American Bison: A Symbol of Resilience and Conservation

The American bison, often called the buffalo, stands as an iconic symbol of the Great Plains, embodying the resilience of North America's wildlife. Once, these impressive creatures roamed the continent in vast herds, numbering an estimated 30-60 million before European settlement. The bison, North America's largest land mammal, can weigh up to 2,000 pounds, with males standing nearly six feet tall at the shoulder. Their immense size and presence evoke a sense of natural majesty, reflecting the expansive landscapes they inhabit.

Adapted to the extreme conditions of the plains, bison possess physical traits uniquely suited for survival. Their thick, shaggy fur provides insulation against freezing winters, while their dense muscle hump supports their heads, allowing them to plow through heavy snow in search of food. Unlike other grazers that may struggle in winter, bison use their large, powerful heads to sweep aside snow, uncovering the grasses beneath. Their diet consists mainly of grasses and sedges, which are abundant in prairie ecosystems. This grazing behavior is crucial to maintaining the health of grasslands, as it encourages new plant growth and prevents overgrowth that could stifle other species.

Historically, bison held profound significance for Indigenous peoples, who relied on them for sustenance, clothing, shelter, and tools. Every part of the animal was used, highlighting a deep respect and sustainable relationship with the environment. However, the 19th century marked a tragic period for bison, as overhunting and habitat destruction nearly led to their extinction. The U.S. government sanctioned widespread bison killings, partially to weaken Indigenous communities reliant on them, drastically reducing their numbers to only a few hundred by the 1880s.

In the 20th century, dedicated conservation efforts by individuals, Indigenous communities, and organizations like the National Park Service helped revive bison populations. Today, they are protected in national parks and wildlife refuges, symbolizing a triumph of conservation. The American bison's story is one of survival and revival, embodying the enduring spirit of the natural world. Their continued presence enriches North American ecosystems, offering a living testament to the importance of protecting wildlife and preserving cultural heritage.
American Bison: A Symbol of Resilience and Conservation

Raccoons: Adaptable and Resourceful North American Icons

Raccoons are among the most recognizable North American animals, largely due to their frequent appearances in folklore and stories. Their distinctive gray to black fur, accented by black rings on their tail and the characteristic black “burglar mask” over their eyes, makes them easily identifiable. Adult raccoons have a head and body length of 16-24 inches, a tail length of 8-16 inches, and can weigh up to 26.5 pounds.

One of the keys to their survival has been their remarkable adaptability, allowing them to thrive despite drastic changes in their native environments. Raccoons possess incredibly dexterous front paws, almost hand-like, which enable them to manipulate objects and access food sources with ease. Their feet have long toes, further enhancing their ability to navigate diverse terrains. This adaptability and dexterity have enabled raccoons to thrive in both urban and rural areas, where they can often be seen rummaging through trash bins or foraging in forests. Their intelligence and resourcefulness have made them a symbol of cunning and resilience in many cultures.

Raccoons are omnivorous animals with a highly varied diet, contributing significantly to their adaptability and survival. In the wild, they eat a mix of plant and animal matter, including fruits, nuts, berries, and grains, which provide essential nutrients. They also consume small animals like insects, frogs, fish, and birds, as well as eggs. Their diet shifts seasonally, with more plant-based foods in spring and summer and increased reliance on animal protein in the colder months.

In urban areas, raccoons often scavenge through garbage, eating discarded human food, which has led to their reputation as opportunistic feeders. They are known to raid gardens and crops, seeking vegetables and fruits. Their dexterous front paws allow them to open containers and manipulate objects to access food. This diverse diet helps raccoons thrive in various environments, from forests and marshes to cities and suburbs, demonstrating their remarkable adaptability and resourcefulness.
Raccoons: Adaptable and Resourceful North American Icons

Squirrels in general

Squirrels are classified as members of the rodent order, one of fourteen orders of mammals and the largest group among all mammals. They live in grasslands, forests, and deserts.

Most squirrels fall into two main categories – ground squirrels and tree squirrels.

The squirrel family is one of 31 families of rodents and consists of about 250 different species, including chipmunks and marmots. The color of a squirrel’s coat usually depends on where it leaves. Gray squirrels are the most common tree squirrels in North America.

Squirrels are classified by their scientific name: sciuridae, a Latin designation originally taken from the Greek worlds meaning ‘shadow tail’.

All squirrels share a number of anatomical features – teeth, jaw musculature, skull and other bones – that scientists use to identify recent and fossil squirrels.

Squirrels have long, sharp front teeth. The four front teeth, two on the bottom and two on the top, are gnawing teeth celled incisors.

Squirrels have good eyesight. Their eyes are set high on the sides of their head. This allows them to see all around without having to move their heads a lot.
Squirrels in general

Squirrels of North America

Squirrels are hoppers like rabbits, but they normally leave two sets of paired tracks, one in front of the other, with prints from the larger hid feet appearing in front of smaller front feet.

Squirrels constitute a family, the Sciuridae, of the order Rodentia, all being descendents of a common ancestor that lived some 30-40 million years ago. They live in grasslands, forests, and deserts.

Most squirrels fall into two main categories – ground squirrels and tree squirrels. Ground squirrels are talented diggers, constructing burrow systems that may be quite elaborate with multiple entrances. They vary in how social they are, with some species living in colonies with much interaction and others leading more solitary lives.

The squirrel family is one of 31 families of rodents and consists of about 250 different species, including chipmunks and marmots. The eastern gray squirrel and the fox squirrel coexist over a large part of the eastern United States, from Florida at Michigan, commonly with the southern flying squirrel and without the North American red squirrel.

Squirrels are classified by their scientific name: sciuridae, a Latin designation originally taken from the Greek worlds meaning ‘shadow tail’. All squirrels share a number of anatomical features – teeth, jaw musculature, skull and other bones – that scientists use to identify recent and fossil squirrels.
Squirrels of North America

Pine marten

Martens are members of the same family of mammals as the badgers, otters, ferrets, weasels and ermine. They resemble large ferrets or weasels, with long, lithe bodies, short legs and pointed muzzles.

The European marten (M. foina) inhabits most parts of Europe. It is a most elegant and lively animal, exceedingly agile and graceful in its motions. The female breeds in hollows trees and produces from three to seven young at a time, which in winter, have sometimes been found sheltered in magpies’ pests.

The American marten, Martes americana of North America, is about 20-23 inches long with an 8 inch tail. It has light red to blackish fur and a buff or orange-colored throat patch.

Martes americana

It lives in forests, showing a preference for conifers, and range across most of the northern United States, Canada, and Alaska. This species is also found in Northern Asia and Europe.

It very closely resembles the marten of Europe, but may distinguished but its smaller size, longer legs, finer, thicker and more glossy fur and from the throat being marked by a broad yellow spot whilst the same part in the European marten is white.

This agile mustelid American marten speeds through the trees in pursuit of red squirrels and other prey. It will also hunt birds and insects and forage for fruit, nuts, and carrion.
Pine marten

Black bear

Three species inhabit Canada: the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus), Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) and Black bear (Ursus americanus).

Black bears, the most common and widespread in Canada, may also be brown, cinnamon or even white. Males weigh 80-250 kg: females are 10% lighter.

In the United States, black bears mainly live in the Ricky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains, in the Northeast and on the West Coast. Black bears also live in parts of Alaska.

Ursus americanus

Black bears are the only bears that climb trees into adulthood, so they’re commonly found in wooded sections of the arctic all the way to Mexico. Black bears typically hibernate during winter, so their tracks are seldom seen in snow.

Bears live a solitary life for the most part. Bears are only found in groups in families, during the breeding season, or at sites with abundant food. Black bears maintain defined home ranges or territory that overlap and may be defended against intruding.
Black bear

Canada goose

The Canada goose (Branta canadensis) is the large goose commonly seen in suburban and farming areas. The Canada goose is recognizable by it distinctive colorings. The species is characterized by its grayish colored body combined with a solid black head and neck with white cheek patches.

They love throughout most of North America. They are commonly seen in coast, park, and farm field. Waterfowl biologists have classified 11 distinct subspecies of Canada geese in North America, based on sizes, plumages, breeding range locales, migration routes and wintering locales.

The Canada goose is mostly vegetarian, although the goslings eat tremendous quantities of insects during the first few weeks of life. Canada geese feed almost exclusively on plants, eating roots, shoots, stems, blades and seeds. In shallow water, geese tip their bodies forward, dip their heads under, and use their round-tipped bills to pull up aquatic vegetation.

The Canada goose may be named after the country of Canada but the species can be found all over North America spending on the time of year. Canada goose adapts well to their environment, although ideally they like to live in low areas with lots of open waters.
Canada goose

American bison

Bison are hoofed mammals that have curved horns and a dark brown, shaggy coat. They are distinguished by a shoulder hump. The scientific name for American bison is Bison bison.

The bison’s hump helps support its huge head. The hair on the hump and on the bison’s whole front end is two to five times thicker than the hair on the rear end. The bison also has sharp, curved horn.

Bison bison

Larger than cattle, bison have 14 pairs of ribs compared to the 13 that cattle have. Long before the first Europeans arrived in North America, American bison roamed the continent from Great Slave Lake in what is now Canada to what is now Mexico.

Bison measure about 11 and one-half feet in length. It stands about 6.5 feet (2 meters) tall at the shoulder. It may weigh about 900 kgs. The females are smaller.

American bison prefer grasslands and open prairies. Today the American bison is found mainly in protected areas such as national parks.

They are herbivores. Herbivores are animals that eat plants. Bison eat mostly prairie grasses and plants.
American bison

Moose (Eurasian elk)

Moose are the largest members of the deer family, a group that also includes caribou, elk and white tailed deer.  But unlike the other deer species, moose are usually solitary animals, preferring to live alone. They are also one of the largest land mammals in North America.

Moose love in the United States and Canada. They also live in parts of northern Europe and Asia, where they are called elk.

A moose makes its ho0me in and near the forests, swamps and bodies of water found in these regions. Moose habitat has to heave leafy trees and freshwater. It also has to have cold weather.

Moose have large bodies and heads. They are more than 6 feet tall. They have lumps on their shoulders. Their legs are long and thin. Moose’s front legs are longer than their back legs. In winter, a moose’s long legs help it move though deep snow. Moose can even run in deep snow.

A moose can weigh from 600 to 1800 pounds. Just one moose could weigh more than 20 children. Despite its huge size and weight, the moose is very agile.
Moose (Eurasian elk)

Elk (Cervus canadensis)

Elk are large, hoofed mammals, with bulls having a massive set of antlers, often six or more points to a side. Elk have a reddish brown body, which becomes dark brown in the neck area, and a cream-colored rump patch.

There has long been confusion over the names elk and wapiti as applied to Cervus Canadensis. European who first came to America knew about the European moose (elk in Europe) and also familiar with European red deer.

Originally occupying the more northerly parts of North America from coast to coast, the elk is now largely confined to western regions where it lives in loosely organized herds that migrated to mountain summer ranges in May and June, and back to the lowlands in November.

Cervus canadensis

Elk have been classified by biologists into at least six subspecies:
*Eastern (Cervus Canadensis canadensis)
*Rocky Mountain (Cervus nelsoni)
*Roosevelt (Cervus canadensis roosevelti)
*Manitoban (Cervus canadensis manitobensis)
*Merriam (Cervus canadensis merriami)
*Tule (Cervus nannodes)

Eastern elk was native to Arkansas but became extinct by the 1840s. Elk populations across North America once numbered in million s but over hunting and habitat disruption have reduced the populations.

The Rocky maintains Elk was then introduced in 1933. Elk prefer semi-open forested areas in mountains, mountain meadows and foothills. They are found at higher elevations during the summer and generally migrate to lower elevations with the first heavy snowfall. For a large mammal, elk are quite elusive.
Elk (Cervus canadensis)

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

A rich colored animal having a white tipped tail. The scientific name, Vulpes, is the Latin word for ‘fox’. The common name, ‘red’ refers to the fur color, while ‘fox’ is the Anglo-Saxon name for this animal and refers to its crafty behavior.

Red foxes have been recorded in habitats as diverse as tundra, desert and forest as well as in city centers. The animals is a small canid native to much of North America and Eurasia, as well as northern Africa. It is the most recognizable species of fox and in many area it is referred to simply as ‘the fox’.

Natural habitats is dry, mixed landscape, with abundant ‘edge’ of scrub and woodland.

Red foxes are adaptable and opportunistic omnivores, with a diet ranging from invertebrates e.g. earthworms and beetles to mammals and birds including game birds. They do also eat some plant material, especially blackberries, apples, plums and other fruit.

The red fox is doglike in appearance with an elongated muzzle; large, pointed ears, which are usually held erect and forward; moderately long legs; a long, heavily furred and bushy tail that is circular in cross section and long thick soft body fur.

The red fox is most commonly a rusty red, with white underbelly, black ear tips and legs, and a bushy tail usually with a distinctive white tip.

There are nine closely related species in the Vulpes genus. Each has evolved from a relatively recent common ancestor.
Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

North American Porcupine

Porcupines rank among the world’s most widely recognized animals. Among local rodents, porcupines are second in size only to the beaver. The animals appear even larger and heavier than they actually are because of the abundant pelage.

Porcupines belong to two separate families of the Hystricomorph suborder of rodents. One family, the Erethizontidae, lives in the New World – North and South America. There are five genera of Erethizontidae. The other family, the Hystricidae, lives in the Old World – Eurasia and Africa.

Scientific name for North American porcupine: Erethizon dorsatum. The North American porcupine occurs from Alaska and Canada southward to northern Mexico. In the United States, the animals are present in all forested regions except the Southeast.

The porcupine is adapted to a variety of habitats. It is largely an inhabitant of forested areas in the West and prefers rocky areas. They are expert at climbing trees, although their movements are slow, methodical and seemingly awkward.

Although the bulk of their species range coincides with coniferous forest, porcupines inhabit a variety of other habitats including mixed forests.

Habitat use generally refers seasonal and vegetation changes, and also may be educated by activities including foraging predator avoidance and resting or sleeping.
North American Porcupine