![]() ![]() In addition to the adult male-female association during the breeding season and the maternal female to young association, a variety of groupings of otters in different sex and age-classes have been observed. River otters are considered among the more social members of the mustelidae family. The River otter is associated with river, lake, pond or marsh habitats, but may make extensive overland excursions from one such habitat to another. In Oregon, River otters are mostly found west of the Cascade Range but have been found in eastern Klamath County and in Deschutes, Wallowa, and Malheur counties. The dorsum is brown and the venter a lighter brown or tan the lower jaw and throat are whitish. The underfur is grayish, short, and dense, and overlain by longer, stiff and shiny guard hairs. ![]() The eyes are small, forwardly directed and set high on the head. The legs are short and powerful and the toes are webbed. The body tapers to a blunt and slightly flattened head. The heavily muscled, somewhat cylindrical body is thickest at the thorax and tapers posteriorly to a thick, flattened tail. The River otter is adapted for both terrestrial and aquatic environments. They are largely nocturnal but occasionally may be seen abroad during daylight hours. In Oregon, American badgers occur thoughout the region east of the Cascade Range and in eastern Jackson County wherever prey is abundant. The face is black with white splotches surrounding a black "badge" on either cheek. A white stripe extends from the nose pad to the shoulder, and may extend to the rump. Dorsally, the long, shaggy pelage is mottled grayish blending on the venter to light tannish or whitish. The ears are rounded and densely covered with fur but seem large in comparison with those of many digging mammals. The body is flattened and the legs are short but stout the toes of the forefeet are partly webbed and equipped with long, curved claws the hind feet are shaped like miniature shovels and each eye is equipped with a membrane that can be extended to cover it. The American badger is a medium-sized, powerfully built carnivore strongly adapted for digging. The Wolverine is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the Blue Mountains ecoregion. They are powerful animals that often can escape from traps, can tear into buildings or food caches, and can kill even the largest cervids. Trapped or caged individuals can exhibit defensive aggression unmatched by most other species in similar circumstances. The Wolverine has a reputation for having a mean and savage disposition the reputation likely derived from observations of individuals caught in traps or in cages. Activity is greatest at night, but where wolverines are relatively common, sighting a wolverine during daylight hours might be expected. Wolverines do not hibernate, but may be inactive during inclement weather. More recently it was confirmed in Wallowa County, as well. In Oregon, Wolverines have been found on Three-fingered Jack in Linn County, on the Steens Mountains in Harney County, Broken Top Mountain in Deschutes County, and in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area in the Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon. The throat and chest are splotches with yellowish white, and a ventral gland is marked with a narrow streak of white. Lighter markings often produce a face mask. The base color is blackish brown with a pale brown stripe extending along the sides from the head or shoulders to the base of the tail. Fur on the tail is about twice as long as on the body. The pelage consists of a dense, wooly, crimped under fur overlain by course, stiff and somewhat shaggy guard hairs. It is powerfully built with a broad, dog-like head short round ears small eyes a slightly humped back relatively short legs and a bushy, somewhat drooping tale. The Wolverine is the largest terrestrial mustelid in Oregon that, to some degree, resembles a small bear. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |