Small Mammals
Small mammals are smaller-sized, warm-blooded
animals with hair. Young are nourished with milk
from the mother. Examples are foxes, rabbits, and squirrels.
Small mammals are found throughout North America.
Range Maps
All animal descriptions are accompanied by a map showing
the animal's habitat range. The maps are color-coded
as follows:
| |
Summer Range |
| |
Winter Range |
| |
All-Year Range |
|
| Armadillo, Nine-Banded |
Credit:Texas Parks & Wildlife |
 |
Small cat-sized with grayish-brown armor-plated body.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives mainly in woodlands, brushy areas, farmlands, and bluff country. Omnivorous; roots around in damp, moist leaves and brush for its food. Four young of same sex born Mar. - Apr. |
 |
| Badger,
American |
Credit:Texas Parks & Wildlife |
 |
Medium-sized with short black legs and yellowish-gray hair. Medium white stripe over head to nose, white cheeks, and black patch in front of each ear. Long front claws for digging.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in open grasslands, deserts, and thickets of shrubs and trees. Carnivorous; feeds mainly on small rodents. Lives 12 years. Breeds during Jul. - Aug.; two to five young; one litter per year. |
 |
| Beaver,
American |
Credit: Tom J. Ulrich |
 |
Large-sized, brown rodent; naked tail, scaly and paddle-shaped. Large chestnut-colored front teeth and webbed short feet for swimming.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in streams, rivers, ponds, or lakes. Constructs houses of sticks, logs, and mud or burrows in banks; builds dams serving as habitat. Herbivorous. Lives up to 11 years. Two to four kits born Apr. - Jul. |
 |
| Coatimundi |
 |
 |
Member of the raccoon family. Long snout; bear-like paws; reddish, brown, or black coat and white undercoat; usually has a white-ringed tail.
Habitat and Habits:
Varied. Hot, dry areas, rainforests, and cold mountain slopes. 3-7 young born after 11-week gestation. |
 |
| Ferret, Black-footed |
 |
 |
| Protected. Weasel-like in shape, but heavier. Cream or yellowish-brown upper body; ears, chin, and throat fading to white. Dark brown to black feet and tail; dark mask below eyes. |
Habitat and Habits:
Lives on grasslands, steppe, and shrub steppe; usually found in prairie dog towns. Carnivorous. One to five young born about June, appearing above ground in July and dispersing in the fall. |
| Fisher |
Credit: Tom J. Ulrich |
 |
Long bodied, dark brown to nearly black
with grayish head.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in mixed
coniferous and hardwood forests. Good climbers and swimmers,
at home on the ground
or in trees. Omnivorous. One to six young born Mar.
- Apr. |
 |
| Fox,
Common Gray |
Credit: Texas Parks & Wildlife |
 |
Medium-sized with salt-and-pepper fur; face is white under gray and rust; rust color on neck, flanks, and legs; bushy tail topped with black stripe and tip.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in thickets of shrubs or trees, open woodlands,
and rocky areas. Omnivorous.
Mostly nocturnal. Three to seven young born Apr.
- May. |
 |
| Kit
Fox |
Credit: Tom J. Ulrich |
 |
Small- to medium-sized with pale gray
to buff yellow body; whitish underside; large ears;
black-tipped tail.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in open deserts or plains with low vegetation. Carnivorous. Feeds primarily on small rodents and insects.
Nocturnal. Four to seven pups born Feb. - Apr. |
 |
| Fox,
Red |
Credit: Tom J. Ulrich |
 |
Medium-sized, usually reddish-yellow but sometimes gray; can range from darker to lighter; bushy tail with white tip; usually dark legs and paws.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in mixed woodlands, farming areas, and open country. Carnivorous. Three to seven young born Apr. - May. |
 |
| Hare,
Snowshoe |
Credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service |
 |
A large-footed hare with black-tipped,
relatively small ears. In summer, dark brown with small
tail dark above and dusky to white below. In winter,
white on tips of hairs that remain dark at base.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in swamps, forests, and thickets. One of the
shyest of the hares, tries to hide in brush. Nocturnal.
Mostly Herbivorous, but fond of frozen meat. One
to six young per litter; 2 - 3 litters per year. |
 |
| Jackrabbit, Black-Tailed |
Credit:Texas Parks & Wildlife |
 |
Medium-sized with grayish-brown fur with large black-tipped ears and black streak on top of short tail.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in prairies, shrublands
and
semi-arid deserts. Herbivorous. Two to four young per
litter. |
 |
| Mink |
Credit: Tom J. Ulrich |
 |
Medium-sized with dark brown fur and white chin patch; tail slightly bushy.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives along rivers, streams, marshes, ponds, and lakes. Carnivorous. Polygamous. Four to ten young born Jan. - Mar. |
 |
| Muskrat,
Common |
Credit: Tom J. Ulrich |
 |
Small-sized with brown to grayish-brown fur and grayish underside; black, scaly tail; partially-webbed hind feet.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in marshes, ponds, and streams. Omnivorous,
feeds primarily on aquatic vegetation, but also on frogs, and small fish on occasion. Two to six young per litter; two to three litters per year. |
 |
| Nutria |
Credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service, J. & K. Hollingsworth |
 |
Medium-sized, grayish-brown rodent with long, round tail with few hairs. Hind feet are webbed.
Habitat
and Habits:
Lives in marshes, swamps, ponds, and lakes. Herbivorous. Lives up to four years. Nocturnal. Two to eleven young born throughout the year. |
 |
| Opossum,
Virginia |
Credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service, Ed McCrea |
 |
Small- to medium-sized with gray to dark gray fur; whitish face; small ears; rat-like tail.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in woodland, and farming areas; also found in urban areas. Omnivorous. Nocturnal. Up to 14 young per litter several times a year. Young remain in mother’s pouch for several months. |
 |
| Otter,
River |
Credit: Texas Parks & Wildlife |
 |
Protected. Large-sized and weasel-like with brown fur and silvery face, chin, and underside; feet webbed; tail thick at base.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in aquatic habitats around marshes, ponds, and
streams. Carnivorous;
feeds on fish, frogs, crayfish, and crustacea. Lives
more than 14 years. One to five young. |
 |
| Pine
Marten |
Credit: Tom J. Ulrich |
 |
Dark brown to blond, with an orange or tan throat patch, dark legs, light-colored head, and long bushy tail.
Habitat and Habits:
Prefers
coniferous forests or cedar swamps. Active late afternoon, early mornings, and at night. Omnivorous, primarily carnivorous. Two to five young. |
 |
| Porcupine |
Credit: Tom J. Ulrich |
 |
Large rodent, size of small dog; chunky body with short legs. Color varies from black to brownish-yellow. Sharp spines on rump and tail.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in forests or in brushy areas. Herbivorous; likes salt. Lives 7 - 8 years. Primarily nocturnal. Mates in fall; one young born May - Jun. |
 |
| Prairie
Dog |
Credit:Texas Parks & Wildlife |
 |
Small-sized with tan to reddish fur; small ears; light-colored underside; black-tipped short tail.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in dry upland prairies in colonies or “towns” of
burrows. Herbivorous mostly but may eat some insects.
Three to five young born Mar. - Apr. |
 |
| Rabbit,
Eastern Cottontail |
Credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service, William Janus |
 |
Small-sized with brownish-gray fur with cottontail; large ears but not as large as jackrabbit.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in heavy brush in forests, farmlands, thickets of shrubs or trees, swamplands, and weed patches. Herbivorous. Four to seven young per litter; three to four litters per year. |
 |
| Rabbit,
Swamp |
Credit:Texas Parks & Wildlife |
 |
Small with brownish-gray fur and roundish
dark tail; large ears but not as large as jackrabbit.
Habitat
and Habits:
Lives in heavy brush in forests, farmlands, thickets
of shrubs or trees, swamplands, and weed patches. Herbivorous. Four
to seven young per litter; three to four litters
per year. |
 |
| Raccoon,
Common |
Credit: Texas Parks & Wildlife |
 |
Medium-sized with dark and light mixed fur; distinctive black mask across white face; small- to medium-sized ears and ringed tail.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in woods, often near water; also found in urban areas. Omnivorous. Nocturnal. Two to seven young born Apr. - May. |
 |
| Ringtail |
Credit:Texas Parks & Wildlife |
 |
Small- to medium-sized with yellowish gray to darker fur; long whitish and blackish-brown ringed tail; small head and medium-sized ears.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in rocky ridges, cliffs, thickets of shrubs or trees, semi-deserts, and near water. Omnivorous. Lives up to eight years. Nocturnal. Three to four young born May - Jun. |
 |
| Skunk,
Hog-Nosed |
Credit:Texas Parks & Wildlife |
 |
Medium-sized with black fur and solid
white back and tail; long pig-like snout.
Habitat
and Habits:
Lives in semi-open prairies, thickets of shrubs or
trees, mixed woods, rocky areas, and shrublands. Omnivorous.
Mostly nocturnal. Two to four young born Apr. - May. |
 |
| Skunk,
Spotted |
Credit:Texas Parks & Wildlife |
 |
Small-sized with black fur and white
patches on forehead and under ears; four broken white
stripes along neck, back, and sides; white-tipped tail.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in shrublands, farming areas, open wooded lots, along streams,
and prairies. Carnivorous.
Nocturnal. Like striped skunk, emits a strong scent
in defense. Four to seven young born May - Jun. |
 |
| Skunk,
Striped |
Credit: Texas Parks & Wildlife |
 |
Medium-sized with black fur and white
stripes from head to tail.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in semi-open prairies, farming areas, thickets of shrubs or
trees, and mixed woods near water. Omnivorous. Mostly
nocturnal. Emits a strong scent in defense. Five to six young born in May. |
 |
| Squirrel, Abert's |
 |
 |
| Large tree squirrel with reddish ear tufts or “tassels.” Gray body with rusty stripe down back; white belly. Tassels reduced or absent in summer. |
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in isolated mountainous areas, such as 5,000 - 9,000 feet elevations along the Mogollon Plateau and White Mountains. Often found among ponderosa pine trees. Average of four young per litter born April - May; more than one litter in some years. |
| Squirrel,
Eastern Fox |
Credit: Texas Parks & Wildlife |
 |
| Larger rusty-yellowish with orange-red
underside and brushy tail tipped with darker hairs.
|
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in open woodlands, river bottoms, and pine forests
with interspersed clearings. Herbivorous. Lives
up to 10 years. Two to five young born in Jan.
and May. |
| Squirrel,
Eastern Gray |
Credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service, Ryan Hagerty |
 |
| Medium-sized with inner yellowish-rusty
and gray or white-tipped hairs; lighter underside and
bushy tail with varying dark hairs with white or yellow
tips.
|
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in forests, river bottoms, pine forests interspersed
with hardwoods, and clearings. Herbivorous. Lives
up to 15 years. Two to five young per litter. |
| Squirrel,
Thirteen-Lined Ground |
Credit: Tom J. Ulrich |
 |
Brownish with 13 alternating brown
and whitish stripes on back and sides; whitish spots
within brown stripes.
|
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in shortgrass prairies and other areas where grass is kept short. Omnivorous;
primarily feeds on vegetation and insects. Usually solitary. Eight to ten young
per litter, born in May. |
| Squirrel,
Red |
Credit: Tom J. Ulrich |
 |
| Smallest of tree squirrels in its range.
Yellowish or reddish back and whitish belly; bushy
tail.
|
Habitat and Habits:
Lives in coniferous or mixed hardwood forests. Nests
in tree cavities or branches. Herbivorous. Lives
up to 10 years. Three to seven young born Mar. -
Apr. |
| Weasel,
Long-Tailed |
Credit: Tom J. Ulrich |
 |
Long-bodied and short-legged; brown back and white or yellow underside; long tail with black tip.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives on all types of land, preferably near water. Carnivorous. Mostly nocturnal. Four to eight young born Apr. - May. |
 |
| Wolverine |
Credit: Tom J. Ulrich |
 |
Dark brown and bear-like with yellowish stripes starting at the shoulder and joining at the rump.
Habitat and Habits:
Lives close to the timberline or on the tundra. Omnivorous, primarily carnivorous. Travels miles in search of food. Primarily nocturnal. Young born Feb. - Apr. |
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