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Predatory Mammals. Predatory Mammals. Mammals that kill and eat the other animals Help out food chain by killing rather than starving overpopulated animals Most are carnivores – meat eaters. Bobcat. Bobcat. AKA wildcat 22 – 47 “ in length
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Predatory Mammals • Mammals that kill and eat the other animals • Help out food chain by killing rather than starving overpopulated animals • Most are carnivores – meat eaters
Bobcat • AKA wildcat • 22 – 47 “ in length • Mottled reddish brown fur coat and a short white-tipped tail • Well adapted to forests and brushy desert environments (need cover) • Feed on rabbits, rodents, and birds
Bobcat • Good tree climbers • Do most of hunting on ground at night • 2-4 young born in spring • Completely blind and helpless
Mountain Lion • Often called a puma, cougar, or panther • Large, tan colored cat • Weighs up to 175 lbs and measures 7.5’ in length • Range is in western U.S., but also found in other isolated areas
Mountain Lion • Deer are favorite prey, but will kill elk, porcupines, sheep, cattle, and horses • Kittens are born in late winter / early spring • Blind, helpless, and covered with spots • Up to 5 young are born • Feed only on their mother’s milk for several months
Jaguar • Largest cat living on the North American continent • Spotted coat resembles a leopard • Eats deer and other large & small animals
Jaguar • 27-30” tall and weighs 250 lbs. at maturity • Ranges from Mexico to Argentina
Arctic Fox • Native of northern tundra region • Brown coat in summer that is replaced by white or grayish blue coat in winter • Short ears • Has hair on the bottom of its feet, which give it better traction
Arctic Fox • Feeds on small rodents and birds • Also follow large predators to eat what they kill • 4-8 cubs are born
Coyote • Ranges from Alaska to Central America • Feeds on rodents, rabbits, and birds primarily • Also eats melons, fruits, and veggies, making them an omnivore
Coyote • Black-tipped, bushy tails • Weigh 50 lbs. and 26” at shoulder • Coyotes mate for life • Large hole in ground serves as den until the pups are old enough to follow parents
American Black Bear • Most widely distributed bear in North America • Weigh 200-400 lbs and stand as tall as 40” at shoulder • Mate in summer and cubs are born during winter • Twins are common
American Black Bear • Cubs stay with their mothers for several months • When female emerges from winter den, cubs are large enough to follow her
Grizzly Bear • Light-colored tips of the hair coat • Large and powerful • 6-7’ in length, 3 - 3.5’ tall, weighs 350 – 850 lbs • Afraid of nothing • Poor eyesight, but smell and hearing are excellent
Grizzly Bear • Reach maturity around 10 years old & can live to 30 years old • Require large territories that are isolated from human activity • Conflicts between humans and bears come when humans startle bears when protecting their cubs
Grizzly Bear • Live alone most of the time • Come together when fish move up a stream to spawn • Mature female is called a sow • Mature male is called a boar
Polar Bears • Found in arctic regions of North America • Largest bears in world • Weigh 440 – 1300 lbs • 7-8’ in length • 3-4’ tall at the shoulder
Polar Bears • Completely white except for dark eyes and nose • Carnivores, except for occasional meat • Prey mostly on seals, but also birds, fish • Pregnant females go into dens to give birth • Poor hearing, but it has excellent eyesight and keen sense of smell
Black-Footed Ferret • Member of the weasel family • 18-22” in length and weighs 2-3 lbs. • Yellowish brown in color with black feet, forehead, and tail tip • Eats prairie dogs as a source of food
Black-Footed Ferret • Has been a protected species since 1967 • Will be reintroduced as its population increases sufficiently to do so
Striped Skunk • Recognized by white stripes on black body • 20-30” long • Weighs 4-10 lbs. • Smell comes from scent glands located near the base of the tail • Predators are great horned owl, cougar, coyote
Striped Skunk • Omnivores – eat berries, nuts, fruits, insects, rodents, frogs • Live in burrows underground, under buildings, or in piles of debris • 4-5 young are born in the spring and remain with mother when she enters the den to hibernate through winter
Badger • Has long, digging claws • Digs up mice and gophers living underground • Lives in underground burrows and make nests of dried grass at the end of their tunnels • Face and head are marked with white stripes
Badger • Can weigh over 20 pounds and be longer than 30” • Preferred habitat is open areas and farmland
River Otter • Body is shaped like a mink’s body • Weighs as much as 30 lbs and measures as long as 55” • Expert at catching fish, snakes, and other aquatic animals • Prefer wetland habitats that have cover, such as woodlands
River Otter • Pups are born in spring in a den under a stream bank, • Very playful animals • Often build mud slides down stream banks where they play together
Raccoon • Among most adaptable animals in the world • Adept at swimming and climbing trees • Can find food almost anywhere
Raccoon • Find shelter in human structures • Eat garbage and other food that is abundant near humans
Predatory Mammals • Mammals that _____________ and eat the other animals • Help out ______________ chain by killing rather than _________________ _______________________ animals • Most are _________________ – meat eaters
Bobcat • AKA _______________________ • 22 – 47 “ in length • Mottled reddish brown fur coat and a short white-tipped _______________ • Well adapted to ________________ and brushy desert environments (need cover) • Feed on rabbits, ____________, and birds
Bobcat • Good tree _____________________ • Do most of hunting on __________ at night • ______________ young born in spring • Completely blind and helpless
