fur bearing animal identification

Fur Bearing Animal

Identification

Objectives List 19 Fur-bearing species of

Texas wildlife.

Describe what the 19 fur-bearing species look like.

Badger Large, robust, short-

legged “weasel” Broad body with a

short, thick tail Grayish, yellow body White face markings

Beaver Aquatic

rodents Broad, flat,

scaly tails Webbed hind

feet Dark brown

color

Red Fox Bright, golden

yellow body Chin, throat, &

belly mid-line of belly are white

Forefeet & legs are black

Desert Fox Smaller body Upper body is

buffy gray Sides, tail &

mid-belly are clear buff

Throat is white Have large ears

Swift Fox Upper parts are

pale buffy yellow with frosted white

Tail is buffy gray with a black tip

Gray Fox Gray upper

body Reddish brown

legs White throat,

cheeks, & mid-line of belly

Weasel Long, slender

animal Short legs &

long tail Small,

rounded ears

Mink Size of a

house cat Dark brown Semi-aquatic Prefer small

streams

Muskrat Large,

brownish, aquatic, scaly-tailed rodent

Tail is naked Inhabit marshes

Nutria Beaver-like Long, round

sparsely haired tail

Dark underfur with long, glossy dark brown guard hairs

Opossum Long, scaly,

prehensile tail Nocturnal White base and

black tipped fur

Otter Large, dark

brown animal with slender body

Webbed feet & long thick tail

Aquatic and feed mostly on fish

Raccoon Blackish facial

mask with white outline

Tail is black and white alternating rings

nocturnal

Ringtails Resembles a

small fox Long, tail with

alternating white and black rings

Nocturnal Bodies are gray

Spotted Skunk Small white

spot on forehead

Six distinct white stripes on body

Striped Skunk Two white

stripes on sides of back

Stripes connect at the neck region & continue down the head

Hooded Skunk Two color

patterns Upper body is

chiefly white OR Upper part

is chiefly black with white stripes

Hog-nosed Skunk Single white

stripe that extends from head to tail

Tail is entirely white

Black Bear Medium-size

bear Black or brown Front claws are

slightly longer and curved for climbing

Summary Review Tomorrow