rocky, rugged mountain terrain.

Mating and Behavior
Wild sheep live in social groups, but rams and ewes typically meet only to mate. Rams live in bachelor groups and females live in herds with other females and their young rams. When fall mating arrives, rams gather in larger groups and ram fighting escalates. Usually only stronger, older rams (with bigger horns) are able to mate. In winter, bighorn herds move to lower-elevation mountain pastures. In all seasons, these animals eat available grass, seeds, and plants. They regurgitate their food to chew it as cud before swallowing it for final digestion. Lambs are born each spring on high, secluded ledges protected from bighorn predators such as wolves, coyotes, and mountain lions—though not the golden eagles which target lambs. Young can walk soon after birth, and at one week old each lamb and its mother join others in a herd. Lambs are playful and independent, though their mothers nurse them occasionally for four to six months.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bighorn_sheep
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/bighorn-sheep
https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/bighorn-sheep#:~:text=Bighorn%20sheep%20live%20in%20the,%2C%20bears%2C%20and%20Canada%20lynx.

The Plains bison (Bison bison bison) is one of two subspecies/ecotypes of the American bison, the other being the wood bison (B. b. athabascae). A natural population of Plains bison survives in Yellowstone National Park (the Yellowstone Park bison herd consisting of an estimated 4,800 bison) and multiple smaller reintroduced herds of bison in many places in the United States as well as southern portions of the Canadian Prairies.

Size and Diet
Bison stand some 5 to 6.5 feet tall at the shoulder, and can tip the scales at over a ton. Despite their massive size, bison are quick on their feet. When the need arises they can run at speeds up to 40 miles an hour. They sport curved, sharp horns that may grow to be two feet long. These large grazers feed on plains grasses, herbs, shrubs, and twigs. They regurgitate their food and chew it as cud before final digestion.

Herd Behavior
Females (cows) and adult males (bulls) generally live in small, separate bands and come together in very large herds during the summer mating season. Males battle for mating primacy, but such contests rarely turn dangerous. Females give birth to one calf after a nine-month pregnancy.

Cultural Importance
Bison once covered the Great Plains and much of North America, and were critically important to Plains Indian societies. During the 19th century, settlers killed some 50 million bison for food, sport, and to deprive Native Americans of their most important natural asset. The once enormous herds were reduced to only a few hundred animals. Today, bison numbers have rebounded somewhat, and about 500,000 bison live on preserves and ranches where they are raised for their meat

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/american-bison
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plains_bison

The American black bear (Ursus americanus), also known as the black bear, is a species of medium-sized bear endemic to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most widely distributed bear species. The American black bear is an omnivore, with a diet varying greatly depending on season and location. It typically lives in largely forested areas but will leave forests in search of food and is sometimes attracted to human communities due to the immediate availability of food.

Diet
Black bears are very opportunistic eaters. Most of their diet consists of grasses, roots, berries, and insects. They will also eat fish and mammals—including carrion—and easily develop a taste for human foods and garbage. Bears who become habituated to human food at campsites, cabins, or rural homes can become dangerous and are often killed—thus the frequent reminder: Please don't feed the bears!

Range
Black bears currently inhabit much of their original Canadian range, though they do not occur in the southern farmlands of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. They have been extinct in Prince Edward Island since 1937. The total Canadian black bear population is between 396,000 and 476,000,[31] based on surveys taken in the mid-1990s in seven Canadian provinces, though this estimate excludes black bear populations in New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan. All provinces indicated stable populations of black bears over the last decade.[30]

The current range of black bears in the United States is constant throughout most of the northeast (down in the Appalachian Mountains almost continuously to Virginia and West Virginia), the northern midwest, the Rocky mountain region, the west coast and Alaska. However it becomes increasingly fragmented or absent in other regions. Despite this, black bears in those areas seems to have expanded their range during the last decade, such as with recent sightings in Ohio, though these probably do not represent stable breeding populations yet. Surveys taken from 35 states in the early 1990s indicate that black bears are either stable or increasing, except in Idaho and New Mexico. The overall population of black bears in the United States has been estimated to range between 339,000 and 465,000,[32] though this excludes populations from Alaska, Idaho, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, whose population sizes are unknown.[30]

Behavior
Solitary animals, black bears roam large territories, though they do not protect them from other bears. Males might wander a 15- to 80-square-mile home range. When winter arrives, black bears spend the season dormant in their dens, feeding on body fat they have built up by eating ravenously all summer and fall. They make their dens in caves, burrows, brush piles, or other sheltered spots—sometimes even in tree holes high above the ground. Black bears den for various lengths of time governed by the diverse climates in which they live, from Canada to northern Mexico. Female black bears give birth to two or three blind, helpless cubs in mid-winter and nurse them in the den until spring, when all emerge in search of food. The cubs will stay with their very protective mother for about two years.

Yellowstone Black Bears
The black bear (Ursus americanus) is the most common and widely distributed bear species in North America. However, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is one of the few areas south of Canada where black bears coexist with the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos). From 1910 to the 1960s, park managers allowed visitors to feed black bears along park roads, although the National Park Service officially frowned on this activity. During this time, along with Old Faithful, black bears became the symbol of Yellowstone for many people, and are still what some people think of when Yellowstone bears are mentioned. Since 1960, park staff have sought to deter bears from becoming conditioned to human foods.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_black_bear
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/american-black-bear?loggedin=true&rnd=1705686185609
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/black-bear.htm

Two forms of black-tailed deer or blacktail deer that occupy coastal woodlands in the Pacific Northwest of North America are subspecies of the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). They have sometimes been treated as a species, but virtually all recent authorities maintain they are subspecies.

The Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) is found in western North America, from Northern California into the Pacific Northwest of the United States and coastal British Columbia in Canada. The Sitka deer (O. h. sitkensis) is found coastally in British Columbia, southeast Alaska, and southcentral Alaska (as far as Kodiak Island).

Physical Characteristics
Black-tailed deer are reddish-brown in summer and brownish-gray during winter. Their large ears move independently. The deers' broad tails are completely black or dark brown on top, and white underneath. They raise their tails to expose the white underside when they're frightened. Bucks have dark brown antlers with symmetrical branching. Columbian black-tailed deer have stocky bodies and long, slim legs. Does weigh up to 130 pounds, and bucks can weigh 200 pounds. Sitka black-tailed deer are smaller; does weigh about 80 pounds and bucks are about 120 pounds.

Antlers
Black-tailed bucks have antlers, females don't. Male fawns begin growing antler buttons at 6 to 8 months old. These become full-size antlers in four to five years. Their antlers develop under a layer of skin called velvet. The velvet dries up and peels off once the antlers have fully developed. Shed annually, between December and March, antlers wind up on the forest floor, providing a source of calcium for other animals. New antlers appear between April and August. They become bigger and have more branches each year.

Diet
Black-tailed deer feed along tree-line edges, where they can disappear into the forest if they're threatened. Ruminants, they have four stomachs. Barely chewed food is swallowed, then regurgitated and re-chewed. The food passes through three additional stomachs before entering the intestine. In spring, the deer prefer new plant growth and herbaceous plants. They feast on acorns, berries, fungi, grasses, lichen, nuts, shrubs and woody growth from summer through winter.

Reproduction
Black-tailed deer mate from November through December. Sparring to establish dominance is common among bucks. Does prefer bucks with large, heavy antlers. Fawns arrive in May or early June, weighing 6 to 8 pounds. Twin births are common, but a young doe may give birth to a single fawn. Bucks don't participate in raising the fawns, instead forming bachelor groups for the summer. Does and their fawns form small family groups, led by the oldest mother. Males fawns leave the family group when they reach maturity, at about 18 months old. Females are sexually mature at 2 years old.

Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Capreolinae
Genus: Odocoileus
Species: O. hemionus
Subspecies: O. h. columbianus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-tailed_deer
https://animals.mom.com/antelopes-rut-3436.html

The bobcat (Lynx rufus), also known as the red lynx, is one of the four extant species within the medium-sized wild cat genus Lynx. Native to North America, it ranges from southern Canada through most of the contiguous United States to Oaxaca in Mexico. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2002, due to its wide distribution and large population. Although it has been hunted extensively both for sport and fur, populations have proven stable, though declining in some areas.

Appearance
Bobcats share many similarities with the other lynx species—Canada lynx, Iberian lynx, and Eurasian lynx—but some distinct features set them apart. The first is their short, black-tipped tail, which gives the species its name because it appears to be cut or “bobbed.” The tail’s coloring is also a clue: while the tip of a lynx’s tail is black all around, the underside of a bobcat’s tail is white. In addition to being smaller than their lynx cousins with smaller tufts on their ears, bobcats tend to live in warmer climates, so they haven’t adapted to life in the snow. They have thinner coats and smaller paws without any of the fur on their soles that other lynx use to keep warm and avoid slipping on icy pathways. These cats range from gray to reddish-brown with dark spots and a white belly. Their coat helps them blend into their environment—an important trait for a stealth hunter.

Diet and behavior
Bobcats also have a more varied diet than other species of lynx, each of which tend to focus on one prey animal like the snowshoe hare for the Canada lynx and the European rabbit for Iberian lynx. These skilled hunters eat rabbits, birds, mice, squirrels, and other smaller game, and are capable of killing prey much bigger than themselves, such as deer. They have even been caught fishing large salmon from a creek, and stealing eggs from a python’s nest. With their excellent eyesight, bobcats can spot prey from a distance and stalk it quietly while camouflaged. When the time comes, they use their long, powerful hind legs to pounce on the animal—leaping up to 12 feet— and kill it with a bite to the throat. As well as being able to run in short, sharp sprints of up to 30 miles an hour, bobcats are strong swimmers and accomplished climbers. They climb trees to catch prey, find a vantage point for a better view, or to escape from danger.

Reproduction
Like other lynx, bobcats are solitary, territorial animals. Males and females mate in February and March, and the young are usually born in April or May. Females choose a secluded den—for example inside a cave or hollow tree stump—to raise their litter. They usually give birth to between one and six kittens, which remain with their mother for nine to 12 months, learning how to hunt and fend for themselves before setting out on their own.

Threats to survival
Bobcats are classified as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. However, they are still threatened by human activities that encroach into their territories, destroying or fragmenting their habitats. In the early 2000s, bobcat survival rates dropped significantly—from around 84 percent in 1997 to 28 percent in 2003—when a new type of rat poison was introduced that interferes with their immune systems and causes genetic changes within individuals. To address this threat, the U.S. has implemented a ban on poison sold in pellet form, and California has banned the types of poison most harmful to species such as bobcats. Bobcats are also at risk of being trapped by hunters for their distinctive, soft fur, which is often exported due to high demand from countries such as China and Russia—65,000 bobcat pelts were exported in 2013. In many U.S. states, bobcats are protected, and hunting them without a permit is illegal.

Did you know?

• The bobcat is the most abundant wildcat in the U.S. and has the greatest range of all native North American cats.
• In 2004, researchers found the first evidence of the presence of lynx-bobcat hybrids in the wild.
• Melanistic (black) bobcats exist but are incredibly rare: fewer than 12 black bobcats have ever been documented.
• When hunting, bobcats place their hind feet in the same spot where their front feet stepped. This keeps their footsteps quiet—but it also makes paw prints that look like they belong to a two-legged animal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobcat
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/bobcat

The image above is a good example of an Alaskan Coyote (wolf-size) is also a good study in how opportunistic these creatures really are. This 'wild' coyote actual hops the fence into the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to nab food left over by the resident grizzly bears! He was a temporary addition while recovering from injuries, but came back for the free meals.

The coyote (Canis latrans) is a species of canine native to North America. It is smaller than its close relative, the wolf, and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf. It fills much of the same ecological niche as the golden jackal does in Eurasia. The coyote is larger and more predatory and was once referred to as the American jackal by a behavioral ecologist. Other historical names for the species include the prairie wolf and the brush wolf.

The coyote appears often in the tales and traditions of Native Americans—usually as a very savvy and clever beast. Modern coyotes have displayed their cleverness by adapting to the changing American landscape. These members of the dog family once lived primarily in open prairies and deserts, but now roam the continent's forests and mountains. They have even colonized cities like Los Angeles, and are now found over most of North America. Coyote populations are likely at an all-time high.

Opportunistic Diet
These adaptable animals will eat almost anything. They hunt rabbits, rodents, fish, frogs, and even deer. They also happily dine on insects, snakes, fruit, grass, and carrion. Because they sometimes kill lambs, calves, or other livestock, as well as pets, many ranchers and farmers regard them as destructive pests.

Behavior
Coyotes are formidable in the field where they enjoy keen vision and a strong sense of smell. They can run up to 40 miles an hour. In the fall and winter, they form packs for more effective hunting. Coyotes form strong family groups. In spring, females den and give birth to litters of three to twelve pups. Both parents feed and protect their young and their territory. The pups are able to hunt on their own by the following fall. Coyotes are smaller than wolves and are sometimes called prairie wolves or brush wolves. They communicate with a distinctive call, which at night often develops into a raucous canine chorus.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coyote
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/coyote

The coyote (Canis latrans) is a species of canine native to North America. It is smaller than its close relative, the wolf, and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf. It fills much of the same ecological niche as the golden jackal does in Eurasia. The coyote is larger and more predatory and was once referred to as the American jackal by a behavioral ecologist. Other historical names for the species include the prairie wolf and the brush wolf.

The coyote appears often in the tales and traditions of Native Americans—usually as a very savvy and clever beast. Modern coyotes have displayed their cleverness by adapting to the changing American landscape. These members of the dog family once lived primarily in open prairies and deserts, but now roam the continent's forests and mountains. They have even colonized cities like Los Angeles, and are now found over most of North America. Coyote populations are likely at an all-time high.

Opportunistic Diet
These adaptable animals will eat almost anything. They hunt rabbits, rodents, fish, frogs, and even deer. They also happily dine on insects, snakes, fruit, grass, and carrion. Because they sometimes kill lambs, calves, or other livestock, as well as pets, many ranchers and farmers regard them as destructive pests.

Behavior
Coyotes are formidable in the field where they enjoy keen vision and a strong sense of smell. They can run up to 40 miles an hour. In the fall and winter, they form packs for more effective hunting. Coyotes form strong family groups. In spring, females den and give birth to litters of three to twelve pups. Both parents feed and protect their young and their territory. The pups are able to hunt on their own by the following fall. Coyotes are smaller than wolves and are sometimes called prairie wolves or brush wolves. They communicate with a distinctive call, which at night often develops into a raucous canine chorus.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coyote
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/coyote

The golden-mantled ground squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis) is a ground squirrel native to western North America. It is distributed in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia and Alberta, and through much of the western United States.

Characteristics
The golden-mantled ground squirrel is a small chipmunk-like squirrel with grayish-brown fur on top with two white stripes bordered by black stripes on its sides. It has a lighter underside. Its head, face, front paws and chest are a coppery red. Length: 23cm - 30cm. Mass: 120g - 400g.

Range & Habitat
The golden-mantled ground squirrel can be found in southeastern British Columbia in Canada south to New Mexico and Southern California. The golden-mantled ground squirrel can be found in coniferous and mixed coniferous-hardwood forests. It is common in mountainous areas up to the timberline. It can be found in places with rocky meadows and in sagebrush areas.

Diet
The golden-mantled ground squirrel eats seeds, nuts and fruits. A large part of its diet is made up of piñon nuts. It also eats green plants, some insects and underground fungi. In the fall, the golden-mantled ground squirrel puts on a layer of fat. It hibernates from October to May. It has cheek pouches that it uses to carry food. It takes food to its den and stores it to eat in the spring when it wakes up. It also may wake up a couple of times during hibernation and eat the stored food. It makes its den near or under a tree or log. Its den isn't dug very deep, but it can stretch as long as 100 feet.

Life Cycle
Mating season is in the spring when the squirrels come out of hibernation. The males emerge first and will compete with each other to establish a territory. Females come out of hibernation two to three weeks after the males. The female builds a nest of leaves, grass and bark in an underground burrow. A month after mating, she will have a litter of between four to six babies. The babies are born with their eyes and ears closed and they are hairless except for tiny whiskers and fur on their heads. In about a week their fur will come in. The female cares for the babies. They will wean when they are about a month old.

Behavior
The golden-mantled ground squirrel cleans itself by rolling in the dirt and combing its fur with its teeth and claws.

Scientific classification

• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Rodentia
• Family: Sciuridae
• Genus: Callospermophilus
• Species: C. lateralis

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden-mantled_ground_squirrel
https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/goldensquirrel.htm
https://www.wildlifenorthamerica.com/Mammal/Golden-mantled-Ground-Squirrel/Spermophilus/lateralis.html

The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), also known as the green turtle, black (sea) turtle or Pacific green turtle, is a species of large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus Chelonia.[5] Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but it is also found in the Indian Ocean. The common name refers to the usually green fat found beneath its carapace, not to the color of its carapace, which is olive to black

Populations
It is named not for the color of its shell, which is normally brown or olive depending on its habitat, but for the greenish color of its skin. There are two types of green turtles—scientists are currently debating whether they are subspecies or separate species—including the Atlantic green turtle, normally found off the shores of Europe and North America, and the Eastern Pacific green turtle, which has been found in coastal waters from Alaska to Chile.

Size
Weighing up to 700 pounds green turtles are among the largest sea turtles in the world. Their proportionally small head, which is nonretractable, extends from a heart-shaped carapace that measures up to 5 feet. Males are slightly larger than females and have a longer tail. Both have flippers that resemble paddles, which make them powerful and graceful swimmers.

Identification
Green sea turtles have just two prefrontal scales between their eyes, unlike the other turtles that have 4 or 5 scales. Despite their name, green sea turtles’ smooth oval shells are a mix of colors (brown and yellow-green in younger individuals, and darker green in adults). They have 4 lateral plates on their shell. They are usually found in warmer waters.

Diet and Behavior
Unlike most sea turtles, adult green turtles are herbivorous, feeding on sea grasses and algae. Juvenile green turtles, however, will also eat invertebrates like crabs, jellyfish, and sponges. While most sea turtles warm themselves by swimming close to the surface of shallow waters, the Eastern Pacific green turtle will take to land to bask in the sun. Occasionally seen sunbathing alongside seals and albatrosses, it is one of the few marine turtles known to leave the water other than at nesting times.

Breeding and Conservation
Green turtles, like other sea turtles, undertake lengthy migrations from feeding sites to nesting grounds, normally on sandy beaches. Mating occurs every two to four years and normally takes place in shallow waters close to the shore. To nest, females leave the sea and choose an area, often on the same beach used by their mothers, to lay their eggs. They dig a pit in the sand with their flippers, fill it with a clutch of 100 to 200 eggs, cover the pit and return to the sea, leaving the eggs to hatch after about two months. The most dangerous time of a green turtle’s life is when it makes the journey from nest to sea. Multiple predators, including crabs and flocks of gulls, voraciously prey on hatchlings during this short scamper. Green turtles are listed as an endangered species. Despite this, they are still killed for their meat and eggs. Their numbers are also reduced by boat propeller accidents, fishnet-caused drowning, and the destruction of their nesting grounds by human encroachment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_sea_turtle
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/green-sea-turtle
http://www.issfguidebooks.org/longline-2-03

The Khutzeymateen/K'tzim-a-Deen Grizzly Sanctuary was established as the first area in Canada to be protected specifically for grizzly bears and their habitat. It also represents the first undisturbed estuary of its size to be protected along the north coast of BC. The topography of this land and marine sanctuary is diverse, with rugged peaks towering to 2100 metres above a valley of wetlands, old growth temperate rainforests and a large estuary. An abundance of wildlife shares the area. The ultimate purpose of this area is to protect the north coast grizzly bear by preserving a part of the ecosystem in which they live. Because of this area's high sensitivity and strict conservation orientation, visitor use is not encouraged. However, a limited amount of controlled viewing is allowed under permit. The hunting of grizzly bear is prohibited and hunting of other wildlife is restricted to areas above 1000 meters elevation.

https://bcparks.ca/khutzeymateen-park-aka-khutzeymateen-ktzim-a-deen-grizzly-sanctuary/#park-about-container

The grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), also known as the North American brown bear or simply grizzly, is a population or subspecies[2] of the brown bear inhabiting North America.

Diet and behavior
These awe-inspiring giants tend to be solitary animals—with the exception of females and their cubs—but at times they do congregate. Dramatic gatherings of grizzly bears can be seen at prime Alaskan fishing spots when the salmon run upstream for summer spawning. In this season, dozens of bears may gather to feast on the fish, craving fats that will sustain them through the long winter ahead. Brown bears dig dens for winter hibernation, often holing up in a suitable-looking hillside. Females give birth during this winter rest, often to twins. Grizzly bears are powerful, top-of-the-food-chain predators, yet much of their diet consists of nuts, berries, fruit, leaves, and roots. Bears also eat other animals, from rodents to moose. Despite their impressive size, grizzlies have been clocked running at 30 miles an hour. They can be dangerous to humans, particularly if surprised or if humans come between a mother and her cubs.

Habitat
Grizzlies once lived in much of western North America and even roamed the Great Plains. These animals need a lot of space—their home range can encompass up to 600 square miles—so their ideal habitat is one that is isolated from development and has plenty of food and places to dig their dens. Though European settlement gradually eliminated the bears from much of their original habitat, grizzly populations can still be found in parts of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington State. They’re one of the most iconic residents of Yellowstone National Park. Many grizzlies also still roam the wilds of Canada and Alaska, where hunters pursue them as big game trophies.

Threats to survival
At its peak, the grizzly population numbered more than 50,000. But those numbers shrank dramatically as westward expansion plunked cities and towns in the middle of the grizzly bear’s habitat. Aggressive hunting in the early 20th century also threatened the survival of the grizzly bear. By the 1920s and 1930s, these bears had been reduced to less than 2 percent of their historical range. In the 1960s, it was estimated that there were only 600 to 800 remaining in the wild. In 1975, grizzly bears were listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Conservation
Today, grizzlies are considered a conservation success story. Ever since they gained protections under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the population of grizzly bears has grown. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established recovery zones for the bears and set out to improve relationships between humans and bears by educating the public about these animals and establishing programs to reimburse ranchers for livestock bears killed.

Fast Facts

• The grizzly bear is a North American subspecies of the brown bear. These awe-inspiring giants tend to be solitary animals—with the exception of females and their cubs—but at times they do congregate. Dramatic gatherings of grizzly bears can be seen at prime Alaskan fishing spots when the salmon run upstream for summer spawning. In this season, dozens of bears may gather to feast on the fish, craving fats that will sustain them through the long winter ahead.
• Brown bears dig dens for winter hibernation, often holing up in a suitable-looking hillside. Females give birth during this winter restand their offspring are often twins.
• Grizzly bears are powerful, top-of-the-food-chain predators, yet much of their diet consists of nuts, berries, fruit, leaves, and roots.Bears also eat other animals, from rodents to moose.
• Grizzlies are typically brown, though their fur can appear to be white-tipped, or grizzled, lending them their traditional name. Despite their impressive size, grizzlies are quite fast and have beenclocked at 30 miles (48 kilometers) an hour. They can be dangerous to humans, particularly if surprised or if humans come between a mother and her cubs.
• Grizzlies once lived in much of western North America and even roamed the Great Plains. European settlement gradually eliminated the bearsfrom much of this range, and today only about 1,000 grizzlies remain in the continental U.S., where they are protected by law. Many grizzlies still roam the wilds of Canada and Alaska, where hunters pursue them as big game trophies.

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/grizzly-bear.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grizzly_bear

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale. It is a rorqual (a member of the family Balaenopteridae) and is the only species in the genus Megaptera. Adults range in length from 14–17 m (46–56 ft) and weigh up to 40 metric tons (44 short tons). The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and tubercles on its head. It is known for breaching and other distinctive surface behaviors, making it popular with whale watchers. Males produce a complex song typically lasting 4 to 33 minutes.

Whale songs
Humpback whales are known for their magical songs, which travel for great distances through the world's oceans. These sequences of moans, howls, cries, and other noises are quite complex and often continue for hours on end. Scientists are studying these sounds to decipher their meaning. It is most likely that humpbacks sing to communicate with others and to attract potential mates. Humpback calves are known to "whisper" to their mothers.

Behavior and parenting
These baleen whales are found near coastlines, feeding on tiny shrimp-like krill, plankton, and small fish. Humpbacks migrate annually from summer feeding grounds near the poles to warmer winter breeding waters closer to the Equator. Mothers and their young swim close together, often touching one another with their flippers with what appear to be gestures of affection. Females nurse their calves for almost a year, though it takes far longer than that for a humpback whale to reach full adulthood. Calves do not stop growing until they are 10 years old.

Swimming, breaching, and displays
Humpbacks are powerful swimmers, and they use their massive tail fins, called flukes, to propel themselves through the water and sometimes completely out of it. These whales, like others, regularly leap from the water, landing with a tremendous splash. Scientists aren't sure if this breaching behavior serves some purpose, such as cleaning pests from the whale's skin, or whether whales simply do it for fun. (How scientists are unlocking the hidden world of whale culture.) A favorite of whale watchers, humpbacks also slap the water with their flukes and pectoral fins, rise nose-first out of the water (called "spyhopping"), and do penduncle throws, a behavior unique to this species in which they raise their entire rear torso and tail out of the water, twist, and slam their lower half down onto the ocean surface. Rarer displays include flapping their fins like wings and occasionally gathering in "super groups" of as many as 200, though scientists don't know why.

Conservation
Humpback whale numbers were severely reduced before the 1985 ban on commercial whaling, but the numbers in many population groups have since improved. Today, the biggest threats to humpback whales are collisions with ships and entanglement in fishing gear.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humpback_whale
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/humpback-whale

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale. It is a rorqual (a member of the family Balaenopteridae) and is the only species in the genus Megaptera. Adults range in length from 14–17 m (46–56 ft) and weigh up to 40 metric tons (44 short tons). The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and tubercles on its head. It is known for breaching and other distinctive surface behaviors, making it popular with whale watchers. Males produce a complex song typically lasting 4 to 33 minutes.

Whale songs
Humpback whales are known for their magical songs, which travel for great distances through the world's oceans. These sequences of moans, howls, cries, and other noises are quite complex and often continue for hours on end. Scientists are studying these sounds to decipher their meaning. It is most likely that humpbacks sing to communicate with others and to attract potential mates. Humpback calves are known to "whisper" to their mothers.

Behavior and parenting
These baleen whales are found near coastlines, feeding on tiny shrimp-like krill, plankton, and small fish. Humpbacks migrate annually from summer feeding grounds near the poles to warmer winter breeding waters closer to the Equator. Mothers and their young swim close together, often touching one another with their flippers with what appear to be gestures of affection. Females nurse their calves for almost a year, though it takes far longer than that for a humpback whale to reach full adulthood. Calves do not stop growing until they are 10 years old.

Swimming, breaching, and displays
Humpbacks are powerful swimmers, and they use their massive tail fins, called flukes, to propel themselves through the water and sometimes completely out of it. These whales, like others, regularly leap from the water, landing with a tremendous splash. Scientists aren't sure if this breaching behavior serves some purpose, such as cleaning pests from the whale's skin, or whether whales simply do it for fun. (How scientists are unlocking the hidden world of whale culture.) A favorite of whale watchers, humpbacks also slap the water with their flukes and pectoral fins, rise nose-first out of the water (called "spyhopping"), and do penduncle throws, a behavior unique to this species in which they raise their entire rear torso and tail out of the water, twist, and slam their lower half down onto the ocean surface. Rarer displays include flapping their fins like wings and occasionally gathering in "super groups" of as many as 200, though scientists don't know why.

Conservation
Humpback whale numbers were severely reduced before the 1985 ban on commercial whaling, but the numbers in many population groups have since improved. Today, the biggest threats to humpback whales are collisions with ships and entanglement in fishing gear.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humpback_whale
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/humpback-whale

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), sometimes called the koala bear, is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae and its closest living relatives are the wombats. The koala is found in coastal areas of the mainland's eastern and southern regions, inhabiting Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. It is easily recognisable by its stout, tailless body and large head with round, fluffy ears and large, dark nose. The koala has a body length of 60–85 cm (24–33 in) and weighs 4–15 kg (9–33 lb). Fur colour ranges from silver grey to chocolate brown. Koalas from the northern populations are typically smaller and lighter in colour than their counterparts further south. These populations possibly are separate subspecies, but this is disputed.

Habitat, behavior, and diet
Koalas live in the eucalyptus forests of southeastern and eastern Australia. When not sleeping, they’re usually eating. They rely on the eucalyptus tree for both habitat and food. Koalas can eat more than a pound of eucalyptus leaves a day. Eucalyptus is toxic, so the koala’s digestive system has to work hard to digest it, breaking down the toxins and extracting limited nutrients. That’s why koalas sleep so much—they get very little energy from their diet. Tucked into forks or nooks in the trees, koalas may sleep for 18 to 22 hours. Koalas usually don’t drink much water as they get most of their moisture from these leaves. Koalas can even store leaves in their cheek pouches for later. They eat so much eucalyptus that they often take on its smell.

Threats to survival
Koala numbers plummeted in the late 19th and early 20th century from hunting for their fur. Now they face serious threats from habitat loss. Land clearing, logging, and bushfires—especially the devastating 2019-2020 season—have destroyed much of the forest they live in. Koalas need a lot of space—about a hundred trees per animal—a pressing problem as Australia's woodlands continue to shrink. Koalas are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which has named the species one of 10 animals most vulnerable to climate change. Increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is decreasing the nutritional quality of eucalyptus leaves (which is already quite low) and causing longer, more intense droughts and wildfires. In response to drought, koalas are forced to stop napping and come down from the trees to find water, spending precious energy and putting them at a higher risk of predation. Predators include dingoes and large owls. They’re also at risk of getting hit by cars and attacked by dogs. Chlamydia is widespread in some koala populations and can cause blindness, infertility, and sometimes death.

Conservation
Koalas lost substantial portions of their habitat in the 2019-2020 bushfire season and have been identified by the Australian government as one of 113 animals requiring urgent help. Wildlife hospitals, rescue organizations, zoos, and volunteers have stepped up to care for injured koalas, with the goal of rehabilitating and releasing them back into the wild. Ensuring there’s the right kind of forest for them to return to is a priority. Though there are some koala sanctuaries and reserves, many live on private, unprotected land. There are conservation efforts by the Australia Zoo and others to buy large tracts of land to set aside for koalas, and state governments are also creating new koala reserves. Campaigns urging landowners not to cut down eucalyptus trees are also ongoing. Research is another important component of conservation efforts. Understanding koala genetics, mating choices, and health will shed light on koala biology that’s important for developing plans to better protect the species.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koala
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/koala

The yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris), also known as the rock chuck, is a large, stout-bodied ground squirrel in the marmot genus.[2] It is one of fourteen species of marmots, and is native to mountainous and semi-arid regions of southwestern Canada and western United States, including the Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada, and the Great Basin, often (but not exclusively) living above 2,000 metres (6,500 feet)[citation needed]. The fur is mainly brown, with a dark bushy tail, yellow chest and white patch between the eyes, and they weigh up to approximately 5 kilograms (11 pounds). They live in burrows in colonies of up to twenty individuals with a single dominant male. They are diurnal and feed on plant material, insects, and bird eggs. They hibernate for approximately eight months starting in September and lasting through the winter.

Range / Habitat / Diet:
Yellow-bellied marmots range from southwestern Canada throughout the western United States including the Rockies, Sierra Nevada and intermountain west. They typically live in open habitats such as steppes, alpine meadows, pastures, gravel-covered fields and forest edge. They dig their burrows in open, grassy or herb-covered slopes. In Washington, this marmot is always at lower elevations, in more arid situations than the Hoary Marmot. It requires sufficient rocks for shelter and burrows and abundant herbaceous vegetation for food nearby. Yellow-bellied marmots are herbivores - feeding on the leaves and blossoms of a variety of herbaceous plants and grasses. Their also eat grains, legumes, fruit, and occasionally insects.

Behavior:
Yellow-bellied marmots are mainly diurnal. They spend most of the time on the ground (terrestrial), but occasionally will climb shrubs and trees. They hibernate from September to May, although hibernation length varies with elevation. The hibernation burrows may be up to 5-7 meters deep, while their regular burrows are about 1 meter under ground. Yellow-bellied marmots whistle, chuck, and trill when alarmed by predators.

Reproduction:
Yellow-bellied marmots have a "harem-polygynous" social system whereby a male defends and mates with one or more females in a subalpine meadow. Daughters stay close to home and may settle around their mothers. Sons typically disperse as yearlings, then try to find and defend one or more females. Females tend to breed when they are 2-years old. The litter sizes average around four pups. Only about half of the pups survive their first year

Did you know?
Marmots are rodents, closely related to both ground squirrels and prairie dogs.
The only US holiday named after an animal, Groundhog Day, is named after a marmot.
Yellow-bellied marmots hibernate in burrows during the winter
Yellow-bellied marmots are herbivores.

Scientific classification

• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Rodentia
• Family: Sciuridae
• Genus: Marmota
• Subgenus: Marmota (Petromarmota)
• Species: M. flaviventris

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-bellied_marmot
http://naturemappingfoundation.org/natmap/facts/yellow-bellied_marmot_712.html

Merriam's chipmunk (Neotamias merriami) is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in central and southern California[2] in the United States and a small area in northern Baja California, Mexico.

Appearance
Merriam's chipmunks are small ground dwelling rodents. They have a gray to brown fur, with dark stripes. Their bellies and cheeks are white in color. These chipmunks have long bushy tails that are usually dull white on the edge.

Distribution
Merriam's chipmunks are found in central and southern California, in the United States and a small area in northern Baja California, Mexico. These animals inhabit areas that have trees, shrubs, logs, and rocks. They prefer to live in chaparral, oak and pine forests, thickets by streams, and around rock outcroppings.

Habits and Lifestyle
Merriam's chipmunks are diurnal and generally solitary creatures. Most populations do not hibernate although, at high elevations, some do hibernate to avoid cold weather and snow. During the autumn, Merriam's chipmunks collect and cache food, choose a place for shelter, and feed to gain their mass. During winter time, males usually form groups preparing for the breeding season. These small chipmunks like to use different cavities and even woodpecker cavities, and burrows from pocket gophers as shelters for the night. When foraging they usually stay within 300 meters from their night shelter. Merriam's chipmunks use different calls in order to communicate with each other. Among them are chucks that make others to be quiet and to hide, chips, trills as alarm calls, and chippers that are produced when a chipmunk is scared and running away for cover.

Diet and Nutrition
Merriam's chipmunks are herbivorous. They eat acorns, seeds, and nuts of conifers, juniper, and other chaparral species. These chipmunks may also feed on insects and lizards.

Mating Habits
Little information is known about the mating system in Merriam's chipmunks. When the breeding season starts females attract males by calling to them. When a male comes to a calling female he starts to perform a display during which he runs and leaps around the female. The breeding season for these animals occurs from mid-January to June, with a peak during April. Females produce one litter per year consisting of 3 to 8 young. The gestation period lasts around 32 days. Young are born altricial, and stay in the burrow or nest before they develop. Around one month after birth, they are able to leave the burrow, however, it will take them around 2 weeks to become agile and be able to jump. Young Merriam's chipmunks becomereproductively mature when they reach 1 year of age.

Scientific classification

• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Rodentia
• Family: Sciuridae
• Genus: Neotamias
• Species: N. merriami

The moose (pl.: 'moose'; used in North America) or elk (pl.: 'elk' or 'elks'; used in Eurasia) (Alces alces) is the only species in the genus Alces. The moose is the tallest, and the second-largest, land animal in North America, only falling short of the American bison, in terms of mass. It is the world's tallest, largest and heaviest extant species of deer. Most adult male moose have broad, palmate ("open-hand shaped") antlers; other members of the deer family have antlers with a dendritic ("twig-like"), pointed configuration. Moose inhabit the circumpolar boreal forests or temperate broadleaf and mixed forests of the Northern Hemisphere, thriving in cooler, temperate areas as well as subarctic climates.

Behavior in Summer and Winter
Moose are so tall that they prefer to browse higher grasses and shrubs because lowering their heads to ground level can be difficult. In winter they eat shrubs and pinecones, but they also scrape snow with their large hooves to clear areas for browsing on mosses and lichens. These hooves also act as snowshoes to support the heavy animals in soft snow and in muddy or marshy ground. In summer, food is far more plentiful in the northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. When the ice melts, moose are often seen in lakes, rivers, or wetlands, feeding on aquatic plants both at and below the surface. Moose are at home in the water and, despite their staggering bulk, are good swimmers. They have been seen paddling several miles at a time, and will even submerge completely, staying under for 30 seconds or more. Moose are similarly nimble on land. They can run up to 35 miles an hour over short distances, and trot steadily at 20 miles an hour.

Breeding
Males, called bulls, bellow loudly to attract mates each September and October. The usually solitary bulls may come together at this time to battle with their antlers for mating supremacy. After mating, the two sexes go their separate ways until the following year. Though they may occasionally feed in the same grounds, they tend to ignore each other. Females give birth to one or two calves in the spring—each weighing some 30 pounds. These calves grow quickly and can outrun a person by the time they are just five days old. Young moose stay with their mothers until the following mating season.

Conservation
Massive and majestic, moose are a cherished wildlife icon of North America. Moose often roam through residential areas looking for food, and motorists occasionally collide with them. Hunting and habitat degradation are major threats to moose, but now climate change has caused moose populations in Minnesota to fall dramatically. Moose are being hurt by overheating, disease, and tick infestation—all tied to warming temperatures. Moose are in jeopardy across the United States, from New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine; to Minnesota and Michigan; and even Montana.

Five Fun Facts

• Male moose grow a set of antlers each year during the spring and summer. By fall, antlers can span six feet from tip to tip.
• Though females lack antlers, they aggressively protect their babies with powerful kicks that can break bones or even kill predators.
• Moose are browsers, feeding on the leaves and twigs of trees and shrubs, primarily willow, birch, and poplar.
• Moose are excellent swimmers, able to hold their breath underwater for 30 seconds.
• Despite their large size, moose can run at over 35 miles per hour.

Scientific classification

• Domain: Eukaryota
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Artiodactyla
• Family: Cervidae
• Subfamily: Capreolinae
• Tribe: Alceini
• Genus: Alces
• Gray, 1821
• Species: A. alces

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/moose
https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Moose

The American marten[1] (Martes americana), also known as the American pine marten, is a species of North American mammal, a member of the family Mustelidae. The species is sometimes referred to as simply the pine marten. The name "pine marten" is derived from the common name of the distinct Eurasian species, Martes martes. Martes americana is found throughout Canada, Alaska, and parts of the northern United States. It is a long, slender-bodied weasel, with fur ranging from yellowish to brown to near black. It may be confused with the fisher (Pekania pennanti), but the marten is lighter in color and smaller. Identification of the marten is further eased by a characteristic bib that is a distinctly different color than the body. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced, with males being much larger. Their bodies can grow to 35–43 cm (14–17 in) in length with a tail that is 18–23 cm (7–9 in), and adults weigh 1–2 kg (2–4 lbs). They typically have yellowish brown fur, with dark brown fur on their legs and tails along with a throat patch that is white or yellow.

Habitat and Distribution
American martens are widespread around the northern part of North America, including forests of Alaska and Canada down to northern New Mexico. Their geographic range includes the Olympic Mountains, Cascade Range, Blue Mountains of Washington, and high elevations in Oregon. They prefer dense forests and tend to live on shore pines (Pinus contorta) and fir trees. Trees are an essential part of their habitat because they build dens inside empty tree hollows. They can also shelter in burrows that other animals leave behind.

Behavior and Diet
These largely nocturnal animals live a solitary lifestyle and are highly territorial. Due to their solitary nature, martens are usually silent; however, they can communicate with other martens using a variety of sounds that include huffs, chuckles, and shouts. They use odorous glands to mark trees, which signals their territory to other martens. American martens move across the forest floor in zig-zags and jumps. They also move deftly on trees and can chase prey, including small animals like squirrels, up trees. They feed on small mammals like pikas, chipmunks, and rabbits, and they can eat insects, berries, and parts of mountain ash trees. In addition to moving well on trees, they are strong swimmers, and their light weight and snowshoe-like paws allows them to navigate through snow efficiently. American martens are well adapted to snowy habitats. During the winter, long hairs grow between the toepads on their feet, an adaptation that keeps them warm and allows them to travel on top of snow, even when the snow is deep and soft. They are also able to travel under snowpack.

Life History
The life span of American martens is 12–17 years, and they are reproductively mature at 15–24 months. American martens are polygynous, meaning that they have multiple mates. Their breeding season is during the summer, and females give birth to between one and five kits.

Conservation
American martens are an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. Scientists predict the future loss of snowpack due to climate change, and this loss would threaten American martens by reducing their competitive advantage over other mammals during the winter. Historically, marten fur has been valued highly, and the practice of trapping American martens is another threat.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_marten
https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/american-marten.htm

The pronghorn (UK: /ˈprɒŋhɔːrn/, US: /ˈprɔːŋ-/) (Antilocapra americana) is a species of artiodactyl (even-toed, hoofed) mammal indigenous to interior western and central North America. Though not an antelope, it is known colloquially in North America as the American antelope, prong buck, pronghorn antelope and prairie antelope, because it closely resembles the antelopes of the Old World and fills a similar ecological niche due to parallel evolution. It is the only surviving member of the family Antilocapridae.

Description
Pronghorn are one of North America’s most impressive mammals. Not only do pronghorn have the longest land migration in the continental United States, they also are the fastest land animal in North America. Pronghorn can run at speeds close to 60 miles an hour. Although pronghorn are not as fast as cheetahs, they can maintain a fast speed for a longer period of time than cheetahs. Even more amazing than its speed is the pronghorn’s migration. Herds of pronghorn migrate 150 miles each way between Wyoming’s Upper Green River Basin and Grand Teton National Park. The only other land animal to travel farther in North America is the caribou. Pronghorn are ungulates (hoofed animals) and related to goats and antelope. They have the body shape of a deer with long legs, short tail, and a long snout. The fur is a reddish-brown color, but it can also be tan or darker brown. Pronghorn have white stripes on their necks and additional white markings on the face, stomach, and rump. The rump has extra-long white hairs that the pronghorn can stick up when scared.
The most noticeable characteristic of pronghorn is also the source of their common name. Both males and females have a pair of short horns on the top of the head. The female’s horns are small, usually only a bump. In contrast, the males’ horns are around 10 to 12 inches long. They also have a unique shape, because unlike other ungulates, a pronghorn’s horns point backward. The horns extend straight up and then curve toward the rump. At the front of the horn is a small notch or prong that points forward, hence the animal's name. Pronghorn have large eyes and fantastic vision. Their large eyes can spot predators from very far away, which is helpful on their flat grassland habitat. Pronghorn are about 4.5 feet long, three feet tall, and weigh between 90 and 150 pounds. Females tend to weigh less than the males.

Range
Pronghorn are found only in North America. Their natural range extended from southern Canada to northern Mexico. Today pronghorn are mainly found in the United States in the Great Plains, Wyoming, Montana, northeast California, southeast Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Some of the highest numbers of pronghorn are in Wyoming in the Red Desert and Yellowstone ecosystems. Pronghorn like open plains, fields, grasslands, brush, deserts, and basins. Between the summer and winter, pronghorn migrate between feeding grounds to survive the harsh winter.

Diet
Pronghorn are herbivores. They eat grasses, forbs, sagebrush, and other prairie plants. Pronghorn digest their food twice. After they swallow food, it passes through the stomach and then the pronghorn regurgitates it. This process allows the pronghorn to break the plant material into smaller pieces so that more nutrients are absorbed. The regurgitated food is called cud. They seldom drink water because they receive most of their water from the plants they eat.

Life History
Pronghorn breed in late summer or fall depending on their location—those in the southern part of the range tend to breed earlier. Males have breeding territories with a group of females that they defend against other males. Fighting between males can become very heated with aggressive movements and even physical combat. Some pronghorn can be seriously injured during these battles. Male pronghorn breed with multiple females within their territory. After mating, the females are pregnant throughout the winter and give birth in the spring. The females have either one or two fawns. Although fawns can stand within a day of birth, they are still weak for a few days and must be protected from predators. The fawns stay with their mother for about a year until they become independent. Pronghorn have an average lifespan of around 10 years. The migration of pronghorn depends entirely on where the pronghorn lives. Some do not even need to migrate because the nearby land has plenty of food all year. On the other hand, several herds with about 400 pronghorn make a 300-mile roundtrip migration. In November, the snow starts falling in Wyoming and the local pronghorn herd knows that it will not be long before the snow gets too deep. In small herds, they start migrating south from Grand Teton National Park across government land, private lands, and ranches. For three days, the herd is on the move, and sometimes the pronghorn have to travel under fences and near roads. If they make it to the Upper Green River Valley, then the pronghorn will make the journey back north to greener pastures in April.

Conservation
Threats to pronghorn include habitat loss, human-wildlife conflicts, and overexploitation due to historic hunting, which greatly reduced the population size. Two subspecies of pronghorn are on the endangered species list: Peninsular pronghorn and Sonoran pronghorn. The pronghorn's 300-mile migration is grueling and requires crossing private property and fences. In the past, pronghorn had to worry about predators and cold weather. Today the bigger threats are cars, impassable fences and roads, and development. The National Wildlife Federation and its affiliates are working hard to create wildlife corridors for pronghorn and other migratory wildlife and reduce conflicts between animals and people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pronghorn
https://www.nwf.org/educational-resources/wildlife-guide/mammals/pronghorn
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/pronghorn
Range map provided by International Union for Conservation of Nature

The Puma (Cougar) is a cat of many names: Puma, mountain lion, and catamount, among others.

This adaptable predator has the widest range of any land mammal in the Western Hemisphere, and can be found in many habitats throughout the Americas, from Florida swamps to Canadian forests. In some areas, such as heavily urbanized southern California, cougars are increasingly sharing space with people.

Description
Pumas are large, secretive cats. They are also commonly known as cougars and mountain lions, and are able to reach larger sizes than some other "big" cat individuals. Despite their large size, they are more closely related to smaller feline species than to lions or leopards. The two subspecies of pumas have similar characteristics but tend to vary in color and size. Pumas are the most adaptable felines in the Americas and are found in a variety of different habitats, unlike other cat species.

Distribution and habitat
Members of the genus Puma are primarily found in the mountains of North and South America, where a majority of individuals can be found in rocky crags and pastures lower than the slopes grazing herbivores inhabit. Though they choose to inhabit those areas, they are highly adaptive and can be found in a large variety of habitats, including forests, tropical jungle, grasslands, and even arid desert regions. With the expansion of human settlements and land clearance, the cats are being pushed into smaller, more hostile areas. However, their high adaptability will likely allow them to avoid disappearing from the wild forever.

Anatomy and appearance
Subspecies of the genus Puma include cats that are the fourth-largest in the cat family. Adult males can reach around 7.9 feet (2.4 m) from nose to tip of tail, and a body weight typically between 115 and 220 pounds (52 and 100 kg). Females can reach around 6.7 feet (2.0 m) from nose to tail, and a body weight between 64 and 141 pounds (29 and 64 kg). They also have tails ranging from 25 to 37 inches (0.6 to 0.9 m) long. The heads of these cats are round, with erect ears. They have powerful forequarters, necks, and jaws which help grasp and hold prey. They have four retractable claws on their fore paws, and also their hind paws.

The majority of pumas are found in more mountainous regions, so they have a thick fur coat to help retain body heat during freezing winters. Depending on subspecies and the location of their habitat, the puma's fur varies in color from brown-yellow to grey-red. Individuals that live in colder climates have coats that are more grey than individuals living in warmer climates with a more red color to their coat. Pumas are incredibly strong and fast predators with long bodies and powerful short legs. The hindlimbs are larger and stronger than the forelimbs, enabling them to be great leapers. They are able to leap as high as 18 feet (5 m) into the air and as far as 40 to 45 feet (12 to 14 m) horizontally. They can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour (80 km/h), as they are adapted to perform powerful sprints in order to catch their prey

Hunting habits
Cougars hunt at dawn and dusk. They usually prey on deer, although these opportunistic predators also eat coyotes, moose, wild sheep, birds, and rodents. They even kill feral donkeys, an invasive species in California’s Death Valley National Park. The cats silently stalk their prey, then pounce and kill them with a fatal bite to the back of the head or neck. When dealing with a large carcass, a cougar will eat as much as it can before hiding the rest to come back to later. Harmful encounters with people are rare: Between 1924 and 2018, 74 cougar attacks—including 11 fatalities—were documented in 10 U.S. states.

Diet
Members of this genus are large and powerful carnivores. The majority of their diet includes small animals such as rodents, birds, fish, and rabbits. Larger individuals are able to catch larger prey such as bighorn sheep, deer, guanaco, mountain goats, raccoons, and coati. They occasionally take livestock in areas with high populations of them

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/cougar?loggedin=true&rnd=1723358491333
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puma_(genus)

Red foxes are the most widely distributed wild carnivores in the world, occurring in North America, Asia, Europe, and North Africa. They are also widespread in Australia, where they were introduced in about 1850 so that fox-hunters would have something to hunt. Their range in North America has expanded since colonial times as their competitors, wolves, were eliminated, but their range has also contracted in areas where they are in competition with coyotes. Red foxes prey on voles, rabbits, hares, and other small mammals, and also eat birds, fruits, and invertebrateseven beetles and earthworms. A malefemale pair typically inhabits a territory, and older, usually female, siblings help care for the younger offspring by bringing them food. Red foxes are among the main carriers and victims of rabies.

Description
Red foxes have long snouts and red fur across the face, back, sides, and tail. Their throat, chin, and belly are grayish-white. Red foxes have black feet and black-tipped ears that are large and pointy. One of the most noticeable characteristics of the red fox is the fluffy white-tipped tail. Red foxes are about three feet long and two feet tall. Red foxes are often confused with gray foxes, which share a similar habitat and range. This can make identification difficult, because some red foxes can have large patches of gray fur and gray foxes have patches of red fur. Gray foxes are somewhat smaller and have a slightly more rounded face and shorter snout. The surefire way to tell the difference is to look for the color at the tip of the tail. Gray foxes have black-tipped tails, while red fox tails are white. Although they are very similar in name and appearance, the gray fox and the red fox are only distant cousins, belonging to different genera in the family Canidae.

Range
Red foxes can be found throughout the continental United States from Alaska to Florida. The smallest population is in the Southwest, where it is very rare to see a red fox. Red foxes like open areas in woodlands, rural and suburban neighborhoods, wetlands, and brushy fields.

Diet
Red foxes prefer rodents and rabbits, but they will also eat birds, amphibians, and fruit. Red foxes will also steal food from garbage cans or farms. Their ability to find food, even during the winter, is one reason why red foxes have a reputation for being cunning and smart.

Life History
Red foxes mate in winter. Right after mating, a female builds a den. Females can deliver anywhere between one and 12 pups per litter. Pups are born brown or gray, usually turning red within about a month. Both parents take care of their offspring until the next fall, when the young foxes set out on their own.

Conservation
Red foxes have adapted well to suburban and rural communities. While other large predators have been pushed away from human development, red foxes took advantage of the changed habitat. They live in parks and woodland edges, and red foxes will readily eat whatever is available. Red foxes are solitary, so it is easy for them to hide and escape people.

Fun Fact
Red foxes have excellent hearing. They can hear low-frequency sounds and rodents digging underground.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_fox
https://www.nwf.org/educational-resources/wildlife-guide/mammals/red-fox
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/red-fox

The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs, white-lined ears, a mostly white muzzle and a ringed tail. Its head-to-body length is 51–63.5 cm (20.1–25.0 in) with a 28–48.5 cm (11.0–19.1 in) tail, and it weighs between 3.2 and 15 kg (7.1 and 33.1 lb). It is well adapted to climbing due to its flexible joints and curved semi-retractile claws. While originally thought to be two subspecies—the Himalayan red panda and the Chinese red panda—growing evidence suggests they may be two distinct species instead. The Chinese red panda is a bit larger and has more distinct rings on its fluffy tail.

Range and habitat
Red pandas live in the rainy mountain forests of Nepal, India, Bhutan, northern Myanmar (Burma), and central China. They spend the vast majority of their lives in trees, where they sleep and sunbathe. These animals have adapted incredibly well to their environment: They have sharp, semi-retractable claws that help them grip slippery branches, and their flexible ankles give them the unique ability to climb down trees headfirst. This helps them quickly escape predators like snow leopards and jackals, which may have difficulty seeing the animals to begin with: Their coats match the moss clumps that grow on their tree homes, and their black bellies make it difficult for predators to spot them from the ground. Red pandas even have two layers of fur—a soft undercoat covered with coarse hairs—to insulate them from the mountain chill, and they use their long tail as a wraparound blanket.

Diet
Red pandas belong to the order Carnivora, but this has more to do with their biological classification than their actual diet. In reality they rarely eat meat, instead using their powerful molars to grind through up to four pounds of bamboo a day. They also sometimes eat fruit, acorns, roots, eggs, rodents, and birds. Like giant pandas, red pandas have an extended wrist bone that functions almost like a thumb and helps them grip bamboo shoots. The solitary creatures forage at night and in the gloaming hours of dusk and dawn.

Behavior
In general red pandas live on their own, but when they do interact with other red pandas, they communicate by arching their tails, bobbing their heads, squealing, or making a sound that scientists call a “huff-quack”—a mix between a duck quack and a pig snort. Pandas who feel threatened may let out a barking sound or release a pungent liquid from glands at the base of their tail. This smelly liquid also serves another purpose: Males release it to mark their territory when searching for a mate in winter and early spring. They don’t have a big window: females are only fertile for a couple of days a year. They typically give birth to one to four cubs that remain with them for about 90 days. Males take little or no interest in the cubs, leaving the cub-rearing to the mothers.

Threats and conservation
Red pandas are considered endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the organization that determines the conservation status of plant and animal species. While no one knows the exact number of animals in the wild, a 2015 estimate put the population at 10,000, a 50 percent drop since 1997. These animals are threatened by people clearing their forest habitat for logging and agriculture, as well as by diseases that can spread from domesticated animals. Hunters also kill red pandas for their fur or inadvertently when the creatures stumble into traps meant for other animals. In rare instances red pandas have been snatched from the wild, likely for the illegal pet trade.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_panda
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/red-panda

The American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) is one of three species of tree squirrels currently classified in the genus Tamiasciurus, known as the pine squirrels (the others are the Douglas squirrel, T. douglasii, and the southwestern red squirrel, T. fremonti). The American red squirrel is variously known as the pine squirrel or piney squirrel, North American red squirrel, chickaree, boomer, or simply red squirrel. The squirrel is a small, 200–250 g (7.1–8.8 oz), diurnal mammal that defends a year-round exclusive territory. It feeds primarily on the seeds of conifer cones, and is widely distributed across much of the United States and Canada wherever conifers are common, except in the southwestern United States, where it is replaced by the formerly conspecific southwestern red squirrel, and along the Pacific coast of the United States, where its cousin the Douglas squirrel is found instead

Description
The most noticeable characteristics of the American red squirrel are the tail and the eye ring. The tree squirrel's tail is bushy and dark red with hints of a white outline. The eye ring is a thick, white circle around the rodent's black eyes. American red squirrels are about 12 inches and have grayish, red, or rust-colored fur with a white belly. Sometimes a black stripe can be seen on the sides.

Range
American red squirrels can be found throughout the United States in the forests of Alaska, the east coast north of Georgia, and the Rocky Mountains. The squirrels prefer coniferous forests.

Diet
American red squirrels mainly feed on the seeds and cones of evergreen trees. However, they will also eat bird eggs, berries, and fruit when they are available. During the summer, American red squirrels collect and hide seeds and nuts so they have food storage during the lean winter times. Sometimes they forget to dig up the seeds. This benefits their local habitat because the squirrels are unintentionally planting trees in new places.

Life History
American red squirrels are active throughout the year. During March and April, females have litters of three to seven young.

Fun Fact
To communicate, an American red squirrel makes a lengthy, descending trill and a chatter of assorted notes and chucks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_red_squirrel
https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Red-Squirrel
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/squirrels

The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter and river otter, is a semiaquatic mammal that lives only on the North American continent, along its waterways and coasts. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur.

Description
The playful North American river otter is well adapted for semi-aquatic living. The mammals have thick, protective fur to help them keep warm while swimming in cold waters. They have short legs, webbed feet for faster swimming, and a long, narrow body and flattened head for streamlined movement in the water. A long, strong tail helps propels the otter through the water. They can stay underwater for as many as eight minutes. North American river otters have long whiskers, which they use to detect prey in dark or cloudy water, and clawed feet for grasping onto slippery prey. They are very flexible and can make sharp, sudden turns that help them catch fish. Their fur is dark brown over much of the body, and lighter brown on the belly and face. On land a river otter can run at speeds of up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) an hour—they can slide even faster. Their playful snow and mud sliding, tail chasing, water play, and snow burrowing activities also serve other purposes—they help strengthen social bonds and let young otters practice hunting techniques. A river otter can grow three to four feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters) long including its tail and weigh between 11 and 30 pounds (5 to 14 kilograms). Males are generally larger than females. The tail makes up about a third of their total length.

Range
The North American river otter occurs in much of Canada and the United States, except for portions of the Southwest, and in Mexico in the Rio Grande and Colorado River delta areas. They can thrive in any water habitat, such as ponds, marshes, lakes, rivers, and estuaries—in cold, warm, or even high-elevation areas—as long as the habitat provides adequate food. River otter dens are along the water in abandoned burrows or empty hollows. The dens have entrances underwater so they can be easily accessed from the water. Bobcats, alligators, coyotes, raptors, and other large predators will sometimes prey on North American river otters.

Diet
River otters eat a variety of aquatic wildlife, such as fish, crayfish, crabs, frogs, birds’ eggs, birds and reptiles such as turtles. They have also been known to eat aquatic plants and to prey on other small mammals, such as muskrats or rabbits. They have a very high metabolism, so they need to eat frequently.

Behavior
River otters communicate with whistles, yelps, growls, and screams, as well as touch and body posture. They also scent mark using scent glands near the base of their tails that produce a strong, musky odor.

Life History
River otters breed in late winter or early spring. Adults generally give birth to between one and three pups, which are blind and helpless when born. They first learn to swim after about two months. River otters generally live alone or in small social groups. They can live eight to nine years in the wild but have lived up to 21 years in captivity.

Conservation
North American river otters were hunted and trapped extensively for their fur in the 19th and 20th centuries, and are still hunted in some places. They were extirpated from portions of their range, but conservation and reintroduction efforts are helping populations to recover. However habitat destruction and water pollution still puts these animals at great risk, especially because they are so specialized.

Fun Fact
North American river otters can close their nostrils to keep water out during long dives.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_river_otter
https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/north-american-river-otter
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/north-american-river-otter

The Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) is a subspecies of elk found in the Rocky Mountains and adjacent ranges of Western North America. Yellowstone provides summer range for an estimated 10,000–20,000 elk (Cervus canadensis) from six to seven herds, most of which winter at lower elevations outside the park. These herds provide visitor enjoyment as well as revenue to local economies through hunting outside the park. As Yellowstone’s most abundant ungulate, elk comprise approximately 85% of winter wolf kills and are an important food for bears, mountain lions, and at least 12 scavenger species, including bald eagles and coyotes. Competition with elk can influence the diet, habitat selection, and demography of bighorn sheep, bison, moose, mule deer, and pronghorn. Elk browsing and nitrogen deposition can affect vegetative production, soil fertility, and plant diversity. Thus, changes in elk abundance over space and time can alter plant and animal communities in Yellowstone.

Description
Elk are the most abundant large mammal found in Yellowstone. European American settlers used the word “elk” to describe the animal, which is the word used in Europe for moose (causing great confusion for European visitors). The Shawnee word “wapiti,” which means “white deer” or “white-rumped deer,” is another name for elk. The North American elk is considered by some experts to be the same species as the red deer of Europe (Cervus elaphus). This is an ongoing taxonomic debate. Currently, most scientists refer to elk in North America as Cervus canadensis. Due to their huge antlers, bull elk are one of the most photographed animals in Yellowstone. Bull elk begin growing their first set of antlers when they are about one year old. Antler growth is triggered in spring by a combination of two factors: a depression of testosterone levels and lengthening daylight. The first result of this change is the casting or shedding of the previous year’s “rack.” Most bulls drop their antlers in March and April. New growth begins soon after. Growing antlers are covered with a thick, fuzzy coating of skin commonly referred to as “velvet.” Blood flowing in the skin deposits calcium that makes the antler. Usually around early August, further hormonal changes signal the end of antler growth, and the bull begins scraping the velvet off, polishing and sharpening the antlers in the process. The antler-growing period is shortest for yearling bulls (about 90 days) and longest for healthy, mature bulls (about 140 days). Roughly 70% of the antler growth takes place in the last half of the period, when the antlers of a mature bull will grow two-thirds of an inch each day. The antlers of a typical, healthy bull are 55–60 inches long, just under six feet wide, and weigh about 30 pounds per pair. Bulls retain their antlers through the winter. When antlered, bulls usually settle disputes by wrestling with their antlers. When antlerless, they use their front hooves (as cows do), which is more likely to result in injury to one of the combatants. Because bulls spend the winter with other bulls or with gender-mixed herds, retaining antlers means fewer injuries sustained overall. Also, bulls with large antlers that are retained longer are at the top of elk social structure, allowing them preferential access to feeding sites and mates.

Mating Season
The mating season (rut) generally occurs from early September to mid-October. Elk gather in mixed herds—many females and calves, with a few bulls nearby. Bulls bugle to announce their availability and fitness to females and to warn and challenge other bulls. When answered, bulls move toward one another and sometimes engage in battle for access to the cows. They crash their antlers together, push each other intensely, and wrestle for dominance. While loud and extremely strenuous, fights rarely cause serious injury. The weaker bull ultimately gives up and wanders off. Bulls retain their antlers through the winter. When antlered, bulls usually settle disputes by wrestling with their antlers. When antlerless, they use their front hooves (as cows do), which is more likely to result in injury to one of the combatants. Because bulls spend the winter with other bulls or with gender-mixed herds, retaining antlers means fewer injuries sustained overall. Also, bulls with large antlers that are retained longer are at the top of elk social structure, allowing them preferential access to feeding sites and mates.

Elk in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is home to approximately 30,000–40,000 elk. For the last decade, the Jackson herd, which currently numbers about 11,000, has been larger than the northern Yellowstone herd. Some ranges and migratory routes overlap, and some interchange occurs among the herds. Summer range in the southern part of Yellowstone National Park is used by part of the Jackson herd as well as by elk from the North Fork Shoshone and northern Yellowstone herds. Because the wildlife responsibilities of the National Park Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Forest Service, and state wildlife agencies also coincide, elk management in Greater Yellowstone requires substantial coordination among government agencies with different priorities.

Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Cervinae
Genus: Cervus
Species: C. canadensis
Subspecies: C. c. nelsoni


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Mountain_elk
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/elk.htm

The Roosevelt elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti), also known commonly as the Olympic elk and Roosevelt's wapiti, is the largest of the four surviving subspecies of elk (Cervus canadensis) in North America by body mass. Mature bulls weigh from 700 to 1200 lbs. with very rare large bulls weighing more. Its geographic range includes temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest including parts of northern California. It was introduced to Alaska's Afognak, Kodiak, and Raspberry Islands in 1928 and reintroduced to British Columbia's Sunshine Coast from Vancouver Island in 1986. In December 1897, mammalogist C. Hart Merriam named the species after his friend Theodore Roosevelt, then Assistant Secretary of the US Navy.: 589  The desire to protect the Roosevelt elk was one of the primary forces behind the establishment of the Mount Olympus National Monument in 1909 by President Theodore Roosevelt. Later in 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the region and saw the elk named after his relative] The following year he created Olympic National Park.

Description
The Roosevelt elk grows to around 6–10 ft (1.8–3 m) in length and stands 2.5–5.6 ft (0.75–1.7 m)[9] tall at the withers. Roosevelt elk bulls generally weigh between 700 and 1,100 lb (300–500 kg), while cows weigh 575–625 lb (260–285 kg). Some mature bulls from Raspberry Island in Alaska have weighed nearly 1,300 lb (600 kg).

Although the largest elk subspecies by body mass, by antler size both the Boone and Crockett (rifle) and Pope and Young (bow) records have Rocky Mountain elk being larger; none of the top 10 Roosevelt elk would score in the top 20 of Pope and Young's Rocky Mountain elk.

Diet
From late spring to early fall, the Roosevelt elk feeds upon herbaceous plants, such as grasses and sedges. During winter months, it feeds on woody plants, including highbush cranberry, elderberry, devil's club, and newly planted seedlings (Douglas fir and western redcedar). The Roosevelt elk is also known to eat ferns, blueberries, mushrooms, lichens, and salmonberries.

Longevity
In the wild, the Roosevelt elk rarely lives beyond 12 to 15 years, but in captivity it has been known to live over 25 years. In 2018, the New York State Zoo had a Roosevelt elk named Rosie die in August of that year at the age of 26, which means it was one of the oldest at that time.

Reintroduction
This elk subspecies, Cervus canadensis roosevelti, was reintroduced to British Columbia's Sunshine Coast from Vancouver Island in 1986.

Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Cervinae
Genus: Cervus
Species: C. canadensis
Subspecies: C. c. roosevelti

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_elk

The Roosevelt elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti), also known commonly as the Olympic elk and Roosevelt's wapiti, is the largest of the four surviving subspecies of elk (Cervus canadensis) in North America by body mass. Mature bulls weigh from 700 to 1200 lbs. with very rare large bulls weighing more. Its geographic range includes temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest including parts of northern California. It was introduced to Alaska's Afognak, Kodiak, and Raspberry Islands in 1928 and reintroduced to British Columbia's Sunshine Coast from Vancouver Island in 1986. In December 1897, mammalogist C. Hart Merriam named the species after his friend Theodore Roosevelt, then Assistant Secretary of the US Navy.: 589  The desire to protect the Roosevelt elk was one of the primary forces behind the establishment of the Mount Olympus National Monument in 1909 by President Theodore Roosevelt. Later in 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the region and saw the elk named after his relative] The following year he created Olympic National Park.

Description
The Roosevelt elk grows to around 6–10 ft (1.8–3 m) in length and stands 2.5–5.6 ft (0.75–1.7 m)[9] tall at the withers. Roosevelt elk bulls generally weigh between 700 and 1,100 lb (300–500 kg), while cows weigh 575–625 lb (260–285 kg). Some mature bulls from Raspberry Island in Alaska have weighed nearly 1,300 lb (600 kg).

Although the largest elk subspecies by body mass, by antler size both the Boone and Crockett (rifle) and Pope and Young (bow) records have Rocky Mountain elk being larger; none of the top 10 Roosevelt elk would score in the top 20 of Pope and Young's Rocky Mountain elk.

Diet
From late spring to early fall, the Roosevelt elk feeds upon herbaceous plants, such as grasses and sedges. During winter months, it feeds on woody plants, including highbush cranberry, elderberry, devil's club, and newly planted seedlings (Douglas fir and western redcedar). The Roosevelt elk is also known to eat ferns, blueberries, mushrooms, lichens, and salmonberries.

Longevity
In the wild, the Roosevelt elk rarely lives beyond 12 to 15 years, but in captivity it has been known to live over 25 years. In 2018, the New York State Zoo had a Roosevelt elk named Rosie die in August of that year at the age of 26, which means it was one of the oldest at that time.

Reintroduction
This elk subspecies, Cervus canadensis roosevelti, was reintroduced to British Columbia's Sunshine Coast from Vancouver Island in 1986.

Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Cervinae
Genus: Cervus
Species: C. canadensis
Subspecies: C. c. roosevelti

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_elk

The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg (30 and 100 lb), making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among[3] the smallest marine mammals. Unlike most marine mammals, the sea otter's primary form of insulation is an exceptionally thick coat of fur, the densest in the animal kingdom. Although it can walk on land, the sea otter is capable of living exclusively in the ocean.

Habitat
In Monterey Bay, the sea otter lives in kelp forest and estuary habitats. The sea otter is an important part of both of these habitats — It’s a keystone species, which means that the health of sea otters is a good indication of the health of other species and ecosystems nearby. In the kelp forest, it eats sea urchins and other animals that graze on giant kelp. When urchins go unchecked, they create areas called “urchin barrens” where nothing else lives. With sea otters helping to keep the urchins under control, kelp forests can thrive and support a rich community of plants and animals. Similarly, in estuaries, otters keep eelgrass healthy by eating crabs, which in turn allows the sea slug population to thrive. These sea slugs then eat algae that would otherwise coat and smother the eelgrass that fish need for food and shelter.

What do sea otters eat?
The southern sea otter eats invertebrates like crabs, snails, urchins, clams, abalone, and mussels — for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and between-meal snacks! Northern sea otters are also known to eat fish. A sea otter may hunt on the seafloor but always returns to the surface to eat. Floating there on its back, it uses its chest as a table. (And if dinner is a crab or clam, the otter may use a rock to crack open its prey.) Do you ever carry a snack for later? An otter does, too! An otter's coat has pockets — loose skin under each forearm. An otter uses them to stash prey during a dive, which leaves its paws free to hunt some more

Size
The southern sea otter is the smallest marine mammal in North America at up to 4 feet (1.2 m) long and up to 50 pounds (23 kg) for females and 70 pounds (32 kg) for males. South America’s marine otter — Lontra felina — is the smallest marine mammal in the world.

Population
The current southern sea otter population averages around 3,000 individuals. Since the California population has a limited range and is close to human activity, they are considered endangered.

Fur
Unlike other marine mammals, the sea otter doesn’t have a thick layer of blubber. To stay warm in chilly ocean waters, it wears the world's densest fur — at its thickest, this two-layer fur is made up of more than a million hairs per square inch. For reference, you've probably got 100,000 hairs or less on your whole head!

Grooming
To keep its luxurious coat waterproof, an otter spends many hours a day cleaning and grooming. Such good grooming coats its fur with natural oils from their skin and fluffs it with insulating air bubbles.

Metabolism
Another way the sea otter stays warm is with its high metabolism — it will eat about a quarter of its body weight each day (A 150-pound person would have to eat 35 to 40 pounds of food a day to match that). This helps it maintain an average body temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit!

Sea otters and humans
A sea otter, as cute as it is, should not be approached by humans. If you encounter a sea otter in the wild, even if one approaches you, maintain your distance! A sea otter is a wild animal — maintaining a safe distance is the safest for both you and the otter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_otter
https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/sea-otter
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/sea-otter