Family Didelphidae: Opossums

Virginia opossum •Only marsupial in IL •Habitat & food generalist found in all IL •12-13 day gestation period

Family Dasypodidae

Nine-banded armadillo •Found in woodlands, scrub, & fields in Southern IL •Eats mostly invertebrates with peg-like teeth •Mostly nocturnal & solitary •Babies = 4 genetic clones

Family Vespertilionidae

Myotis •Little brown myotis •Indiana myotis •Southeastern myotis •Gray myotis •Northern myotis

Uropatagium

Tragus

Family Vespertilionidae

Little brown myotis •Roosts in buildings & mines •Both sexes migrate south, mate, & hibernate in caves & mines •Delayed implantation- 1 young in spring/summer

Family Vespertilionidae

Silver-haired bat •Roosts in tree bark •Mostly solitary, but gather in groups to migrate south •Hibernates in trees & buildings •Females roost with head facing up before giving birth

Family Vespertilionidae

Eastern pipistrelle or tri-colored bat •Roosts in caves, buildings, & tree foliage •Hibernates alone or in small groups in caves & mines •Individual hairs are tri-colored

Family Vespertilionidae

Big brown bat •Typically found near humans •Roosts in human structures & hollow trees •Hibernates in caves & human structures (can tolerate unstable environment)

Family Vespertilionidae

Evening bat •Roosts in colonies in trees & human structures (not caves) •Only females migrate south for hibernation

Family Vespertilionidae

Red bat •Roost in dense foliage •Some migrate south for hibernation in hollow trees •Females have 4 mammary glands & 3-4 young

Family Vespertilionidae

Hoary bat •Roost in dense foliage over open areas •Most migrate south for hibernation in hollow trees •Females have 4 mammary glands & 1-2 young •Will form groups while hunting insects

Family Vespertilionidae

Rafinesque’s big-eared bat •Roosts in caves, trees, & human structures •Males & females hibernate together in caves •One young in spring/summer

Family Leporidae

Eastern cottontail •Found in mixed habitats/edges •Breeds Feb.-Sept. & has 1-7 litters (average of 5 young per litter) •Young born altricial, independent at 1 month & reproductively mature at 2-3 months

Family Canidae

Coyote •Found in many habitats, but avoid wolves •Sometimes hunt/travel in small groups •Mates stay together for years •Breed around Feb. & have an average of 6 young in litter •Young born altricial & are reproductively mature at 1 year

Family Canidae

Red fox •Found in open areas & edges •Monogamous, some polygyny •Breed around Feb. & have an average of 5 young in litter •Young born altricial & are reproductively mature around 10 months •Young sometimes stay with mother to help raise her next litter

Family Canidae

Gray fox •Found in or near woods, can climb trees •Monogamous •Breeds around Feb. & has an average of 4 young in litter •Young born altricial & are reproductively mature at 1 year

Family Procyonidae

Raccoon •Found in many habitats near water •Breed in spring & have an average of 4 young in litter •Young often stay with mother through 1st winter & disperse in spring

Family Mustelidae

Least weasel •Found in grassy habitats •Active day & night •Prey killed with bite to neck •Dens taken from prey, stores kill in den for later •Can breed twice per year (spring & late summer) •No delayed implantation •1-7 young per litter •Females born in spring can breed in their 1st summer

Family Mustelidae

Long-tailed weasel •Found in grassy & wooded habitats (not dense forest) •More active at night than day •Sometimes take dens from prey •Mate in the summer & following delayed implantation, have young next spring •Average 6 young per litter •Females mate their 1st summer, males wait until next spring

Family Mustelidae

American mink •Found near water •Most active at night •Promiscuous •Mate late winter, early spring (Feb-March) •1-8 young born in the spring

Family Mustelidae

American badger •Open habitats •Mate in late summer, delayed implantation occurs in winter, an average of 3 young born in spring •Some females mate their 1st summer •Not true hibernators, but spend much of winter in torpor

Family Mustelidae

River otter •Found near water •Build dens in pre-existing burrows •Breed in late winter/early spring, delay implantation & have young a year later •Average 3 young per litter •Disperse at 6-12 months & become reproductively mature at 2-3 years

Family Mephitidae

Striped skunk •Found in open & mixed habitats •Nocturnal, spend days in burrows taken from other animals •Breed in late winter, have delayed implantation, average 5 young born in the spring •Can be kept as a pet in some states

Family Felidae

Bobcat •Found in wooded & agricultural areas near trees •Nocturnal & asocial •Breed in early spring •Average 4 young born in later spring, disperse the following winter

Family Cervidae

White-tailed deer •Found in many habitats, especially woods •Breed in fall/winter, 1 young born in spring during female’s 1st year of breeding, but 2 or more later on •Males leave mother after 1 year, females after 2