Feral Horse

(escaped domesticated horses- originally evolved in N. Am. but became extinct, feral horse introduced by explorers in 1500s)

range: western US, E. Coast

non-migratory

habitat: variable- densely forested, mountainous terrain, brushlands, dry ridges and swaps

diet: herbivore (grasses and grass-like plants comprise bulk of diet), HINDGUT fermentation

litter: 1 (rarely 2), born April-May, every 2 years

repro: polygynous (harem)

status: pop. decreased in early 1900s, current populations INCREASING is not controlled by BLM

can compete with native wildlife, damage habitat and waterholes

**1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act

Collared Peccary

(aka "Javelina")

description: greyish, coarse hair, "collar", 3 hind toes, upper tusks point DOWNWARD

range: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas to S. America

locally migrant

habitat: dense scrubby ground cover, thickets near rivers

diet: opportunistic omnivore (favors prickly pear)

litter: 2-6 year round (mostly summer)

repro: polygynous, dominant male, herd of 6-30

status:INCREASING, northern range expansion since Euro. settlement (livestock grazing replaces native grasses), important game species, may become a nuisance in residential areas

Wild Pig

description: upper tusks point UPWARD

range: Southeastern US, S. midwest, southwestern US

non-migratory

variable habitat: densely forested mountainous terrain, brushlands, dry ridges and swamps

diet: opportunistic omnivore (tears up vegetation and soil surface while foraging)

litter: 3-12 year round

repro: polygynous, male solitary, female family groups

status: INCREASING- hunted game animal, take is usu. liberal because they are so abundant

NOT NATIVE (native to Europe and Asia), introduced in  numerous locations as game animal, can hybridize with domestic pig

can be ag. pest and in wildlife areas like Hawaii and Channel Islands because they damage ground cover, soil an dground nesting birds

American Elk

description: dark mane, white rump, reddish brown, "spreading" antlers

range: formerly distibuted across N. America

local migrant

habitat: variable

summer- chiefly high open mountain pastures

winter- lower wooded slopes, often dense woods

diet: herbivore (grazer)

litter: 1-2 (spring-summer)

repro: polygynous, harems (alpha male), breeds Aug-Nov

status: INCREASING

popular game species, reintroduced to E. US (Pennsylvania), Yellowstone heavily overgrazed by elk before reintroduction of wolves

3 CA subspecies: Roosevelt Elk, Rocky Mountain Elk, Tule Elk

Tule Elk once widespread across CA, #s dropped after gold rush (<10), preserved through provate conservation effortsl; herds reintroduced to Pt. Reyes, grizzly Island, etc., intensively managed, INCREASING

Mule Deer

description: black-tipped tail, *dichotomous antlers, *big ears

range: Wester US and Canada

local migrant

habitat: mixed habitats: forest edges, mtns. and foothills, distinct winter vs. summer ranges

diet: herbivore- browser (prefers younger shrubs, new vegetation)

litter: 1-2 (spring-summer)

repro: polygynous, fall-winter, tending bonds (males compete and stay with female until she is in estrus), Flehmen behavior (gland above the palate used in chemical communication)

status: currently DECLINING, hunted for sport and meat, intensively managed

urban deer increasingly common, can be nuisance in gardens, high mortality from vehicle collisions

rare subspecies: Cedros Islabd Mule Deer found off Baja CA, Mexico

White-tailed Deer

description: fluffy white tail, "main beam" antlers

range: USA, Canada to S. America (usu. absent from CA)

local migrant

habitat: farmlands, brushy areas, woods, suburbs and gardens

diet: herbivore-browser (shrubs)

litter: 1-3 (spring-summer)

repro: polygynous, tending bonds, fall-winter

status: INCREASING

very important game species, hunted for sport and meat, intensively managed

may become pest when overpopulated

subspecies: Key Deer is endangered, found only in FL keys, refuge established, continuous concerns: habitat loss, car collisions

Moose

description: long elongated snout, antlers fully pomaded (plate)

range: reduced from original range, overhunted in 1900s

local migrant

habitat: spruce forest, swamps, aspen and willow thickets; like aquatic areas and distrubed habitats (logged, fire, etc.)

diet: herbivore- browser, and aquatic plants

litter: 1-2 (spring-summer)

repro: polygynous, Sept-Oct

status: INCREASING, hunted for meat and trophies in many areas of range, thrives in logged or burned areas, may hinder forest regeneration

Caribou

(ask Reindeer)

description: large "U-shaped" antlers with front part pomaded, usu. lighter colored

range: holarctic, Canada, Alaska

range reduced especially in southern wooded portion

animals in given region divided into herds, keep same ranges over many years

migration: moves between calving and wintering grounds in huge herds, may travel 5055 km (farthest of any terrestrial mammal)

*woodland subspecies is NON migratory

habitat: tundra and taiga, wher lichens are in conifer forests

diet: herbivore- grazer and browser, lichen important in winter

litter: 1-2, May-July

repro: polygynous, Oct-Nov

status: prob. STABLE

game species, important cultural role for indigenous peoples

early uncontrolled hunting greatly reduced range, introduced disease from white-tailed deer

Woodland caribou endangered in WA and ID

present concerns: habitat loss and environmental modification, oil and gas drilling, climate change

 Pronghorn

description: reddish with white, unique HORN (but shed each year, like antlers)

range: midwest, Rockies, SW US

local migrant

habitat: grasslands, also grassy brushlands, bunchgrass-sagebrush areas

diet: herbivore- grazer, browses in winter

litter: 1-2, May-June

repro: polygynous, Sept-Oct

status: range explanding/ increasing

35 mill. before Euro. settlement, <20,000 in 1920s, persecuted by ranchers, fences block routes to critical winter range (won't jump fences), controlled hunting in some parts of range

Sonoran subspecies endangered in AZ in wild, captive breeding, border fences

Bison

description: massive head, shaggy wooly coat, humped shoulders, largest animal in N. America

range: scattered areas across midwest, Rockies, Great Plains, etc.

local migrant

habitat: open plains and grasslands in south; woodlands and openings in north

diet: herbivore-grazer

litter: 1-2, April-June

repro: polygynous, July-Sept

status: STABLE

60 mil. pre-Euro. settlement, central to lifestlye of Great Plains tribes, hunted nearly to extinction by 1900 (gov policy: kill bison to starve native people, commercial and subsistence hunting, replaced with cattle to further ag. interests)

165,000 today (90% private), Yellowstone is only place in US where a wild herd has been continually maintained

Mountain Goat

description: white, black horns

range: Pacific NW, Rockies, W. Canada, Alaska

elevational migrant

habitat: rocky mountain areas above timberline

diet: herbivore -grazer (grasses) and browser (mosses and lichens important in winter)

litter: 1-3, May-June

repro: polygynous, Nov-Dec

status: STABLE, less affected by humans because habitat is inaccessible (avalanches and rockslides are greatest cause of mortality), climate change pushing forests uphill, limited hunting in most of range

introduced pop. in Olympic nat'l park damaging highly endemic plant communities (live capture attempts ineffective, 1995 proposal to shoot from helicopters)

Muskox

description: long hair, "skirt", horn low and turn up

range: high arctic N. America, Greenland

local migrant

habitat: arctic tundra (summer), lake shores and valleys (winter)

diet: herbivore (grazer and browser), woody plants important in winter

litter: 1, April-May, every other year

repro: polygynous, Sept is peak

when threatened, adults form a ring around young

status: STABLE, nearly hunted to extinction in 1800s for meat and hides, now protected game species, recovered in some areas

undercoat harvested in captive AK populations

Bighorn Sheep

description: greyish brown, big curved horns

range: Rockies, Great Basin, SW US

local migrant

habitat: semi-open, precipitous mountain terrain with rocky slopes from alpine meadow to hot desert (with grasses)

diet: herbivore (grazer and browser), woody plants important in winter

litter: 1, April-June

repro: polygynous, Fall-winter, rams butt heads during the rut

status: prob STABLE range wide, regional and subspecies decline, game species

Sierra Nevada subspecies federally endangered- reintroductions attempted, annual desert bighorn hunt raises money for conservation/research, competition from domestic and feral livestock, introduced disease (pneumonia), predation from mtn. lions

Dall's Sheep

description: WHITE with big curved horns (same as Bighorn Sheep but *white)

range: British Columbia, Yukon, Alaska

local migrant

habitat: semi-open precipitous terrain with rocky slopes, grass and shrubs

diet: herbivore (grazer and browser), woody plants in winter

litter: 1, April-June

repro: polygynous, Nov-Dec

status: STABLE, game animal, possible future problems similar to Bighorn's (climate change)