Fur Bearing Animal Identification

Fur Bearing Animal Identification From foukeffa.org Written by Patti Hayes Ag Student Texas A&M GA Ag Ed Curriculum Office To accompany the Georgia Agriculture Education Curriculum Lesson 03411-8 July 2001

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

Fur Bearing Animal Identification