u.s. fish & wildlife service bombay hook national wildlife ... · tim williams. bombay hook...
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Bombay HookNational Wildlife Refuge2591 Whitehall Neck RoadSmyrna, DE 19977302/653 9345 Office 302/653 6872 Visitor Center302/653 0684 FaxEmail [email protected]/northeast/bombayhook
Federal Relay Servicefor the deaf and hard-of-hearing1 800/877 8339
This brochure is also available upon request in a large print version.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service1 800/344 WILD
July 2010
Bombay HookNational Wildlife RefugeMammals
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Red foxTim Williams
BombayHookNationalWildlifeRefugesislocatedincoastalDelaware.The15,978-acrerefugeisrelativelyflatwithmostelevationslessthantenfeetabovesealevel.Themajorhabitattype,consistingof13,100acres,istidalsaltandbrackishmarshintersectedbywindingrivers,guts,andcreeks.Landwardofthemarsharefreshwaterimpoundments,timberedswamps,mixeddeciduouswoodlands,brushythickets,andgrassyfields.
Thisvarietyofhabitatsprovidesessentialfoodandcoverrequirementsforaninterestingcombinationofmammalspecies.Thosemostfrequentlyseen,especiallyintheearlymorningandthelateafternoon,arethecottontailrabbit,woodchuck,graysquirrel,redfox,andwhite-taileddeer.Lesscommonlyobservedaretheraccoon,skunk,opossum,andmuskrat.
Becauseofacombinationofsmallsize,secretivehabits,ornocturnalactivity,manymammalsareseldomseen.However,thecarefulobserverwillseetracks,trails,tunnels,burrows,nestsandothersignsthatrevealtheirpresence.
Thirty-fivemammalspecieshavebeenidentifiedontherefuge;however,additionalspeciesnativetotheregionprobablyarepresentbuthavenotasyetbeenverified.ThefollowinglistwaspreparedbyrefugepersonnelwiththecooperationofFrederickA.Ulmer,Jr.ofthePhiladelphiaZoologicalGarden.CommonandscientificnamesarefromMammalSpeciesoftheWorld,AmericanSocietyofMammalogists,SmithsonianInstitution,NationalMuseumofNaturalHistory,1993.
Virginia Opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) Theonlymarsupial(youngcarried inapouchonbellyoffemale)foundin NorthAmerica.Commonlyfoundin allshelteredhabitats.Normallyactive onlyatnight;therefore,whilepresent, seldomseenontherefuge.Eatsfruit, vegetables,nuts,meat,eggs,insects, andcarrion.Thesizeofalargecat,has apointedsnout,nakedtail,and opposablethumbsonitshindfeet.
Cinereus Shrew (Sorex cinereus) AlsoknownastheMaskedShrew.In ourarea,themostcommonmemberof theShrewfamily.Inhabitsallland areas.Huntsforinsectsandother smallanimalsdayornight;eatsmore thanitsownbodyweighteachday. About31⁄2incheslongwithatail40 percentofitstotallength.Itisbrown aboveandgrayish-whitebelow.
Northern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda)
Mostabundantindampwoodswith thickleafmold.Salivahasatoxic poisonthatallowsitamorevarieddiet thanothershrews.Feedsoninsects, worms,snails,otherinvertebrates, andsmallvertebrates,somelarger thanitself.Hasnoexternalearsand shorttail.Velvetyfurcanbeblack, brown,orgray.Largestshrewspecies inourarea.Canbefoundin FinisWoods.
Thisgoose,designedbyJ.N.“Ding”Darling,hasbecomethesymboloftheNationalWildlifeRefugeSystem.
Mammals
Opossum with young RobertSavannah
Least Shrew (Cryptotis parva) Foundinopen,grassyareasand marshes.Distinguishedfromother shrewsbycinnamoncolorandshort tail.Eatsinsects,spiders,and earthworms.Moresociableandless aggressivethanothershrews.
Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus) Inhabitsmoist,uplandsoilswhereit tunnelsitswayunderthesurface. Activedayandnightinburrowswhere iteatsworms,otherinsects,andsome vegetablematter.Hasnakedtail,no externalears,andeyescovered withthinskin.
Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata) Theonlymammalwithnose surroundedbyfinger-like,fleshy projectionsgivingappearanceofa star.Preferslow,wetgroundwhereit burrowsforinsects,manyofthem aquatic.Oftenappearsaboveground.
Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus) AlsoknownastheLittleBrownBat itscolorrangesfromdarkbrownto golden,reddish,orolivebrown. Presentduringthewarmmonths. Seeninflightatdusknearthewoods andoverthepoolsoftherefuge.Finds preybyecholocationandfeedson insectsonthewing;flightiserratic. Migratestohibernationsitesinwinter.
Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) Foundinswamps,flyingamong floodedtrees,andinforestedareasin searchofflyinginsects.Lookforitat FinisPool.Flieshighandfairly straight.Distinguishedbyblackish- browncolor.Solitary,hibernatesin treecavitiesalthoughmanymigrate inwinter.
Eastern Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus) Appearsearlyonsummerevenings andearlymornings.Flightisslowand erratic.Feedsonsmallinsects.Oneof thesmallestbatsinthisarea. Yellowishtodrabbrownincolor. Migratestocaveswherethousands hibernatetogether.
Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) Distinguishedbydarkbrowncolor andlargesize.Oneofourmost commonbats.Activeonwarm evenings.Feedsoninsects,especially onflyingbeetles.
Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis) Acommonwoodlandbatthatroostsin treesuntildeepdusk.Flightissteady andrapid.Usuallyfeedsinpairs, flyingoverthesameareaand followingthesamerouteoverand over.Rusty-redincolor.
Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) Thelargesteasternbat,itisfoundin woodlands;flieslateandhighin solitaryflight.Feedsonflyinginsects; prefersmoths.Hangsintreesduring day.Migratessouthinwinter.Coloris yellowishtomahoganybrown.
Big Brown Bat
Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
Commoninthewoodlands,alongthefieldedges,aroundthefreshwaterimpoundments,andinthesaltmarsh.Mostactiveatnight,butalsoseeninthedaytime.Identifiedbyblackmask overeyesandringedtail.
Omnivorous;eatsanythingavailable. Oftendunksfoodinwater(asa lubricanttoaidswallowing).Lookfor evidence(scat)onBoardwalkTrail overtheSaltMarsh.
Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata) Chieflynocturnal,butalsomaybe activeduringtheday.Feedsmostlyon smallmammals,somelargerthan itself.Hasalongslenderbodywitha longneckandablack-tippedtailas longasitsbody.Afewarepresentin theuplandareasofBombayHook thatarenearwater.
American Mink (Mustela vison) Anexcellentswimmer.Feedsonsmall mammals,includingmuskrats,but alsofrogs,andfish.Mostlynocturnal. Knownforitsthick,glossydarkbrown fur.Anoccasionalminkmaybefound inthemarshoralongthestreamsin therefuge.
Northern River Otter (Lutra canadensis) Alargeweasel-likeanimalwith smallearsandabroadsnout, richbrownincolor.Anaquatic mammal;feedsonfish,frogs, andcrayfish.Makesdensin bankswithentrancebelow water.Playful,likestoslide downmudbanks;familiesplay together.Livesintherefuge impoundments,butcanbeseen alsoinRaymondGutalongthe BoardwalkTrail.
Red Fox (Vulpes fulva) Oneofthemostcommonlyseen mammalsontherefuge,usuallyalong theedgesoftheroad,butmostactive atdawn,dusk,andatnight.Feedson smallanimals,insects,berries, andotherfruit.Foundinuplandareas oftherefugeaswellasinthesalt marsh.Usuallyreddishbrownwith blacklegsandfeetandawhitetipped tail,buttherearemanycolor variationsincludinggrayandblack.
Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) Averyrareinhabitantoftherefuge;is almosttotallynocturnal;andisfound onlyinlimitedhabitats–mixed hardwoodforests,oldfields,and heavilywoodedswamps.Thisspecies isverysecretiveandgenerallyavoids cultivatedfieldsandinhabitedareas. Readilyclimbstreestoavoiddanger, theonlydogspeciestodoso.Varied dietincludessmallmammals,insects, birds,fruitandgrasses.Coloris overallgraywithablackstripedown itstail.
Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) OccasionallysightedalongDelaware BayatPortMahonandatthemouth oftheLeipsicRiver.Thisisthe commonsealseenalongthispartof theAtlanticCoast.Colorvariable; lightwithdarkspotsordarkwithlight rings.Dietconsistsoffish.
River Otter
Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) Commonintheuplandareasatnight. Recognizedbyitsodoranditsblack bodyandwhitestripe.Omnivorous, feedingoninsects,grubs,eggs, mice,berries,andcarrion.Active shortlyaftersundownandto nearsunrise.
Racoon with kitRobertSavannah
Woodchuck (Marmota monax) Abundant.Alsoknownasthe Groundhog.Livesindeepburrows excavatedinfields,woods,andalong theimpoundmentdikesontherefuge. Thick-bodied,short-legged,brown colored.Thismammalisavegetarian, feedingongrasses,weeds,andgarden crops.Inourarea,hibernatesfrom OctobertoFebruary.
Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) Livesamonglogsandstumpsinthe hardwoodareas.LookforitinFinis andBearSwampwoods.Solitaryand feedsonseeds,bulbs,fruits,nuts, insects,andeggs.Runswithtail straightup.Hasareddishrump,black andwhitestripesonback.
Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) Inhabitstheoakandhickory woodlandsthataremostaccessibleto thepublicontheBearSwampTrail andatFinisWoods.Arboreal,rarely venturingfarfromtrees;althoughit storesnutsandacornsinsmallholes intheground,someofwhich germinateandgrowintotrees.Diet alsoincludesflowers,birds’eggs, fungi,andcarrion.Usuallygrayabove, whitishbelowwithbrownwashon headandbushytail.
Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) Probablyabundant,buthardlyever seenbecauseitistotallynocturnal. Inhabitshollowtrees inwooded swampsoftherefugetoemergeonly afterdark.Itglidesfromtreetotree onaflapofskinbetweenitsfrontand hindlegs.Ithassilkygray-brownfur aboveandwhitebelowwithlarge, blackeyes.Itfeedsonnuts,seeds, insects,berries,birds’eggs,and smallerrodents.
American Beaver (Castor canadensis) Firstreportedontherefugein1938,it wasre-discoveredduringthefallof 1977afteranabsenceofnearlytwenty years.PresentlyitiscommoninFinis, upperShearness,andBearSwamp Pools.Anocturnalanimal,seldomseen intheday.Feedsonleaves,branches, andtreebarkandusesfelledtreesto builddamsandlodges.Darkbrown,it haslarge,broad,hairlesstail,webbed hindfeet,andisourlargestrodent.
White-footed Deermouse (Peromyscus leucopus) Abundantinwoodedandbrushy areas.Reddiesh-brownorgray-brown abovewithverywhitebelly.Inthe past,onehadbuiltanestinthe brochureboxonBoardwalkTrail! Feedsonseeds,berries,andinsects.
Marsh Rice Rat (Oryzomys palustris) Commoninthesaltmarshareas. Chieflynocturnalandsemiaquatic, theyareexcellentswimmersand divers,wellequippedtoliveinhabitats withvaryingwaterlevels.Feedson greenvegetationandseeds,butalso includesfish,crabs,andinsects.Builds globularnestsinthemarshabovethe highwaterlevel.Thesizeofamouse withataillongerthantherestofits gray-washedbody.
Flying SquirrelRobertSavannah
Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) Abundantingrassy,uplandfields andamongthegrassesofthesalt marsh.Agoodswimmer.Feedson grasses,sedges,seeds,andgrain. Knownasthemostprolificmammal, femalecanproducealitterevery threeweeks.Stockywithshort tail.Importantaspreyforraptorsand carnivores,suchasnorthernharriers andredfoxes.
Woodland Vole (Microtus pinetorum) Tunnelsthroughthecarpetofleaf moldandloosesoilontheforestfloor, prefersdeciduousforests,somightbe foundalongPearsonPointTrailand BearSwampTrail.Makestunnelsand spendsmuchtimeunderground. Reddishbrownwithlargefrontfeet fordigging.Avegetarian,eatsbulbs, bark,roots,seeds,andberries. Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) AlsoknownasNorwayRat.Lives aroundbuildings,grainfields,and marshedges.Oftenmovesintotidal debrisalongbeaches.Thisisthe commonratofcities,towns,farms, andopenareas.Anon-nativespecies, itwasintroducedintheeighteenth centurybyshipsfromEurope.Ithas ahairlesstail,isbrowntogray,and hasanoveralllengthofupto15 inches.Anomnivore,itwillconsume almostanything.
House Mouse (Mus musculus) Foundaboutbuildingsandsometimes inweedyandgrassyfields.Thisisthe commonmousefoundnearly everywhere.ItisanOldWorldspecies thatisfoundworldwide.Itisbrownish grayandupto6inchesoverallin length.Plantmaterialisnormal diet,butitalsowilleatdairyproducts andmeat.
Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius) Inhabitsgrassyfields.Mightbe mistakenforfrogsastheyleap throughthegrass.Primarily nocturnal.Feedsonseeds,fruits, andinsects.Hasatricoloredpattern ofdarkfurontop,yellowsides,and whitebelowwithlargehindfeetanda longtail.
Common Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) Commoninthefreshwater impoundmentsandinthesaltmarsh. Housesarefrequentlyseenas moundsofreedsandgrasses risingabovethewaterlevel. Distinguishedbyahairlesstailthat isflattenedsidetoside.Feedson aquaticplants,butalsomaytakefish andfrogs.Moreactiveatnight. Trappedforitspeltandfavoredas adelicacyinsomepartsofDelaware.
Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) Abundant.Livesinbushyareasand grassyfields.Oftenseenfromthe roadsintheearlymorningandlate afternoon.Afoodsourceforraptors suchastheRed-tailedHawkand carnivoressuchastheRedFox. Feedsongrassesandweedsin summer,twigsandbarkinwinter. Hasrusty-brownfur,awhite“cotton” tail,moderatelylongears.
Whitetail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Commonintheuplandsandalong themarshedges.Mostactiveinearly morningandevening.Herdonthe refugeisstabilizedbyanannual huntingprogram.Ourlargest mammal.Colorisreddish-brown inspringandsummer;gray-brownin fallandwinter,andundersideoftail iswhite.Aruminant(fourstomach chambers),allowsdiettoinclude widevarietyoffoodsincluding grasses,leaves,twigs,fruit,acorns, hay,andotherplantmaterial.
Common MuskratRobertSavannah
Whitetail Deer
Meadow Jumping Mouse