MEETING THE MAMMALS
Mammals are defined simply as warm-blooded animals that have hair and
nourish their young on milk. They are considered the highest form of
Earth life. They are common everywhere, but their secretive habits make
observation difficult. You may consider yourself quite fortunate if you
see even one or two of the mammals living on Castle Neck during a single
visit here.
In this chapter lengths given are measurements from the nose to tip of
the tail.
INSECT-EATING MAMMALS: SHREWS
[Illustration: Short-tailed Shrew]
Short-tailed Shrew
(_Blarina brevicauda_)
Dark, slate-gray body
Length 4″ or 5″
Tail about 1″
This little mammal is a creature of damp areas and is generally
associated with damp forests. It makes burrows just under the surface of
the ground. It is the _only_ poisonous mammal in the United States and
uses its venom to stun and kill its prey. However, the only result of a
nip on your finger will be considerable swelling. Because of its
insect-eating habit the Shrew is a most beneficial animal.
[Illustration: Cinereus Shrew]
Cinereus Shrew
(_Sorex cinereus_)
Grayish-brown body
Length 3″ to 4″
Tail more than 1″
This is the most common shrew on the Neck. It is found roving about the
salt marshes in search of insects. It hunts during the day as well as at
night, generally keeping concealed under a grassy cover.
WINGED MAMMALS: BATS
Everyone can identify Bats. Their fingers are extended and joined with a
leathery membrane. Their ears are large to aid in catching the echo of
their voice as it is reflected from obstacles. They are most frequently
seen at twilight when they flitter over the dunes in quest of the many
insects abounding there. Bats have tremendous value because they eat
such insect pests as mosquitoes and flies.
We have five major kinds of Bats. They are not easily identified in
flight.
[Illustration: Little Brown Bat]
Little Brown Bat
(_Myotis_, several species)
Less than 4″ long
Common
[Illustration: Big Brown Bat]
Big Brown Bat
(_Eptesicus fuscus_)
More than 4″ long
Reddish-brown fur
Common
[Illustration: Pipistrelles]
Pipistrelles
(_Pipistrellus subflavus_)
The “Pigmy Bat,” under 3″ long
Rare
[Illustration: Silver-haired Bat]
Silver-haired Bat
(_Lasionycteris noctivagans_)
About 3½″ long
Gray or silvery hair on back
Rare
[Illustration: Red Bat]
Red Bat
(_Lasiurus borealis_)
About 3½″ long
Rusty-red fur with whitish tips
and
[Illustration: Hoary Bat]
Hoary Bat
(_L. cinereus_)
About 4½″ long
Yellowish-brown fur tipped with white
LONG-EARED JUMPERS: RABBITS
[Illustration: New England Cottontail]
New England Cottontail
(_Sylvilagus transitionalis_)
Large hind jumping legs
More than 1′ long
While the New England Cottontail is named for our area, it does extend
its range southward to mid-Alabama. It may be separated from other
species of Cottontails by a narrow black spot between the ears. It is
very common on the Neck. These rabbits stay hidden most of the day,
venturing forth at night or early in the morning. Because their diet is
exclusively vegetable matter, we do not consider them beneficial.
BUCK-TOOTHED MAMMALS: RODENTS
[Illustration: Eastern Gray Squirrel]
Eastern Gray Squirrel
(_Sciurus carolinensis_)
About 18″ long
Bushy tail, less than half the total length
Gray fur, white on underside
The Gray Squirrel easily adapts itself to any environment. The large
treetop nests constructed of _leaves_ are made by this squirrel. A brood
of two to six young is raised once or twice each spring.
[Illustration: Red Squirrel]
Red Squirrel
(_Tamiasciurus hudsonicus_)
About 14″ long
Bushy tail, about half the total length
Rusty-red fur, underside white
This little squirrel will often be heard before it is seen, scolding its
terrestrial enemies with a loud clatter from a perch high in a
protective tree. In late spring its yearly brood of four or five is
raised in a nest of shredded bark built high in a tree.
[Illustration: Eastern Chipmunk]
Eastern Chipmunk
(_Tamias striatus_)
8″ or 10″ long
Reddish-brown fur with two white stripes on back
White stripes on back are margined with black
The Chipmunk is a squirrel that keeps to the ground and seldom climbs
trees except to collect nuts. It packs the nuts in two large cheek
pouches, and when these are full they look like a very bad case of
mumps. The Chipmunk’s nest is found underground.
[Illustration: Common Woodchuck]
Common Woodchuck
(_Marmota monax_)
Large, fat animal over 2′ long
Grayish- to reddish-brown fur
Bushy tail, 5″ or 6″ long
The Woodchuck has many common names; “Chuck,” “Marmot,” or “Ground Hog”
are the ones used in our area. “Chucks” live in deep burrows underground
and there is always a great mound of earth in front of their opening.
Frequently the “Chuck” is seen standing upright on its hind feet
surveying its territory from the top of this mound. The same tunnel
probably has several other more concealed openings which are used as
escape hatches. The Woodchuck hibernates far below the ground during the
winter months, and in the northern United States never comes out on
February 2, “Ground Hog Day.”
[Illustration: Muskrat]
Muskrat
(_Ondatra zibethica_)
Resembles a large rat
About 2′ long
Tail ratlike, flattened from side to side
The Muskrat is an aquatic mammal and is always found in association with
water. It is very common in the marshy areas of the beach and may
frequently be seen swimming about in such spots. The Muskrat’s fur has
become specialized for its aquatic existence and is water-proofed with a
heavy layer of oil. Muskrats feed extensively on the marsh plants. In
late fall they construct large dome-shaped homes that protrude above the
water.
[Illustration: White-footed Mouse]
White-footed Mouse
(_Peromyscus leucopus_)
Feet and legs are white
Large eyes; prominent ears
These mice are common all over the Neck. They are nocturnal and may be
discovered in the daytime hiding under boards that have washed onto the
shore, or they may be found in the wooded areas behind the main beach.
Their small nests are constructed out of fur and grass and are located
in depressions in the ground, frequently under a board or log. When the
original owners vacate these nests they are often taken over by
Bumblebees, Centipedes, Earwigs, and other secretive creatures.
[Illustration: Eastern Meadow Mouse]
Eastern Meadow Mouse
(_Microtus pennsylvanicus_)
Very small eyes
Tail short, about one-third total length
Brown fur, gray on underside
The Meadow Mouse is by far the most common mammal of Castle Neck. Its
burrows may be seen just under the grass in all areas having ground
cover. It feeds on many of the trees in the area, chewing the bark
around the base. This girdling will eventually kill the tree. While this
habit makes Meadow Mice undesirable, they fortunately prefer the smaller
herbaceous plants when they are available. Although common, Meadow Mice
are seldom seen because their days are spent running through their
burrows. These may extend over an area of many square yards.
[Illustration: Meadow Jumping Mouse]
Meadow Jumping Mouse
(_Zapus hudsonius_)
Tail longer than body, sparsely haired
White underside, olive-yellow back
Occasionally when one is walking in the grassy fields, a Jumping Mouse
will suddenly bound away in leaps averaging three or four feet. If it is
really frightened, these leaps may carry the mouse as far as ten feet.
In the United States the Jumping Mouse is much more closely related to
the Porcupine than to true mice. Un-mouse-like, it hibernates in an
underground nest during the winter months. Jumping Mice eat both insects
and plants.
DOGLIKE MAMMALS: FOXES
[Illustration: Red Fox]
Red Fox
(_Vulpes fulva_)
Looks like a long-legged dog
Reddish fur; feet and ears black
Large bushy tail, white on tip
Only the most fortunate observer will see a Fox, which is most secretive
and truly sly in its habits. It digs burrows and produces four to nine
young during April. The Fox has been known to adapt its habits to
changes humans have made in its environment, and it is most beneficial
because it eats thousands of mice annually.
RING-TAILED MAMMAL: RACCOON
[Illustration: Raccoon]
Raccoon
(_Procyon lotor_)
Dense gray fur
Tail ringed with bands of black and white
Black “mask” over eyes
Raccoons are creatures of the night and seldom venture forth in the
daylight. They are expert climbers, spending many hours high in a lofty
perch, and if pursued they usually seek refuge in a tree or swamp. They
feed on frogs, fish, eggs, insects, nuts, corn, and shellfish, which
they rinse carefully. The shellfish they skillfully remove from their
shells, and often small piles of shells are the only clue to a Raccoon’s
presence.
SCENT-PRODUCING MAMMALS: SKUNKS, MINK, WEASELS
[Illustration: Striped Skunk]
Striped Skunk
(_Mephitis mephitis_)
Black fur with two white stripes on back
Large bushy tail, white at tip
The Skunk is an inoffensive creature that tries hard to avoid people.
Even when confronted, it is generally good-natured, relying on its
presence to discourage investigation and employing its powerful scent
only if pressed. Skunks usually live in holes not far from water. These
holes have generally been taken over from another mammal by “squatter’s
rights.” From four to seven youngsters are born in late April and they
follow their mother about faithfully wherever she goes.
[Illustration: Mink]
Mink
(_Mustela vison_)
Elongated brown animal
Bushy tail, about 8″ long
Toes are webbed
The Mink is extremely rare on the Neck and a careful and thorough search
is required to locate one. They are associated with water and feed on
shellfish and other aquatic creatures. They are best known for their
fur, a favorite for coats. Fortunately, Mink are not common enough on
the Neck to warrant commercial trapping.
[Illustration: Long-tailed Weasel]
Long-tailed Weasel
(_Mustela frenata_)
Long thin body; yellowish beneath, brown above
Tail long, about half the total length
The Weasel is a vicious, bloodthirsty animal that often kills just for
the sport of it. Most of its victims are mice and insects, so its
murderous instincts really benefit us. Weasels hunt at all hours of the
day or night and all year round. Specimens in our area will occasionally
turn pure white in winter and become an “Ermine.”
HOOF-FOOTED MAMMALS: DEER
[Illustration: White-tailed Deer]
White-tailed Deer
(_Odocoileus virginianus_)
Tail held upright when alarmed
White patch on throat under chin
Ear lined with white
The White-tailed Deer is certainly the most obvious mammal on the Neck
and is readily seen if one will take a short stroll in the wooded area
behind the main beach or farther out on the Neck. There are probably
close to one hundred deer here, a number approaching overpopulation.
They feed mostly on grasses and the more succulent plants. Usually deer
produce twins in early summer (June). The fawns are light tan and
spotted with white. Deer may be seen readily in early evening when they
come into the open fields to browse. They seem to have become quite
accustomed to human observers and will frequently be as interested in
you as you are in them.
MAMMAL STUDY—A LIFETIME PROJECT
Occasionally Whales, Seals, and Porpoises are sighted off the beach.
These are true aquatic mammals. We have only listed the mammals
regularly found living on the Neck. To see all of them is a summer’s
project, and to study their life histories is equally exciting and
challenging.
A few books to help you are:
William H. Burt and Richard P. Grossenheider, _A Field Guide to the
Mammals_. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1952. $3.95
Victor H. Cahalane, _Mammals of North America_. New York: Macmillan,
1947. $7.95
William J. Hamilton, Jr., _The Mammals of Eastern United States_.
Ithaca, N. Y.: Comstock, 1943. Out of print. Available in
Museum of Science Library.
Ralph S. Palmer, _The Mammal Guide: Mammals of North America North of
Mexico_. Garden City, N. Y.: Doubleday, 1954. $4.95
Herbert S. Zim and D. F. Hoffmeister, _Mammals: A Guide to Familiar
American Species_. New York: Golden Press, 1955. Cloth $2.50,
paper $1.00