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Yosemite Wildlife. Nickolas Littau. Black Bears. Called Black Bears, but they’re often not black Can be brown, blonde, and even white Mainly vegetarian diet of grasses, herbs, berries, and nuts Some non-vegetarian sources include ants, termites, and bees
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Yosemite Wildlife Nickolas Littau
Black Bears • Called Black Bears, but they’re often not black • Can be brown, blonde, and even white • Mainly vegetarian diet of grasses, herbs, berries, and nuts • Some non-vegetarian sources include ants, termites, and bees • They don’t usually eat, meat, but will if other food sources are low • Yosemite contains about 300 to 500 black bears
Mule Deer • One of the most common animals in Yosemite • Have large ears and an overall large size • Antler growth begins in the spring, and grow to full size in the summer • Eat a variety of vegetation, including leaves, beans, shrubs, and grasses
Sierra Nevada Red Fox • Endangered species • One of the most endangered in North America • Slightly smaller and darker than other red foxes • Not much is known of the life of the Sierra Nevada Red Fox, as sightings are very uncommon • Live at about 6000 feet elevation • Live in rock outcrops, logs, and burrows in soil
Great Gray Owl • Endangered species • Largest North American owl • Can also be found in Europe and Asia • About two feet tall • 5 foot wingspan • Distinctive bright yellow eyes • Yosemite holds 65% of California’s Great Gray Owls
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep • State and federally endangered • Only species in Yosemite endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act • About 3 feet tall • 140 – 220 pounds • Females have small narrow horns while males have larger ones • Eat grasses located on open plateaus and meadows • Color can be anywhere from white to dark brown
Mountain Lion • Black-tipped eats and tail • About 130-150 pounds (less for females) • Hunt small mammals at night for food • Adults can be over 8 feet long • Mountain Lions cannot roar but can create a loud scream • Will often eat Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, which are federally endangered
Bats • Yosemite contains 17 species of bats • Most common is the Big brown bat • Largest bat is the Western mastiff bat (also the largest bat in North America) • Smallest bat is the Western pipistrelle • During the day, Yosemite’s bats enter a sleep state, letting their body temperature drop • Have an average lifespan of 34 years
Rattlesnake • Brownish-gray in color • Triangular head, narrow neck, and vertical pupils • 2-4 feet long • Mainly feeds on ground squirrels • Lives under rocks, locks, and woodpiles • Rarely rattle, even in the presence of predators • Flick their tongues to obtain scent information
Alpine Butterfly • Usually live above 10,000 feet in elevation • Average lifespan is two to four weeks • Population is declining at Sierra Nevada sites • Many butterflies in Yosemite choose to fly at such a high elevation because alpine plants are used as food and egg-laying sites • Climate change is affecting plants, which is then affecting many species of butterflies
Summary • Yosemite is the home to over 400 species of vertebrates • Many of these species are endangered, some critically • Climate change, deforestation, and uncontrolled wildfires destroy the animals’ habitats • While Yosemite National Park is an extremely diverse ecosystem, we need to work to keep it that way.
Information gathered from: National Park Service (nps.gov) • http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/mountainlion.htm • http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/butterflies.htm • http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/sheep.htm • http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/great-gray-owl.htm • http://www.nps.gov/wica/naturescience/mule-deer-odocoileus-hemionus.htm yosemitepark.com: http://www.yosemitepark.com/yosemite-wildlife.aspx theanimalfiles.com: http://www.theanimalfiles.com/habitats/yosemite_national_park.html http://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/carnivores/bear_american_black.html
Images (in order of appearance): Licensed under CC-BY-SA, by Ellen Finch Licensed under CC-BY, by docentjoyce Public Domain, U.S. Forest Service Licensed under CC-BY-SA, by Arne List Public Domain, U.S. Dept. of Fish and Game Licensed under CC-BY, by USFWS Mountain-Prairie Public Domain, National Park Service Licensed under CC-BY-SA, by Tigerhawkvok Public Domain, Adrian198cm