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envirothon NY 24’ > muskrat, fisher, eastern coyote > Flashcards

muskrat, fisher, eastern coyote Flashcards

1
Q

scientific name of muskrat

A

ondatra zibethicus

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2
Q

describe 2 facts about muskrat hair

A
  1. only mammal in NY with course hair under tail
  2. soft dense undercoat and thick guard hairs
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3
Q

what land do muskrats occupy

A

they prefer marshlands but can occupy wetlands, and waterways that are heavily vegetated

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4
Q

what do muskrats eat

A

roots and stems of aquatic vegetation and sometimes invertebrates when veg is short or there is abundance in mollusks, fish, etc (even turtles)

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5
Q

signs of a muskrat

A

well matted resting and feeding platforms- usually littered with scraps of veg and crayfish as well as droppings

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6
Q

are muskrats nocturnal

A

yes muskrats are nocturnal

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7
Q

how do muskrats defend their territory

A

muskrats are extremely territorial especially prior and during breeding season.
territory holders usually older- younger more likely to be prey

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8
Q

how do muskrats burrow in marshes vs waterways

A

in marshes they build up from vegetation where as in waters ways they dig into the bank and create underground tunnels. both are damaging to surrounding banks and vegetation

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9
Q

push ups (breathers)

A

muskrat burrow created for winter- masses of veg collected from underwater and pushed up thru cracks or holes in the ice- they freeze and serve as resting place and are maintained as breathing holes

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10
Q

how do muskrat impact other species

A
  1. canada geese and mallards nest on top of huts
  2. species such as turtles will use houses for hibernation
  3. eating bur-reeds clear areas for the endangered black tern to mate!!
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11
Q

when does breeding occur in muskrats

A

april- may

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12
Q

how long is gestation periods in muskrats

A

25/30 days

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13
Q

how many young and litters can muskrats have

A

4-8 kits and up to 3 litters a year

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14
Q

when can females begin mating

A

the fall of their first year, but the northern range of the species don’t reach sexual maturity until one year

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15
Q

what kills muskrats

A
  1. traps,
  2. cars,
  3. minks, raccoons,
  4. other predators also hunt them like fox, coyotes, red-tailed hawks, and great-horned owl
  5. disease
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16
Q

scientific name of fisher

A

martes pennant

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17
Q

what family is the fisher a part of

A

weasel

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18
Q

what physical differences do male and female fishers have

A
  1. females usually have a uniform color where as males will have blonde or brown hairs around the upper neck, upper back/ shoulders
  2. females are much smaller (dimorphism)
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19
Q

fisher feet do what to help them descend trees

A

rotate nearly 180 degrees

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20
Q

what do fishers use to attack mates and mark territory

A

large anal scent glands

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21
Q

fishers have what type of claws

A

semi-retractable

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22
Q

what continent do fishers live

A

north america

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23
Q

what areas do fishers live in

A

forested and semi- forested land- prefer extensive closed canopy forests

24
Q

when and why did fisher populations decrease

A

late 1800s/ early 1900s
unregulated logging and clearing land for farmers led to loss of forested habitat

25
what has brought back fisher populations
1. reintroduction programs 2. regulating trapping opportunities 3. reforestation programs
26
what do fishers eat
wide variety- small mammals and birds as well as mast (acorns, apples, berries, beechnuts)
27
what animal have fishers been the only mammal to kill
porcupine
28
how far will fishers go for food
hundreds of miles
29
how far have fishers been reported to travel for food
hundred miles
30
when can female fishers begin reproduction
within their first year, eggs often delay implantation
31
fisher breeding takes place when and how big are litters
march- may 2-3 kits
32
interfamilial aggression
begins at the onset of autum- young usually leave then (about 5 months old)
33
where do fishers den? where do they den for birth?
1. cavities in old trees, hollow logs, cavities in rocks, brush piles, and underground. 2. high above the ground in hollow trees
34
when do fishers interact with other fishers
breeding
35
describe fisher territories
males have large home ranges that generally don’t overlap with each other
36
how do fishers die
1. cars 2. harvest trappers 3. disease
37
New york state fisher management plan
completed in 2015 and lays out the goals, objectives, and strategies that will guide management
38
New york fisher management plan
describes the goals and strategies related to management 1. maintain or enhance fisher populations 2. provide sustainable use and enjoyment of fishers by the public
39
scientific name of eastern coyote
canis latrans
40
how much bigger are eastern coyotes then western
about 40 pounds
41
diet depends on what’s easy to find, scavenge, or catch and kill
opportunistic omnivores
42
why do coyotes eat deer
roadkill
43
describe 3 coyote patterns
nocturnal, territorial, stick to one region their whole life
44
how do coyotes mate
mate for life
45
describe eastern coyote familial habits
females raise pups in dens and stay in the area where males will wander greater distances to hunt for females and pups
46
how many pups in a coyote litter
4-6
47
when are coyotes full grown
9 months
48
why do coyotes thrive in human populated areas
abundant food supply
49
why do coyotes thrive in human populated areas
abundant food supply
50
instead of forming pack, coyotes live in
family units
51
what limits the number of coyotes in any one area
territorial behavior
52
how large are eastern coyotes territories
2-15 square miles
53
how many new yorkers participate in coyote hunting and trapping
30,000 and 3,000 in trapping
54
where is eastern coyote hunting open
all of upstate new york (license required)
55
when can u most likely spot a coyote
end of summer when pups are almost grown in fields hunting for small mammals tracks and scat yelps at night

envirothon NY 24’ (3 decks)

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